C2 Communities and Ecosystems Flashcards
How many trophic level can a species occupy?
Many species cannot be classified as belonging solely to one trophic level
many animals feed on both produces and consumers
Species can belong to different trophic levels in different food chains
What is a food web?
A diagram tha shows how food chains are linked together into more complex feeding relationships within a community
Energy flow and nutrient cycling
Nutrient cycling = movement and exchange of inorganic/organic matter back into the production of matter
Energy flow = unidirectional, noncyclic pathway
What is biomass?
total dry weight of organic matter in organisms or ecosystems
ecological production refers to the rate of generation of biomass in an ecosystem
Primary production
Production of chemical energy in organic compounds by producers
Main source of energy is form photosynthesis, however some is also chemosynthesis
Secondary production
Describes generation of biomass by heterotrophic organisms (comsumers) - driven by transfer of organic compounds between trophic levels via feeding
Biome
A geographical area that has a particular climate and sustains a particular community of plants and animals
6 Main types of biospheres
Closed ecosystems
E.g. mesocosms and Biosphere 2 project.
energy can be exchanged, but matter remains in the system. water and nutrients are cycled within the ecosystem
these provide insight into how extra-terrestrial habitats can be set up and maintained
Secondary succession
The replacement of one ecosystem by another following environmental change - happens relatively quickly (faster than primary succession)
example - regrowth after a bushfire
Conversion ratio in sustainable food production practices
FCR = mass of food eaten / desired output
lower the CR, the more efficient the method of food production
