Chapter 2 Flashcards
The system resulting from
the integration of all the
living and nonliving factors
of the environment. It is defined as any unit that
includes all the organisms
Ecosystem
The components of an
ecosystem can be broadly categorized into _______ and _________ elements.
Biotic and Abiotic
They produce their own food
and form the base of the food web
Producers (Autotrophs)
They rely on other living organisms for food
and could be divided into primary, secondary, tertiary.
Consumers (Heterotrophs)
They break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients
back into the ecosystem
Decomposers (Detritivores)
These are the living organisms within an ecosystem and can be categorized into different trophic levels.
Biotic Components
The non-living physical and chemical
factors that influence the
environment and the living
organisms within it.
Abiotic Components
Enumerate the Abiotic Factors:
➢ Climate
➢ Soil
➢ Water
➢ Light
➢ Wind
➢ Nutrients
➢ Topography
Refers to the spatial relations
of an ecosystem’s
elements.
Structure
In this zone, most visible light can penetrate this layer, making it the warmest of all layers.
Epipelagic Zone (Sunlight Zone)
Only faint sunlight reaches this zone.
Mesopelagic Zone (Twilight Zone)
Complete absence of light
Bathypelagic Zone (Midnight Zone)
It is the pitch-black bottom layer of the ocean as no sunlight reaches this layer.
Abyssopelagic Zone (The Abyss)
The ocean’s deepest zone
Hadalpelagic Zone (The Trenches)
________________, any
of the natural pathways
by which essential
elements of living matter
are circulated.
Biogeochemical cycle
It describes how energy
is captured, transformed,
and utilized by living
organisms in an
ecosystem.
Energy Flow
The energy is produced by the
______________, as they have
photosynthetic pigments to
harness the sunlight into
chemical energy via
photosynthesis.
Autotrophs
On average, only about ____________ of energy stored as
biomass in a trophic level is
passed from one level to the
next.
10 percent
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, it can
only be transformed from one form to another
First Law of Thermodynamics
The entropy of a system increases
over time.
Second Law of Thermodynamics
It refers
to the division of biomass
among different levels in a
food chain, which is influenced
by both the flow of energy and
nutrients from primary
producers and the
consumption of prey by
predators.
Trophic Structure
A _______________ is
defined as a position in the
food chain where organisms
are grouped based on their
feeding relationships, with
each level representing a
different stage of energy
transfer within an ecosystem.
Trophic Level
They obtain energy and nutrients by
harnessing sunlight through
photosynthesis. They
do not consume other organisms;
they are, however, consumed by
heterotrophs
Producers - Autotrophs
They derive their energy directly from
plants or algae.
They cannot make
their own food so they obtain
energy by consuming these
autotrophs.
Primary Consumers
Organisms that primarily feed
on primary consumers. They form a link between herbivores
and top-level predators in the
food chain.
Secondary Consumers
Is an animal that obtains its
nutrition by eating primary
consumers and secondary
consumers
Tertiary Consumers
Break down the remains and
other wastes and release
simple inorganic molecules
back to the environment.
Decomposers
A ____________ is a
linear flow of energy and
nutrients from one
organism to another
food chain
A __________ is a multitude of
interconnected food chains at
many trophic level.
food web
A cohesive entity
comprising aquatic
organisms and their
environment within a
specific water area.
Organisms within this
ecosystem interact with
their environment,
maintaining a dynamic
equilibrium.
Aquatic Ecosystem
The type of water ecosystem in which the water has a salt
concentration of less than 5 ppt. This ecosystem covers only 2% of the total
water cover of the planet.
Freshwater System
Refers to standing water bodies or
still water bodies, which include
environments such as lakes, and
ponds.
Characterized by relatively stable water conditions
Lentic Ecosystem (Lacustrine)
Refers to flowing water bodies,
which include rivers, streams,
creeks, and springs. Characterized by the continuous movement of water, which influences the physical and
biological conditions within them
Lotic Ecosystems (Riverine)
The freshwater ecosystem that is
partially or fully covered by water
like marshes, swamps, and bogs. Characterized by the presence of
water, either permanently or
seasonally, at or near the surface of
the soil.
Swamps and Wetlands
The type of water ecosystem in which the water has a salt
concentration of 35 ppt. or above. This ecosystem covers
98% of the total water cover of the planet.
Marine System
Oceans cover more than 70% of
the earth’s surface. Vast bodies of saltwater that
support a diverse range of life
forms.
Ocean Ecosystem
• The meeting point of a freshwater
body and a saltwater body
• The water has more salt
concentration as compared to
freshwater bodies but is diluted as
compared to saltwater bodies
Estuaries Ecosystem
A dynamic environment where
land meets the ocean,
characterized by the interaction
between terrestrial and marine
ecosystems.
Coastal Ecosystem
Refers to the land-based
system that plays a crucial
role in the global carbon
cycle by storing carbon,
exchanging major fluxes,
and responding
dynamically to changes in
atmospheric carbon
dioxide and climate.
Terrestrial Ecosystem
a cold, treeless biome
characterized by low
temperatures, short growing
seasons, and minimal
precipitation
• typically features permafrost,
which is a layer of permanently
frozen soil beneath the surface
Tundra
typically marked by low
precipitation (generally less
than 25 cm or 10 inches
annually), high evaporation
rates, extreme temperature
variations, and nutrient-poor
Desert
Areas dominated by herbaceous (non-
woody) vegetation, primarily grasses,
and are characterized by a lack of
significant tree cover. Typically occur in regions with
moderate to low rainfall, which is
insufficient to support the growth of
forests but adequate for sustaining
grass and other herbaceous vegetation.
Grasslands
• characterized by their distinct
seasonal changes and the
dominance of broadleaf trees
that shed their leaves annually
• annual rainfall usually ranges
from 750 to 1500 mm, with well-
defined seasons that include
cold winters and warm
summers
TEMPERATE DECIDUOUS
FORESTS
• characterized by the dominance of
coniferous trees (typically have
needle-like or scale-like leaves),
which are adapted to the cooler
climates of temperate regions
• temperate coniferous forests thrive
in regions with cold winters and
moderate to high precipitation
TEMPERATE CONIFEROUS
FORESTS
• primarily found in high-latitude
regions, covering parts of Canada,
Alaska, Russia, and Scandinavia
• They typically occur in areas where
freezing temperatures persist for 6
to 8 months of the year
• dominated by coniferous trees
such as spruce (Picea), fir (Abies),
pine (Pinus), and larch (Larix)
BOREAL (TAIGA) FORESTS
• dense, lush forests located near the
equator, characterized by warm
average temperatures and high
annual rainfall, typically
exceeding 2,000 mm (79 inches)
• known for their rich biodiversity,
hosting a significant proportion of
the world’s plant and animal
species
TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
• type of ecological zone that occurs in
mountainous regions, characterized by
distinct vegetation bands and climatic
conditions that vary with altitude
• feature a variety of habitats, including
forests, grasslands, and alpine tundra,
and they support diverse flora and
fauna adapted to the cooler
temperatures and varying moisture
levels found at different elevations
Montane Ecosystem
___________ are large-scale
environments distinguished
by characteristic
temperature ranges
and precipitation
amounts.
Biomes
coherent system of biophysical
and social factors that are capable
of adaptation and sustainability
over time
Human Ecosystem
refer to the
defined physical
and social limits
that delineate the
extent of the
ecosystem
Boundaries
the dynamic
movement and
exchange of
various types of
resources within a
human ecosystem
Resource Flows
the organized patterns
of relationships and
institutions that shape
interactions among
individuals and groups
within a human
ecosystem
Social Structures
are composed of natural and
constructed systems where the
human population is more concentrated, and
there are complex interactions between
socioeconomic factors and biophysical
processes
Urban Ecosystem / Urban Areas
Refers to natural environments that have been
significantly altered by human activities. These
modifications can occur through various
means, including agriculture, urbanization,
industrialization, and resource extraction.
HUMAN-MODIFIED
ECOSYSTEMS
the significant
changes in the variety
and abundance of
species due to human
activities
Altered Biodiversity
The complexity of food
webs is reduced, as
certain species are
favored over others
Simplified Food Webs
Human modifications
create uniform
landscapes, which can
eliminate unique
habitats and ecological
niches
HABITAT HOMOGENEITY
typically rely on
significant external inputs
of nutrients and energy,
often from agricultural
practices and industrial
processes, which can
disrupt natural cycles
HIGH NUTRIENT AND
ENERGY INPUTS
The division of habitats
into smaller, isolated
patches due to urban
development or
agriculture can hinder
species movement and
reduce genetic diversity
Fragmentation
