chapter 2 Flashcards
The system resulting from
the integration of all the
living and nonliving factors
of the environment.
ecosystem
is defined as any unit that
includes all the organisms, i.e., the
community in a given area interacting with
the physical environment so that a flow of
energy leads to clearly defined trophic
structure, biotic diversity and material
cycles
ecosystem
The components of an
ecosystem can be
broadly categorized into
________ and _______
biotic, abiotic elements
These are the living organisms within an
ecosystem and can be categorized into
different trophic levels (identify levels)
Biotic factors
Producers (Autotrophs)
Consumers (Heterotrophs)
Decomposers (detritivores)
non-living physical and chemical
factors that influence the
environment and the living
organisms within it.
Abiotic Components
Refers to the
spatial relations
of an
ecosystem’s
elements.
structure
Layers of the ocean
Epipelagic Zone
mesopelagic zone
bathypelagic zone
abyssopelagic zone
hadalpelagic zone
most visible light can penetrate this layer,
making it the warmest of all layers
epipelagic zone
only faint sunlight reaches this zone
mesopelagic zone
complete absence of light
bathypelagic zone
it is the pitch-black bottom layer of the ocean as no sunlight reaches this layer
abyssopelagic zone
the ocean’s deepest zone
hadalpelagic zone
The functions of an ecosystem include
__________, _________, and
_______________ and __________ through the medium of living
organisms and their activities and through
natural physical processes
transformation, circulation, accumulation of matter, flow of energy
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
➢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
➢ In any energy conversion, the
amount of useable energy at the
end of the process is always less
than the amount of energy
available at the start
second law of thermodynamics
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 structures
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
➢ obtain energy and nutrients by
harnessing sunlight through
photosynthesis (photo______)
➢ do not consume other organisms;
they are, however, consumed by
heterotrophs
producers - autotrophs
➢ derive their energy directly from
plants or algae
➢ primary consumers cannot make
their own food so they obtain
energy by consuming these
autotrophs
primary consumers
➢ organisms that primarily feed
on primary consumers
➢ 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.
➢ are carnivorous predators,
although they may also be
omnivores, which are animals
that feed on both meat and
plant material
tertiary consumers
➢ These organisms that get their
nourishment from dead
organic material, such as
decaying plant leaves or dead
fish
➢ Break down the remains and
other wastes and release
simple inorganic molecules
back to the environment
decomposers
is a
linear flow of energy and
nutrients from one
organism to another
food chain
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
type of water ecosystem in which the water has a salt
concentration of less than ___ ppt. is called the freshwater
ecosystem. This ecosystem covers only _____ 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 ___ ppt. or above. This ecosystem covers
____ of the total water cover of the planet
marine system
*_______ 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
- covers about one-fifth of Earth’s
surface - 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 (nonwoody) vegetation, primarily grasses,
and are characterized by a lack of
significant tree cover (Zhao et al., 2020) - 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
grassland
- 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 welldefined 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
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
Layers of structure
emergent layer
canopy layer
understory layer
immature layer
herb layer
- 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
Montane fauna differ greatly as well,
depending on a mountain’s _________
and ________
latitude, elevation
______ 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
elements of human ecosystem
boundaries
resource flows
social structures
(natural or artificial lines that
define the area of the
ecosystem)
geographical limits
(distribution of natural
resources within a specific area)
resource availability
(cultural, social, and political contexts
that shape the interactions among
individuals and groups within the
ecosystem
cultural and social constructs
(influenced by legal and institutional
frameworks and regulations that
dictate how resources are managed
and utilized )
institutional limits
- the dynamic
movement and
exchange of
various types of
resources within a
human ecosystem
resource flow
- 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 areas, urban ecosystem
Humans withdraw
___ of the total
annual renewable
freshwater and
appropriate ___ of
annual
evapotranspiration
and ____ of
accessible runoff
8%, 26%, 54%
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
characteristics and implications of human-modified ecosystems
a. altered biodiversity
b. simplified food web
c. habitat homogeneity
d. high nutrient and energy inputs
fragmentation
e. loss of natural disturbance and regimes
increasing human impact on
biogeochemical cycles
