Ecological systems Flashcards
Atmosphere
gaseous layer that surrounds the earth (mainly within 10 km but also extends much higher)
1How much Solar E reaches Earth’s surface and is absorbed?
51%
How much solar E is reflected back in space from atmospheric water particles and ice (ALBEDO)
30%
How much radiant energy is absorbed by gasses such as water vapour and CO2 in the atmosphere
19%
What is the difference between the geosphere and the lithosphere?
they are the same!!
Geosphere
The solid, mainly rocky part of the Earth (same as the lithosphere)
Hydrosphere
All of the water (all states) that move on/between the atmosphere and geosphere
System
An object of many objects that may be studied
Open system
when matter or energy can leave the system boundaries
Closed system
When energy can enter and leave but matter cannot
Ecology is the study of the interactions of biotic and abiotic factors and how they interact in a system.
Biological level of organisation
Cell, tissue, organ, organ system, organism, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
Ecosphere
All life on earth and its interaction with the physical environment
Productivity of the biosphere
determined by the efficient use of incoming energy. Plants capture light E and convert it into organic compounds. (energy captured by plants is (J/㎡/yr)
OR the productivity can be determined as productivity of the biomass (g/㎡/yr)
Biosphere
The total area where all living things are found (i.e. the totality of biomes) is called the biosphere
Biome
geographical areas that have a particular climate and sustain a specific community of flora and fauna
Ecosystem
A community and its abiotic environment (ex: habitat)
Community
A group of populations living together and interacting with each other within a given area
Population
A group of organisms of the same species, living in the same area at the same time
Limiting factors of population (biotic and abiotic)
Biotic: competition, food, parasites, disease
Abiotic: water, light, heat, space, minerals, weather
Measurement of a population
Taking a sample using a quadrat. Quadrat helps scientists determine the density of a species
Density of population
Number of individuals per unit of volume or area
Ecology
The study of the relationship between living organisms, or between living organisms and their environment
How are organisms identified within a biome?
Range, habitat and niche
How much solar E is reflected back in space from atmospheric water particles and ice (ALBEDO)
30%
Abiotic factors
non living things in the environment (sunlight, water, soil, air, minerals)
Biotic factors
living things in the environment (humans, trees, fish, bacteria)
Aquatic biome
Freshwater (bodies of water surrounded by land, lakes, ponds) and marine biomes (oceans, coral reefs)
Grassland biome
dominated by grass, warm dry climate. Tropical (savanna, close to equator) and temperate (ex:prairies)
Forest biome
(tropical-warm, temperate-seasons, taiga-cold)
Dominated by trees, biodiversity,
Desert biome
Dry, small rainfall, hot or cold
tundra biome
low precipitation, very cold,
