Ecosystem Ecology

Question 1

questions

Answer 1

regarding nutrient cycling and energy flow through an ecosystem

Question 2

ecosystem definition

Answer 2

all the organisms in a given area and their interactions with abiotic factors

Question 3

primary producer

Answer 3

autotroph - organisms that make their own nutrients

most use photosynthesis to convert sunlight energy into chemical energy

Question 4

primary consumer

Answer 4

heterotroph - organisms that eat primary producers

ex. rabbit (herbivore)

Question 5

secondary consumer

Answer 5

heterotroph - organisms that eat primary consumers

ex. fox (carnivore)

Question 6

trophic level

Answer 6

food chain feeding level

3 types

Question 7

3 types of trophic level

Answer 7

terrestrial

marine

detritus (decayed organic material)

Question 8

terrestrial trophic example

Answer 8

grass > grasshopper > robin > hawk

Question 9

marine trophic example

Answer 9

algae > littorina > dog whelk > starfish

Question 10

detritus trophic example

Answer 10

detritus > detritivore (earthworm) > robin > fox

Question 11

trophic general example

Answer 11

sun > plant > 1º consumer > 2º consumer > (1º & 2º decompose > plant

Question 12

biomass pyramid

Answer 12

trophic efficiency - examines the amount of energy that transfers from one trophic level to another

Question 13

idealized biomass pyramid

Answer 13

99% energy loss

1,000,000 J of sun > 1000J 1º producer > 100J 1º consumer > 10J 2º consumer > 1J 3º consumer

Question 14

florida bog biomass pyramid

Answer 14

in g/m^2/year

809 > 37 > 11 > 1.5

Question 15

GPP

Answer 15

gross primary productivity

total amount of sun energy converted to chemical energy

Question 16

NPP

Answer 16

net primary productivity (GPP - Rsub(a)

g/m^2/year amount of new biomass/unit time

Rsub(a) = amount of energy used up in cellular respiration (autotrophic)