Lecture 1 Flashcards
The biosphere includes…
All life on earth
What does the biosphere interact with?
Other components of the earth system:
Atmosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Define ecosystem
An integrated system of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) parts that interact with one another
Levels of biological organisation?
Molecules Cells Tissues Organisms Ecosystems Biomes
The ecosystem is a …. system
Open
Living organisms are classified into two groups based on how they acquire energy
Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
Autotrophs
Convert inorganic carbon to biomass using solar energy or chemical energy from breakdown of inorganic molecules
Heterotrophs
Consume and digest other living or previously living organisms
How do living organisms store or extract energy?
By moving electrons up or down gradients or reduction-oxidation (redox) potential
What is the energy captured by a living organism used to do?
Transfer or transform matter (to do work)
Whenever work is done, some energy is dissipated as…
Heat
What are the main trophies levels?
Primary producers
Consumers
Decomposers
Primary producers?
Capture solar energy and convert it into high-energy carbon compounds (organic matter)
Consumers?
Eat living producers (or other consumers) extracting energy from chemical bonds in the organic matter
Decomposers?
Ear the organic matter remaining after death of producers, consumers or other decomposers, recycling complex compounds into simpler forms that can be used by primary producers
