The structure of ecosystems

Question 1

What are the biotic and trophic structures and what are their structure?

Answer 1

~The way different categories of organisms fit
together is referred to as the Biotic Structure
~The major feeding relationship between organisms
constitutes the Trophic Structure [trophic =
feeding

Question 2

What is trophic category?

Answer 2

A position where an organism occupies on a food web

Question 3

What are autotrophs and heterotrophs?

Answer 3

~Heterotrophs are organisms, which must consume organic material to obtain energy
~An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals

Question 4

What are types of consumers?

Answer 4

Herbivore, omnivore, carnivore

Question 5

What are detritus feeders (Detritivores) & Decomposers?

Answer 5

~Organisms that feed on dead organic material.
~Decomposers: fungi and bacteria that cause
rotting
~Primary detritus feeders: organisms that feed
directly on detritus
~Secondary and higher orders of detritivores:
feed on primary detritivores

Question 6

What are trophic relationships?

Answer 6

Trophic relationships give rise to:
Food chains
Food webs
Trophic levels:
First trophic level – all producers
Second trophic level – all
primary consumers (herbivores)
Third trophic level – organisms
feeding on herbivores; and so
on…

Question 7

What are abiotic factors – conditions and resources

Answer 7

~Conditions: are abiotic factors that vary in space and time, but not used up or made unavailable to other species.
~Temperature
~Wind
~pH
~Salinity
~Fire
Conditions
~Salinity
~Temperature
~Texture of the bottom
~Depth of turbidity of water
Resources
~Resources are any factors that are consumed by organisms.
~Resources can be the object of competition between individuals or species.
Abiotic resources include:
~Water
~Chemical nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus
~and carbon dioxide)
~Light (for plants)
~Oxygen