Topic 9 – Ecosystems & Material Cycles Flashcards
Individual/Organism
- Single member of a species
Population
- A group of organisms of the same species living in the same place at the same time
Community
- All of the populations living in the same area at the same time
Ecosystem
- All the biotic factors and all the abiotic factors that interact within an area at one time
How can communities be affected by abiotic factors (temp, light, water, pollutants):
- Temperature and Light: affects rate of photosynthesis
- Water: Plants and animals need to survive
- Pollutants: Affect air and water quality
How can communities be affected by biotic factors (competition, predation):
- Competition: Better-adapted animals use resources more effectively and outcompete others, causing less adapted species to breed less as less will be alive
- Predation: Controls the population sizes of prey animals
Describe the importance of interdependence in a community:
- Keeps stability as the species and environmental factors are in balance so that population sizes remain fairly constant
How the survival of some organisms is dependent on other species (parasitism and mutualism):
- Parasitism: The parasite derives nutrients, shelter, or other resources from the host to survive
- Mutualism: Both species involved benefit from the relationship
How is some energy is transferred to less useful forms at each trophic level:
- Heat
- Metabolic
- Respiration
What are some of the effects of the fact some energy is transferred to less useful forms at each trophic level:
- Limits food chain length
- Determines biomass pyramid shape in an ecosystem
Benefits and Negatives of Fish Farming
+. Reduces pressure of endangered fish
-. Introduces disease and parasites
Benefits and Negatives of Introducing Non-Indigenous Species
+. Increased biodiversity
-. May outcome native species
Benefits and Negatives of Eutrophication
+. Increased primary productivity
-. Oxygen depletion due to algal blooms
What is this benefit of of maintaining local and global biodiversity: (Ecological):
- Biodiversity increases ecosystem stability
What is this benefit of of maintaining local and global biodiversity: (Environmental):
- Organisms provide support in many cycles
