unit 3 topic 2 Flashcards
transfer and transformation of solar energy into biomass
converting light into chemical energy
energy enter most ecosystem as sunlight, where it is transformed into chemical energy by producers via photosynthesis
producing biomass and interacting with components of the carbon cycle the energy is transferred from molecule to molecule
transfer and transformation of matter through the water carbon and nitrogen
water- liquid water evaporates into water vapor condenses to from clouds, and precipitation back to earth in the form of rain or snow
carbon- though photosynthesis, where plant take in CO2, water and sunlight to create sugar for energy, and oxygen gas emerges a by-product. once inside plants, carbon moves through food chains, where organisms become nutrients including herbivores carnivores and ultimately decomposer
nitrogen- fixing microorganisms capture atmospheric nitrogen by converting it to ammonia which can be taken up by plants and be used to make organic molecules
define ecological niche
the role and space that an organism fills in any ecosystem including all its interaction with the biotic and abiotic factors of environment
what is the competitive exclusion principle
two species that require the same resource cannot exist in the same niche. one species uses the resources more efficiently driving the other species to extinction this leads to differences in the fundamental and realized niche of a species
keystone species
a plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions
carrying capacity
the carrying capacity represents the size of the population that can be supported indefinity on the available resources and service of the ecosystem
carrying capacity determined by limiting factors
limiting factors determine an ecosystem carrying capacity
biotic factors- competition for resources, predation, diseases
abiotic factors- space, availability of nutrients, pollution, natural diesters, extreme climatic event
popultion caculation
formula = (birth + immigration) - (death +immigration)
how dose changes within population- limiting factors on the carrying capacity
resistance and sensitivity to limiting factors
high resistance- communities or population that remain essentially unchanged to new disturbance or increase limiting factors
high sensitivity- communities or population that are significantly changed or harmed when subject to a new disturbance or increased limited factors
what is ecological succession
pioneer species first colonies the region. they form the pioneer community. then over time sears form as successive communities. each sere replaces the pervious one until a stable climax community forms
primary succession
occur when communities develop on enterally new land with out any established soil
pioneer species includes lichen or moss
starts on bare land/rock
soil must be formed before plants can grow
occurring after lava
happens comparatively slower then secondary succession
secondary succession
occurs in areas that were once vegetated but have been ecologically distrusted
colonized by pioneer communities including grasses
starts on land previously inhabited
occurs after human activity
features of pioneer species
ability to fixate nitrogen
tolerance to extreme condition
rapid germination of seeds
ability to photosynthesis
