Ecosystem notes covering biotic and abiotic components, food chains, food webs, trophic levels, productivity, energy flow, ecological pyramids, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem dynamics.
Ecological levels of organization Organism → Population → Community → Ecosystem → Biome → Biosphere Ecological Level 1 – Organisms Ecological Level 2 – Population Ecological Level 3 – Biological Community Types of Community Depending on how big they are and how independent they are, communities can be put into two groups: Major Community Minor
What are Abiotic Factors? Definition of Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors refer to the non-living physical and chemical elements in an ecosystem that influence and shape the conditions within which living organisms thrive and interact. Types of Abiotic Factors Here is the list of abiotic factors: Abiotic Factor Description Air A mixture of gases essential for
What is a Producer? Types of Producers Phototrophs and chemotrophs are the two most common forms of primary producers. Phototrophs Word origin: photo– (light) + troph (nourishment) On occasion, the terms’secondary producers’ and ‘tertiary producers’ are employed. Animals that devour plants are secondary producers because they “generate” biomass for their predators. Likewise, carnivores that are
What are Decomposers? Definition of Decomposers Decomposers are organisms that break down dead or decaying organic matter into simpler substances, facilitating nutrient recycling in ecosystems. Common examples include fungi and bacteria. Types of decomposers Decomposers play a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients within ecosystems. These organisms specialize in breaking down dead organic
Definition of Biotic Factor Biotic factors are the living components or variables that have an effect on an ecosystem or other species residing in that ecosystem. Biology definition A biotic factor is a factor produced by a live organism or any living component in its surroundings as a result of the organism’s actions. Biotic factors
What is Consumer? Consumer is a category that belongs inside an ecosystem’s food chain. It primarily refers to animals. Consumers cannot generate their own energy and must rely on the intake and digestion of producers, other consumers, or both in order to survive. Types of consumer 1. Primary consumers Examples of Primary consumers 2. Secondary
Learn the Y-shaped energy flow model with a labelled diagram, grazing and detritus pathways, examples, advantages, limitations and comparisons.
What is Rhizosphere? The rhizosphere is the small area of soil around plant roots that is directly affected by root secretions and the microbes that live there. Usually goes about one millimeter from the root surface and includes soil that sticks to the roots and can be easily shook off. Root exudates and rhizodeposition: Roots
Disruptions to Ecosystems Characteristics of Ecosystems Disruptions Ecosystem disruptions, commonly referred to as disturbances, possess several defining characteristics that critically shape their ecological consequences. Understanding these characteristics is essential for grasping how ecosystems respond to and recover from various forms of disruption. Key Implications of These Characteristics: Different causes for Disruptions of Ecosystems Different causes
What is Pyramid of Number? The Pyramid of Numbers is a graphical representation used in ecology to illustrate the distribution of various species in different trophic levels of a food chain. This pyramid provides a quantitative analysis, showing the number of individual organisms present at each trophic level. Unlike other ecological pyramids which might consider
