module 5

the role of an organism in an ecosystem

when warm molecules go up, cool molecules go down

-atmosphere: hot air rises and cool air goes down

-hydrosphere; hot water rises and cool water goes down

store carbon

-four main ones: organic molecules in dead organisms in biosphere

-gas carbon dioxide in atmosphere

-organic matter in soil

-fossil fuel and sedimentary rock deposits in lithosphere

one species (predator) is preying on another species- the prey. This effects both populations, ex: fox and rabbit

interlocking system of food chains

a natural system to reuse carbon atoms.

-carbon travels from the atmosphere to organisms on earth and then back to the atmosphere

interactions between two different organisms

-mutualism, both benefit

-commensalism, one benefit one neutral

-paratism, one benefit one doesnt

increase in the concentration of a chemical in an organism overtime

an organism that photosynthesizes (green plants, cyanobacterium, algae)

asking questions, qualitative observations (describes), quantitative observations (amounts).

-leads to develop. of testable hypotheses

tests hypothesis by gathering data. can be modeled on natural or fake environments

helps understand changes over long periods of time or in large areas

-mathematical formulas

-lead to more hypotheses, experiments, data, and changes in models

-improves ability to make predictions

study of pop.

-allows predictions to be made about how a pop. will change

cycle where nitrogen moves through atmosphere, soil, water, bacteria and organisms. in order to do this it must change forms

1. nitrogen fixation

2. nitrification

3. ammonification

4. denitrification

if they don’t exist their ecosystem will collapse

biosphere- all parts where life exists

hydrosphere- all waters on earth’s surface like lakes and seas and sometimes clouds

atmosphere- gases that surround the earth

lithosphere- outer part of earth and the crust and upper mantel

the first level of decomposers

-consumes decaying organisms left behind

vultures

-second level of decomposers

feeds on dead decaying organisms

-earth worms, dung beetles

-3rd level of decomposers

-decompose dead decaying matter into soil nutrients

-fungi, protozoans

depend on autotrophs for nutrition (other organisms)

-consumers, decomposers

depends on itself for nutrition

-photosynthetic, chemosynthetic

keeps increasing

when the populations growth rate decreases as it approaches k (carrying capacity) which is caused by limiting factors

cycle of water in earth-atmosphere system

1. evaporation

2. condensation

3. precipitation

4. collection

model of total living biomass/organic matter in each trophic level of an ecosystem

collection of elements or components that are organized for a common purpose.

when an herbivore eats a specific type of plant and the plant populations density goes down

synthesis of organic compounds by bacteria/organisms using energy from chemicals without sunlight

-clumped

-uniform

-random

-one of the key 3 features of a population (dispersion, size, growth rate)

way in which heat is trapped close to earth’s surface by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and water vapor (too much causes global warming)

-immigration

-emmigration

-birth rate (natality)

-death rate (mortality)

limits populations size and slows/stops it from growing

-density dependant: disease, competition and predation

-density independent: hurricanes, pollutants, food limitation

harmful algal blooms caused by when the environment is enriched with nutrients caused by too much fertilizer

\n The meandering stream of water from the mountains to the water bodies after precipitation

-polar

-temperate

-tropical

when an animal is forced to change it’s niche

the conditions which an animal can survive and reproduce

concentrations of toxins in an organism that came from ingestion of other organisms

cycle of transformation and relocation of phosphorus in soil, water and living/dead organisms/material

-weathering

-absorption by plants

-absorption by animals

-return through envrionment by decomposition

(no atmosphere)

-has 2+ interacting parts

-has 3 components: input, processing, and output

-there are two types: negative and positive feedback loop

brings back stability

reinforces what’s happening

-not native

-cause harm

-pests

-harm human resources

-The measure of a pop. per unit area/volume

-larger animals have lower population density due to needing more resources

(# of individuals) divided by (amount of space occupied) = population density

biotic factors in the environment that increase with population size

-disease

-competition

-parasites

abiotic factors in the environment that affect the environment despite it’s density

-temperature

-weather

-generalists (broad choice of food), opposum

-specialist (narrow range of food), koala

-pioneer stage

1. exposed bare rock, there’s no soil to start

2. elements like wind and water create a bit of soil

3. lichens start to grow and chemically weather rock to make more soil

4. mosses and herbs start growing so insects, worms and birds come

-intermediate stage

1. moss and it’s community die/decompose, making more soil

2. bigger herbs and small shrubs start growing

3. big insects, small herbivores, carnivores, and large birds come.

4. more soil forms due to decomposition.

-Climax

1. Maximum decomposition, huge amount of top soil

2. Due to the canopies of large trees top predators start to live there

3. This all leads to a climax community

all the species an ecosystem can support in a balanced state

• pioneer stage

  -soil is already presents, seeds are already in soil.

  -water comes and seeds sprout out

  -insects and worms come in

  -small birds visit

  -mosses and ferns grow abundantly.

• Intermediate stage

  1. more herbs start growing

  2. small herbivores and carnivores start to live there

  3. biggger herbivores and carnivores come

4. more shrubs and small trees grow

• Climax

  1. ecosystem flourishes

  2. large trees shrubs and animals come to live there

  3. climax community

a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3

• nitrogen fixing bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia

• in ammonification organic compounds in plant/animal matter are broken down, released as ammonia

the conversion of nitrates (NO3) into nitrogen gas (N2)

• reduces the amount of nitrogen that plants and animals can use

• can remove nitrogen from water and release into the atmosphere as N2

ion made up of nitrogen and oxygen (NO3)

• add ammonia and oxygen to make nitrates

• plants convert nitrates to ammonia to make DNA and ammino acids

Convert ammonia to nitrites or nitrates

• two types:

1. ammonia nitrifying bacteria, which add oxygen and ammonia (NH3) to make nitrites (NO2)

2. nitrite nitrifying bacteria which add oxygen to nitrites (NO2) and make nitrates (NO3)

   • this is the nitrification step of the nitrogen cycle

• NO2

• made up of nitrogen and oxygen

• nitrifying bacteria combine oxygen and ammonia to make nitrites

convert N2 into ammonia NH3

• genetic diversity

• protect freshwater resources

• fast recovery from natural disasters

• maintains balance in ecosystems

• sustainability and growth

• provision of food security

• adaption to different habitats

• provision of biological resources

• promote soil formation and protection

• maintains food chain in nature

increases stability and resilience of ecosystems

benefits agriculture

benefits economy through tourism

provides rich environment with medicine

• halt human induced extinctions

• recover species populations

• stop unsustainable wildlife exploitation and trade

• protect habitats

• recognize indigenous people land and water rights

• transition to sustainable practices in agriculture, fishing, forestry

1. massive destruction of natural spaces

2. catastrophic loss of species and diversity of life

3. unsustainable production in consumption of nature’s resources

variety of life on earth at all its levels

weather: short term atmosphere pattern that can change quickly (minutes, hours)

climate: long term weather pattern that changes over time (years)

3rd; plateua phase

• no growth

• limiting factors balance the populations capacity to increase

• population reaches k of environment

between different species

same species