Flashcards: Ecosystem Dynamics and Structure — 23 cards

Ecosystem — definition?

Community of species interacting with environment

Ecosystem components — types?

Biotic and abiotic components

Biotic components — examples?

Plants, animals, microorganisms

Producers vs consumers — difference?

Producers synthesize food; consumers depend on others

Energy flow — mechanism?

Unidirectional transfer from producers to consumers

Nutrient cycles — purpose?

Recycle nutrients within ecosystems

Ecological succession — process?

Gradual replacement of communities over time

Food chain — structure?

Linear energy transfer sequence

Food web — difference from chain?

Interconnected feeding relationships in an ecosystem

Energy flow models — purpose?

Represent energy transfer and loss in ecosystems

Ecological pyramids — types?

Energy, biomass, number pyramids

Productivity types — examples?

Gross and net primary productivity

Aquatic ecosystems — main types?

Freshwater and marine ecosystems

Natural vs artificial ecosystems — difference?

Natural operate without human intervention; artificial are managed by humans

Biotic vs abiotic — roles?

Biotic are living; abiotic are non-living environmental factors

Producers — role?

Convert sunlight into organic matter via photosynthesis

Consumers — role?

Depend on producers or other consumers for energy

Decomposers — function?

Recycle organic matter into inorganic nutrients

Trophic levels — organization?

Based on feeding position in food chain

Energy transfer — efficiency?

Only about 10-20% transferred; rest lost as heat

Ecological succession stages?

Pioneer, seral stages, climax community

Salinity in ecosystems — importance?

Determines organism types in freshwater vs marine

Summary — ecosystem understanding?

Fundamental for studying ecological relationships and environment