ecosystem apes 1

the nitrogen cycle

1. nitrogen fixation - N2 to NH4

2. ammonification - decomposer to NH4

3. nitrification - NO2 - NO3

4. assimilation - NO3 to autotroph

ammonium

(NH4) toxic to plants

nitrites

(NO2) toxic to plants

nitrates

(NO3) vital for growth and passed up through trophic levels, eventually absorbed by humans

eutrophication

process where excess nutrients saturate the water near areas of terrestrial runoff, resulting in algae blooms

non-point source pollution

agricultural runoff is often linked to eutrophication

nitrogen (non point pollution)

synthetic fertilizer and animal waste runoff into streams and makes their way to larger bodies of water via watershed

phosphorus (non point source of pollution)

other fertilizers contain mineral phosphorus to further stimulate plant growth which can also run off into the watershed

deadzones

areas form in the water when aerobic bacteria decompose the dead plant matter

• marine organisms die off due to decreased dissolved oxygen

algae blooms

surplus of nutrients cause rapid algae growth

• produce toxins

• deplete oxygen in water

• blocking sunlight

• disrupting food chains

species

group capable of mating with one another to produce fertile offspring

fundamental niche

overall niche of an organism

realized niche

actual part of the niche an organism occupies due to competition

r- selected

broad niche, pioneer species, many offspring, quickly mature for reproduction, high environmental tolerance, typically small size

K - selected

narrow niche, late successional species, fewer + larger offspring, low environmental tolerance, typically large adults

intra specific competition

comp. between members of the same species for resources

inter specific competition

comp. two different species for the same resources

competitive exclusion

niches of organisms can only overlap for a very brief time

resources partioning

division of limited resources by species to help avoid competition in an ecological niche

environmental tolerance

distribution of species in an ecosystem determine by levels of one or more physical / chemical limiting factors being with in range tolerated by that system

limiting factors

too much or too little abiotic factors that can limit / prevent growth of a population even if all other factors are at optimum level

exponential growth

J curve(r- selected)

logistic curve

S curve(K-selected)

mutualism

both species benefit

commensalism

one unaffected , one benefits

paratism

host is harmed, one benefits

native species

normally live and thrive in ecosystem

invasive

pathogens, likely cause harm

idicator species

if the species decline it is a warning, and vice versa

keystone species

without this the whole ecosystem would crumble.

ESA - endangered species act

federal law preventing the hunting and selling of certain species

CITES - convention of international trade in endangered species

regulations on the movement of proctected species

HIPPCO

1. Habitat

2. Invasive

3. Population growth

4. Pollution

5. Climate change

6. Overexploitation

major terrestrial biomes

taiga, temperate rainforests, temperate seasonal forests, tropical rainforests, shrubland, temperate grassland, savanna, desert, and tundra

taiga wildlife description

wildlife description: largest land biome, subarctic region, high latitude (50-70N)

taiga climate

climate: annual rain is 10-30 in, high latitudes mean longer winters

taiga biogeochemical cycles

carbon cycle: Trees are the biggest sink and the few forest fires that happen help to release the carbon cycle.

water cycle: Compacted snow builds up storing most of the water in the taiga biomes. 

phosphorous cycle: Bogs (nutrient poor wetlands, spongy) traps organic material and help it decompose 

nitrogen cycle: Natural sink is the soil where the nitrogen gets trapped and the soil and gets stuck below permafrost 

desert wildlife descriptions

• canyons

• dunes

• hamadas

• oases

• salt flat

15-35 latitude

canyon

caused by erosion of large sedimentary rock

dunes

casued by displacement and collection of sand

rocky areas of hamadas

formed by weathering of an area with a lack of vegetation

oases

created by groundwater coming up to the surface and creating a fertile area

desert climate

• very low rainfall annually

• scorching days and cool nights

• subtropical in the north

• tropical in south

• 10 in rainfall per year

temp. deciduous forest wildlife

• broad array of deciduous trees

• floor of shrubs, ferns moss

temp. deciduous forest climate

30-59 in rainfall

mid latitude: not extreme , moderate weather,

rainforest wildlife description

• lush warm habitat

• near equator

• oldest biome

• more than half worlds species, plants

• Nearly all of the life-sustaining nutrients are 

found in the plants and trees, not in the ground as in a northern, or temperate forest

rainforest climate

• lots and lots of rain annually

• These do not get too hot ever because they have a high level of cloud cover, making the hours of sunlight exposure minimal

• One major role of rainforests is to help regulate global climate by storing excess carbon dioxide in the trees and soil

• never gets too cold, plants keep growing

emergent layer

the uppermost layer of a rainforest, consisting of the extremely tall trees that tower above the dense canopy

canopy

the layer of interlocking trees, branches, and leaves that forms the "roof" of the rainforest, typically 100 feet or more above the ground

the understory

the layer beneath the dense canopy, characterized by darkness, high humidity, and a variety of plants like young trees, shrubs, and vines, which are adapted to low light conditions with large leaves to capture what little sunlight penetrates.

the forest floor

the dark, damp bottom layer of the forest, composed of leaf litter, roots, and decaying organic matter like fallen leaves and branches

coral reef wildlife

• built upon polyps

• underwater

• supporting a vast array of marine life

coral reef climate

• warm shallow waters tropical

• high amount of sunlight for algae

estuary wildlife

• brackish water

• tidal

• partially enclosed

• sandy muddy bottoms

esturary climate

• humid subtropical

• mild winters

• hot humid summers

• steady rainfall year round

rocky intertidal coastal wildlife

• The rocky intertidal coastline is a narrow area where the land and ocean meet, and it is exposed or submerged depending on whether it is high tide or low tide. 

• This zone supports a wide variety of life, including biotic organisms (like algae, barnacles, mussels, and crabs) that live in tide pools, 

• This area is also being shaped by abiotic factors (such as changing temperature, wave action, and salinity).

rocky intertidal coastal climate

extreme daily shifts between exposure to air and inundation by water, resulting in dramatic temperature fluctuations, wet/dry cycles, and variations in oxygen levels

kelp forest wildlfie

• Kelp is a form of algae that uses the sun’s energy to grow (Hall 2024). 

• The Chilean kelp forest stretches thousands of kilometers along the Pacific Coast. 

• A dynamic underwater ecosystem that hosts some of the richest kelp forests in the world. 

• It provides a tiered habitat, similar to a forest on land: a canopy, an understory, and a floor. The uppermost layer, canopy, is formed by species like the giant kelp. 

  • Beneath the canopy is the understory where kelp, fish, and invertebrates stay. 

  • Lastly, the sea floor is the deepest and darkest part of the kelp forest and is where the plant is anchored. 

kelp forest climate

cool, clear, and nutrient-rich temperate ocean waters, but are threatened by warming oceans, which can reduce nutrients and push kelp beyond its thermal limits, leading to declines in kelp populations.

ecotone

a transition zone between two different ecosystems or communities where they meet and integrate

groundwater

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock

upwelling

a rising of seawater, magma, or other liquid.

carbon cycle

1. photosynthesis

2. consumption

3. respiration

4. decomposition

phosphorus cycle

1. weathering erosion

2. plant assimilation

3. animal consumption

4. decomposition

5. sedimentation - no gaseous phase

sulfur cycle

1. release of sulfur

2. mineralization

3. oxidation

4. assimilation

5. incorporation

6. reduction

7. return to atmosphere

ecozones

Small regions within ecosystems that have similar physical features

Pioneer Species

Organisms present in the first stages of either type of succession

● Have wide ranges of environmental tolerance

atoll

a ring-shaped reef, island, or chain of islands formed of coral.

hadely cell

1. a large-scale atmospheric convection cell in which air rises at the equator and sinks at medium latitudes, typically about 30° north or south.

Fringing reefs

- The most common habitat that is located near the land/shore

atoll

surround lagoons, far from land, and sometimes form near underwater volcanoes

patch reefs

Near sand or seagrass, or between islands