ib ecology

Living Plants

Assimilate carbon using photosynthesis

Living Animals

Assimilate carbon by consuming plants

Decomposer organisms

Assimilate carbon by decomposing dead plants and animals

Soils and Organic molecules

Contain carbon in organic molecules from dead organisms which have not been decomposed.

Fossil Fuels

Contain carbon as hydrocarbon molecules from fossilization of organic molecules

Sedimentary Rocks

Contain carbon as carbonate compounds in rocks

Corals and Shellfish

Contain carbon in their shells as carbonates

Phytoplankton

Assimilate carbon using photosynthesis

Oceanic Food webs

Animals in oceans consume phytoplankton and other animals passing carbon through food webs

Sea water

Carbon dissolves and also forms hydrogen carbonates

Photosynthesis

Converts carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen

Respiration

Converts glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide and water

Decomposition

Converts organic molecules into carbon dioxide and water

Diffusion

Moves carbon dioxide from the air to the sea, or vice versa

Combustion

Releases carbon dioxide and water from organic molecules

Fossilization

Converts carbonates in coral and molluscs into sedimentary rocks

Feeding

Moves Carbon containing organic compounds from organism to organism

Volcanic eruption

Releases large amounts of carbon dioxide from rocks

Species

Groups of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Population

Groups of organisms of the same species, who live in the same area at the same time

Community

Populations of different species living together and interacting with each other

Autotrophs

Absorb CO2, H2O and inorganic nutrients such as nitrates from abiotic environment.➡️Synthesize carbon compounds they need. Most undergo photosynthesis

Heterotrophs

Can't make carbon compounds. Therefore must be digested and absorbed from diet

Saprotrophs

Common decomposers. Feed on decaying matter. Obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion.

Consumers

Feed on living organisms by ingestion

Detritivores

Obtain organic nutrients from detritus (material from living organisms e.g dead leaves or roots, decomposing animals etc) by internal digestion.

Closed system

Allows energy in and out

Mesocosms

Small experimental area set up in an ecological research programme

Quadrat sampling

Classic tool used in ecological research especially for biodiversity.

Abiotic Factors

non-living chemical or physical factors(ex. water, nitrogen, oxygen, salinity, pH, soil nutrients and composition, temperature, amount of sunlight, precipitation) of a system

Biotic Factors

Biological influences on organisms within an ecosystem

Crossbreeding

when members of different species breed together.

Inorganic nutrients

substances neccesary to sustain life that do not contain carbon: such as minerals and water

Ecosystem

A community of interdependent organisms and the physical environment they inhabit.

Interbreeding

breeding that occurs only with its species and that produces fertile offspring.

Sustainable communities

communities that are capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage.

Chi Square Test for Association

A statistical method of testing for an association between two categorical variables. Specifically, it tests for the equality of two frequencies or proportions.