Unit One

Introduction

Community

Different popopulations sharing the same habitat

Interspecific Interactions

Interactions between different species of a community

Intraspecific Interactions

Interactions between members of the same species within a community.

Competition - Definition

Populations competing for shared resources, such as sunlight, water, and nutrients

Result of competition

negative impact on both species involved (-/-)

Example of competition

Plants in a forest competing for sunlight

Predation definition

One species eating another population

Herbivory predation

occurs when herbivores feed on plants, impacting plant populations.

Example of prredation

Cheetah hunting gazelle vs goat eating grass

Symbiosis definition

A close and long-term interaction between two different species.

is symbiosis always beneficial for both?

No, it can also be harmful to one

What are the three types of symbiosis?

Parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism

Parasitism definition

A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Parasitism example

Lice feeding on human blood; benefits the lice, harms the host

Mutualism definition

Both organisms benefit from the relationship

Mutualism example

Clownfish and sea anemone; clownfish provide protection, anemone offers shelter

Commensalism definition

One organism benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.

Commensalism example

Barnacles on whales; barnacles gain mobility and access to food, while whales are unaffected.

Biome definition

A community of plants and animals living in, and adapted to, a certain climate.

Terrestrial Biomes

Heavily influenced by temperature and rainfall

Tropical Rainforest : location

Near the equator

Tropical rainforest : climate

high temperatures and rainfall all year round

temperate forests : location

30 to 60 degree latitudes north and south of the equator

temperate forests : climate

well defined seasons, distinct winter period

Deciduous

trees that shed their leaves seasonally

temperate deciduous forests : characteristics

cold dry winters, hot humid summers, deciduous trees that shed leaves in winter to conserve energy

temperate rainforests : climate

mild, frost free winters; consistent rainfall throughout the year

coniferous

forests characterized by evergreen trees that retain their needles year-round.

coniferous forests (taiga’s) : location

50 to 60 degree North of the equator

coniferous forests (taiga’s) : climate

short, warm moist summers, long cold dry winters

coniferous forests (taiga’s) : features

thin, needle like leaves, seed production in cones

deserts : location

often at 30 degrees north and south of the equator

deserts - climate

low and variable rainfall; warmer near the equator

deserts - adaptations

plants have developed ways to conserve water

grasslands - location

can occur at any latitude

grasslands - features

seasonal drought, fires, and herbivore grazing prevent overgrowth of trees and shrubs

Incudes savanna’s and temperate grasslands

temperate

forests, characterized by distinct seasons and a variety of deciduous and coniferous trees.

scrublands - location

western coastal regions between 30 and 40 degree latitudes off the equator

scrublands - climate

more rainfall than deserts and grasslands, less than forests; dominated by shrubs and short trees

tundra - location

primarily in the arctic

tundra - climate

cold and dry, short growing season, permafrost present

tunda - biodiversity

low, but supports specialized plant and animal species

biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem, encompassing species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecosystem diversity.

Freshwater biomes include :

ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers, which are critical sources of drinking water

ponds

smaller, may be seasonal

lakes

larger and more permanent

four main zones of a lake

littoral, limnetic, profundal, and benthic

1 - littoral zone

shallow, near shore area with ample sunlight and nutrient inputs, supporting diverse life forms

2 - limnetic zone

the sunlit surface where photosynthesis occurs, supporting phytoplankton, zooplankton, and freshwater fish

3 - profundal zone

the deeper, dark water layer too dim for photosynthesis, cooler with less dissolved oxygen, home to fish adapted to these conditions

4 - benthic zone

the bottom layer inhabited by decomposers and organisms that feed on decay, able to survive in low oxygen conditions

Streams and rivers

serve as flowing bodies of water, draining landscapes and playing vital roles in erosion

three zones of streams and rivers

source zone, transition zone, floodplain zone

1 - source zone

headwaters where cold, fast moving water collects, rich in dissolved oxygen and low in nutrients, with limited plant life

2 - transition zone

where rivers widen, slow down, and warm, carrying more sediment and nutrients, supporting a larger variety of species

3 - floodplain zone

broad area near the river mouth that floods periodically, creating wetlands and temporary lakes, characterized by warm, nutrient rich waters that sustain high biodiversity

high biodiversity

refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, including the number of different species and their abundance.

Carbon

an essential element that forms the base of all organic red - includes the bodies of living organisms - is a key component of fossil fuels

carbon dioxide (CO2)

a colorless gas produced by the respiration of animals and the combustion of fossil fuels, playing a significant role in the Earth's carbon cycle and greenhouse effect.

photosynthesis

the process b which energy from sunlight is used to transform carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the organic matter that fuels food webs

cellular respiration

the metabolic process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

carbon cycle - definition

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment, involving photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

carbon reservoirs

most of earths carbon is found in inorganic reservoirs such as rocks, water and sediments. Only a small portion is stored in organic reservoirs, such as in the bodies of living organisms

Biological carbon cycle

Quick flow of carbon between the atmosphere and ecosystems through biological processes

key processes of the carbon cycle

include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.

biomass

the total mass of living matter in a given area or volume, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.

geological carbon cycle

The long-term movement of carbon through the Earth's crust, involving processes such as sedimentation, volcanic activity, and weathering.

weathering - carbon cycle

The process by which rocks are broken down into smaller particles, releasing carbon stored in minerals into the atmosphere or oceans.

dissolution - carbon cycle

The process in which carbon dioxide in water forms carbonic acid, leading to the breakdown of minerals and the release of carbon into solution.

human impacts on the carbon cycle

Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, significantly disrupt the natural carbon cycle by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, leading to climate change and other environmental issues.

nitrogen Is essential for ____

LIFE. It is a key component of DNA, RNA, and proteins.

What is the largest resovoir of nitrogen? And how much % does it account for?

the ATMOSPHERE. Nitrogen accounts for about 78% of air.

steps of the nitrogen cycle

nitrogen fixation, amonification, nitrification, and dentrification

nitrogen fixation

atmospheric nitrogen gas is converted into usable forms through two main processes

two main nitrogen fixation processes

lightning and nitrogen fixing bacteria

lightning - nitrogen cycle

energy from lightning converts nitrogen gas and oxygen gas into nitrate, which falls to the Earth in preciptation

nitrogen - fixing bacteria - nitrogen cycle

in the soil, these bacteria combine nitrogen gas with hydrogen gas to produce ammonia

ammonia

a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, essential for plant growth and a key component in fertilizers.

ammonification - nitrogen cycle

the process by which organic nitrogen from dead plants and animals is converted into ammonia by bacteria in the soil.

nitrification - nitrogen cycle