Things I dont know

Trophic Levels

The position of an organism in a food chain. Producers are T1, primary
consumers are T2, secondary consumers are T3, and so on

Biomass:

The total dry mass of living organisms per unit area, measured in g m―

Productivity:

Productivity: The rate at which biomass is created in an ecosystem over time, measured in
g m―2 yr―1 or kg m―2 yr―1.
The rate at which biomass is created in an ecosystem over time, measured in
g m―2 yr―1 or kg m―2 yr―1.

First Law of Thermodynamics (Conservation of Energy)

Energy can be transformed
from one form to another but cannot be created or destroyed. In ecosystems, light energy
from the sun is converted to chemical energy in glucose through photosynthesis, then
passed through food chains

Second Law of Thermodynamics (Inefficiency):

Energy transformations are inefficient.
When energy is converted from one form to another, some is lost as heat during cellular
respiration. This heat cannot be recaptured and exits the system

Entropy

The amount of disorder and randomness in a system. The second law states that
entropy always increases over time. Organisms maintain order through continuous energy
input.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total biomass produced by producers (plants) in
a given time period. This includes all organic material created through photosynthesis

Pyramid of Numbers:

Shows the number of organisms at each trophic level. Usually
pyramid-shaped but can be inverted if a large organism (like a tree) supports many small
consumers

Pyramid of Biomass

Shows the total dry mass of organisms at each trophic level (g m―2).
Usually pyramid-shaped but can be inverted in marine ecosystems where zooplankton
biomass exceeds phytoplankton biomass due to rapid reproduction

Pyramid of Energy:

Shows the energy flowing through each trophic level (kJ m―2 yr―1).
Always pyramid-shaped because energy is lost at each level. Each level is approximately
10% of the level below it

Detritivores vs. Saprotrophs

Detritivores (like earthworms) have mouths and digest
food internally. Saprotrophs (like fungi and bacteria) lack mouths and digest food
externally by releasing enzymes

Pyramid Shapes

Pyramids of energy are always true pyramids. Pyramids of numbers and
biomass can be inverted in certain ecosystems