Understanding the Carbon Cycle and Ecosystem Dynamics

Carbon Cycle Contribution

Respiration by organisms releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, while photosynthesis by plants and phytoplankton removes CO2 and converts it into oxygen and organic matter.

Primary Producer

Primary producers create their own energy (e.g., plants).

Primary Consumer

Primary consumers eat producers (e.g., herbivores).

Secondary Consumer

Secondary consumers eat primary consumers (e.g., carnivores).

Tertiary Consumer

Tertiary consumers are top predators eating secondary consumers.

Ocean Acidification

Increased CO2 leads to ocean acidification, which lowers pH and harms shell-forming organisms like corals and mollusks.

Determining Past Climate

Scientists analyze ice cores, tree rings, sediment layers, and fossil records to reconstruct past climate conditions.

Ice Cores

Ice cores trap ancient air bubbles, revealing historical greenhouse gas levels, temperatures, and precipitation patterns.

Greenhouse Gases Examples

Examples include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Greenhouse Gases Effect

Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet and intensifying climate change.

Greenhouse Gas Effect

The greenhouse gas effect is the trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by gases like CO2, which maintain the planet's temperature but can cause warming when intensified.

Historical CO2 Importance

Historical CO2 levels provide context for current trends, helping us distinguish natural cycles from human-caused changes.

Species Removal Impact

Removing a species disrupts predator-prey dynamics, leading to overpopulation or decline of other species, destabilizing the ecosystem.

Invasive Species Impact

Invasive species outcompete natives for resources, alter habitats, and cause extinctions. For example, cane toads in Australia poison native predators.

HIPPO Acronym

HIPPO stands for Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, Pollution, Population Growth, and Overharvesting, highlighting key biodiversity threats.

Biome Determinants

Biomes are determined by climate factors like temperature, precipitation, and the types of organisms adapted to those conditions.

Most Diverse Biome

The tropical rainforest is the most diverse biome, with high species richness due to warm temperatures and abundant rainfall.

Biotic vs Abiotic

Biotic refers to living components (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria). Abiotic refers to non-living components (e.g., sunlight, water, soil).

Symbiotic Relationships Types

Mutualism: Both species benefit (e.g., pollinators and flowers). Commensalism: One benefits, the other is unaffected (e.g., barnacles on whales). Parasitism: One benefits, the other is harmed (e.g., ticks on animals).

Biodiversity Definition

Biodiversity is the variety of life in an ecosystem, including the diversity of species, genes, and ecosystems.

Volcanic Eruptions Cooling

Volcanic eruptions release ash and aerosols into the atmosphere, which block sunlight and temporarily lower global temperatures.

Fossil Fuels Carbon Reservoirs

Fossil fuels store carbon accumulated over millions of years, and their combustion releases this carbon as CO2, contributing to climate change.

Carbon Cycle Processes Interaction

Combustion and respiration release CO2, while photosynthesis removes it, creating a balance that regulates atmospheric carbon levels.

Human Activities Disruption

Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation increase CO2, leading to global warming, ocean acidification, and habitat loss.