Energy and Matter Exchange In The Biosphere

Open System

Only allows energy and matter to enter and leave

Closed System

A system that allows only energy but not matter to cross

Photosynthesis

Uses light to generate energy-storing compounds

Chemosynthesis

Uses energy from breaking chemical bonds to generate energy-storing compounds

Autotrophs

Self feeders, use the sun’s energy (or inorganic chemicals) to feed themselves

Heterotrophs

Other feeders, consume other organisms for the energy in their tissues

Primary consumers

Herbivores, eat producers

Secondary consumers

Carnivores, eat mainly herbivores

Tertiary consumers

Organisms that feed on other consumers

Saprotrophs

They consume the dead matter and are used as nature’s recyclers. (Decomposers)

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be converted from one form to another

Second law of thermodynamics

With each energy conversion in a system, there will be less energy available, since energy is lost to the surroundings as heat (entropy)

Consequences of the Laws

We lose energy as it is passed along a food chain. Less than 10% is passed which limits the number of trophies levels in an ecosystem

A food chain

A linear pathway through which energy moves in ecosystems

A food web

Shows connections between different food chains

Pyramid of Numbers

Represents the number of organisms that occupy each tropic level

Pyramid of Biomass

Biomass indicates the dry mass of the living organisms at each trophic level

Pyramid of Energy

Represents the amount of energy that is transferred, cannot be inverted!

Water in the biosphere

Warms the earth, universal solvent, polar, high heat of fusion, store energy

Cohesion

Water sticks to water

Adhesion

Water sticks to other things

Carbon Sinks

Largest stores of carbon; the ocean, forests, limestone rock, petroleum deposits

Eutrophication

The excessive use of nutrients in water, due to run off, which causes lack of oxygen in water

Biotic

Living

Abiotic

Non-living

Ecosystems

Encompasses all of the living and nonliving parts of an environment

Biosphere

The largest possible ecosystem- it encompasses everywhere on Earth where living things can appear

Niche

An organisms role in the environment

Species

Has fertile offspring and is capable of reproduction

Population

Organisms that belong to the same species and live together in the same geographical area

Allopathic

A geographical or physical separation. Ex: a river, a mountain

Gradualism

Evolution slow paced where small changes are overtime

Punctuated Equilibrium

Long periods of no change then something causes instant change

Sympatric

Biological or behavioral isolation

Homlogus

Same ancestor, similar layout

Analogous

Same function, different origin. No common ancestor

Molecular biology

Structure of cells, proteins, etc

Biography

Where organisms are found

Genetics

Comparing DNA

Fossils

Carbon dating, bones that are similar share ancestors

Embryology

The development of the embryo in the womb

Variation

Different individuals in a species. Ex: tall, short

Mutation

Change in DNA, affect shape and function of protein

Physiological adaptation

Internal process. Ex: hibernation

Behavioral adaptation

Things organisms do. Ex: migration

Density-dependent factors

Affect a population because of the actual density of the population. Ex: food, comp (BIOTIC)

Structural Adaptations

Physical features

Carrying capacity

Max number of organisms the environment can support

Density-Independent factors

Members of a population no matter the density. Ex: weather, space (ABIOTIC)

Interspecific Competition

Between different species. Ex: lion vs. hyena

Infraspecific Competition

Same species. Ex: lion vs. lion

Plantae

Eukaryotic, multicellular, autotrophic, terrestrial

Fungi

Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic, terrestrial

Protista

Eukaryotic, single-celled, autotrophic + heterotroph, aquatic

Eubacteria

Prokaryotic, single-celled, autotrophic + heterotroph, found everywhere

Six lines of evolution

Fossils, embryology, biography, genetics, molecular biology, anatomy

Animalia

Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotroph, terrestrial + aquatic

Archaebacteria

Prokaryotic, single-celled, heterotrophic, live in the extreme

3 domains

Archaea, Eubacteria, Eukarya

6 Kingdoms

Archaebacteria, Eubacteria, Protisita, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia