People and the Earth's Ecosystems - Midterms

Ecosystem

a community of living organisms interacting with each otheer and their environment

1. Biotic (living)

2. Abiotic (non-living)

2 Componenets of an Ecosystem

Ecosystem

provides essential resources, such as food, wate, oxygen, and raw materials

• support biodiversity by providing habitats for different species

• regulate climate and weather patterns

1. Energy Flow

2. Nutrient Cycling

3. Habitat Provision

3 Main Functions of Ecosystem/Key Processes that keep Ecosystems healthy and sustainable

Energy Flow

transfer of energy from the sun through the producers, consumers, and decomposers

Nutrient Cycling

continuous movement and recycling of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus

Habitat Provision

providing shelter and living space for organisms

Energy Flow

transfer of energy though living organisms in an ecosystem

Solar Energy

source of energy of almost all ecosystems

Photosynthesis

plants, algae, and some bacteria capture sunlight through ______________

Food Chain

linear sequence showing how energy and nutrients flow from one organism to another in an ecosystem

Food Webs

a complex network of interconnected food chains that shows how energy and nutrients move between producers, consumers, and decomposers in an ecosystem

Trophic Levels

position of a group of organisms in the food chain, food web, or ecological pyramid based on their feeding pattern

Trophic Levels

are shown in a series or a succession to represent energy low from one trophic level to another

Energy Pyramid

graphical representation showing how energy flows through an ecosystem, decreasing at each successive trophic level from producers to apex consumers

10%

only _______ of the energy is transferred from one trophic level to another

1. Hydrological Cycle

2. Carbon Cycle

3. Nitrogen Cycle

4. Phosphorus Cycle

5. Sulfur Cycle

5 Biogeochemical Cycles

Water cycle

also known as hydrological cycle

Hydrological Cycle

is the continuous movement of water between the Earth’s surface and the atrmosphere through processes such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff

Hydrological Cycle

constantly redistributes water across the planet

Hydrological Cycle

provides fresh water for living organisms and replenishes rivers, lakes, and groundwater

Hydrological Cycle

helps regulate Earth’s climate and weather patterns

Carbon Cycle

movement of carbon among the atmosphere, living organisms, oceans, and Earth’s crust

Carbon

is exchanged through prcesses such as, photosynthesism respiration, decomposition, and combustion

Carbon Cycle

supplies carbon needed for the formation of organic molecules in living organisms

Carbon Cycle

helps regulate atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and Earth’s climate

Nitrogen Cycle

process by which nitrogen moves between the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms

Nitrogen Cycle

includes nitrogen fixation, nitrification, assimilation, ammonification, and dentrification

Nitrogen Cycle

converts atmospheric nitrogen intro forms that plants and animals can use

Nitrogen cycle

is essential for producing proteins, DNA, and other biological molecules

Phosphorus Cycle

is the movement of phosphorus through rocks, soil, water, and living organisms

Phosphorus cycle

does not involve a significant atmospheric component

Phosphorus

is necessary for the formation of DNA, RNA, ATP, and cell membranes

Phosphorus Cycle

supports plant growth and the overall productivity of ecosystems

Sulfur Cycle

movement of sulfur through the atmosphere, soil, water, rocks, and living organisms

Sulfur

is exchanged through processes such as weathering, decomposition, volcanic activity, and biological uptake

Sulfur

is essential for the formation of proteins, enzymes, and vitamines in living organisms

Sulfur Cycle

helps maintain soil fertility and supports the growth and fuctioning of ecosystems

Biome

large-scale regional community of plants and animals defined by its distinct climate and vegetation

1. Terrestrial

2. Aquatic

2 Types of Biomes

Terrestrial

• Temperature spikes

• oxygent abundant in the air

• organism must support weight under gravity

• nutrients hardly spreads

Aquatic

• stable temperature

• oxygen dissolved in water

• bouyancy supports organism

• nutrients easily circulate

1. Latitude

2. Temperature

3. Precipitation

4. Soil Type

5. Geography

5 Terrestrial Biome Distribution Factors

1. depth

2. Salinity

3. Light Penetration

4. Nutrents

5. Water Flow

5 Aquatic Biome Distribution Factors

1. Tropical rainforest

2. Desert

3. Grassland

4. Temperate Forest

5. Taiga (Boreal Forest)

6. Tundra

6 of Earth’s Major Land Biomes

Tropical Rainforest

warma nd wet all year:

• 25-30°C

• 200 - 450 cm of rainfall annually

Tropical Rainforest

• dense, multi-layered canopy (emergent, canopy, understory, forest floor)

• Nutrient-poor soil: nutrients cycle rapidly through living orgnaisms

Tropical Rainforest

has the highest biodiversity of any land biome

Desert

• receives less than 25 cm of rainfall per year

Desert

• extreme temperature swings: scorching days, freezing nights

Desert

• sparse vegetation adapted to drought (cacti, succulents)

Animals

are nocturnal or burrow underground to survive heat in the desert

Grassland

• dominated by grasses with few or no trees

Grassland

• Seasonal Rainfall: enough for grass, too little for forests

Grassland

• fire and grazing animals help maintain open landscape

• home to large herds of herbivores and their predators

Temperate Forest

• found in regions with four distint seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter

Temperate Forest

• receives moderate to high rainfall throughout the year

• rech, fertile soil supports a wide variety of plant life

• Home to diverse animals such as deer, bears, foxes, birds, and insects.

Deciduous Forests

Trees shed their leaves during autumn, which is why many temperate forests are called

Taiga (Boreal Forest)

largest land biome on Earth

Northern Hemisphere

Taiga (Boreal Forests) are mainly found in ________________

Taiga (Boreal Forest)

• has long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

• Dominated by coniferous trees like pine, spruce, and fir.

• Soil is often acidic and low in nutrients.

• Animals are adapted to the cold through thick fur, hibernation, or migration.

Tundra

coldest of all land biomes

Arctic regions

tundras are found in ____________

Tundras

Found in Arctic regions and high mountain areas

Tundras

• Experiences very low temperatures and little precipitation.

• Trees cannot grow because of the frozen soil.

• Vegetation mainly consists of mosses, lichens, grasses, and small shrubs.

• Animals include Arctic foxes, reindeer, polar bears, and snowy owls.

Permafrost

permanently frozen ground

Aquatic Biomes

ecosystems found in water envirnments

71% of Earth’s Surface

aquatic biomes cover about ________

1. Marine Biomes

2. Freshwater Biomes

2 Main Types of Aquatic Biomes

Marine Biomes

largest aquatic ecosystems on Earth

Saltwater Environments

marin biomes consist primarily of

1. Oceans

2. Coral Reefs

3. Estuaries

3 Types of Marine Biomes

Marine Biomes

• Support a wide variety of plants and animals.

• play a crucial role in regulating Earth's climate, producing oxygen, and providing food and resources for humans.

Ocean

largest marine biome

Ocean

contains saltwater with relatively uniform chemical properties

Ocean Ecosystems

are divided into zones based on how deeply sunlight penetrates the water.

Intertidal Zone

experiences changing tides, requiring organisms to adapt to both dry and submerged conditions.

Neritic Zone

eceives enough sunlight for photosynthesis and supports abundant marine life and fisheries.

Oceanic and Benthic Zone

contain plankton, deep-sea organisms, and nutrient-rich habitats on the seafloor

Abyssal Zone

is extremely deep, cold, and dark, where chemosynthetic bacteria support unique food webs near hydrothermal vents.

Coral reefs

are underwater structures formed by coral polyps living in warm, shallow ocean waters near the equator (within 30° north and south latitude).

Coral Polyps

who form coral reefs

Corals

secrete calcium carbonate skeletons that accumulate over time, creating reef systems such as the Great Barrier Reef, fringing reefs, and atolls.

Calcium Carbonate Skeletons

corals secrete ___________ that accumulate over time

Photosynthetic algae

most shallow-water corals have a mutualistic relationship with _____________

Photosynthetic algae

provide most of their energy and nutrients

Deeper-water corals

do not rely on algae and instead use stinging tentacles to capture prey for food.

Stinging Tentacles

deeper-water corals use ___________ to capture prey for food

4,000 fish species

coral reefs support how many fish species

Estuaries

form where freshwater rivers meet the ocean, creating brackish water.

Estuaries

provide important nursery habitats for young fish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

Salinity

in estuaries changes regularly due to the mixing of freshwater and seawater

Halophytes

many estuarine plants are ___

Halophytes

adapted to survive in salty conditions

Freshwater Biomes

• aquatic ecosystems with very low salt content (less than 1% salinity)

1. Lakes

2. Ponds

3. Rivers

4. Streams

5. Wetlands

5 Types of Freshwater Biomes

Freshwater Biomes

• support a wide variety of plants and animals

• Provide essential resources such as drinking water, food, and habitats for wildlife.

• play a vital role in the water cycle and ecosystem balance.

Lakes and Ponds

• vary in size and often develop thermal layers,

  with warm surface water and cooler deep water.

• Sunlight reaches the photic zone, where phytoplankton perform photosynthesis and support aquatic food webs.

Zooplanktons

feed on phytoplankton

Phytoplankton

zooplankton and small aquatic feed on _________