Chapter 18: Ecology

%%Ecology%% is the study of interaction among organisms, and b/w organisms and the physical and chemical factors making up environment.

• Environment   * ^^Biotic^^ - concerns living things which an organism comes into contact with.   * ^^Abiotic^^ - includes light, water, oxygen, temperature, salinity and pH of soil or water.

Ecosystem

Is an ecological system formed by the interaction of living organisms and their nonliving environment.

• It can be identified as producers, consumers or decomposers.

Food Chain

Is the ^^series of organisms^^ through which ^^energy is transferred^^ in material form.

• Each stage is known as %%trophic level.%%
• %%Predator%% that feeds on another animal called %%prey%%
• In first chain; corn is the producer, rat is the prey of owl, so owl will be the predator.

Food Web

Is formed when food chains are linked up together.

Ecological Pyramids

Carbon Cycle

• ^^Importance^^   * Ensures that there is a continuous supply of inorganic carbon dioxide for plants to carry out photosynthesis.   * Enables a linear flow of energy through the ecosystem.
• ^^Removal of CO2^^   * Through photosynthesis.
• ^^Release of CO2^^   * Respiration   * Combustion   * Decay

Malaria

• A disease caused by plasmodium.
• ^^Symptoms^^   * Intermittent fever   * Shivering, chills and profuse sweating
• ^^Transmission^^   * By female Anopheles mosquito

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