Ecology and Factors Affecting Organisms' Habitats

Climate: A significant factor influencing the distribution of organisms.
- Temperature: Impacts the physiological processes and survival of organisms.
- Precipitation: The availability of water also significantly shapes habitats.
Biomes: Large ecological areas on the earth’s surface, with flora and fauna adapting to their environment and climates.

Light: Essential for photosynthesis; the availability of light varies with water depth.
Nutrients: Different concentrations of nutrients at various depths affect organism distribution.

Photic Zone: The upper layer of water where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis occurs.
Aphotic Zone: The layer below the photic zone, which receives little to no sunlight.
Benthic Zone: The bottom layer of a water body, home to organisms adapted to this environment.
Pelagic Zone: The open water layer where organisms swim freely and are not associated with the bottom.

Biotic Factors: Influences from living organisms on one another's distribution.
- Interactions with Other Organisms:
- Mutualism: A symbiotic relationship where both species benefit.
- Commensalism: One species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed.
- Competition: Occurs when two species use the same resources, potentially harming each other.
- Predation: One organism (predator) consumes another (prey).
- Parasitism: A relationship where one organism benefits at the expense of another.
- Disease: Can influence population dynamics and distribution.
Reciprocal Effects: The relationships and interactions among species can alter ecological charges and environmental pressures.

Energy Flow: Begins with the sun, transferring to producers (autotrophs), then to consumers (heterotrophs).
- Energy Loss: Energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient, with approximately 90% of energy being lost to the environment at each level.
Chemical Cycling: Nutrients cycle through ecosystems, maintaining the balance of life.

Primary Producers: Organisms that produce energy through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Consumer Levels: Organisms that consume energy, ranging from primary consumers (herbivores) to secondary and tertiary consumers (carnivores).