Ecology Unit Review

Food Chain:

• Defines energy transfer sequence through organisms

Producer -> Primary Consumer -> Tertiary Consumer -> Decomposer

• The energy pyramid diagram shows energy flow from one trophic level to the next

• The top trophic level consumes more to meet energy demand (energy is lost as heat at each level)

• Producers obtain 100% of their energy from food synthesis

Food Web:

• Shows complex feeding relationships and energy flow between organisms

• Overabundance or depletion of any organism disrupts the ecosystem by depriving it of natural resources and limiting food options

Symbiosis Overview

• Close, ongoing interaction between two organisms.

• Includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Mutualism

• Both species benefit (eg. bees and flowers)

Commensalism

• One species benefits, and the other is unaffected

Parasitism

• One species benefits at the expense of the other (eg. tapeworms and humans)

Carrying Capacity and Limiting Factors

• Carrying Capacity: Maximum population a habitat can sustain

• Limiting Factors: abiotic and biotic factors restrict population size

Carbon Recycling Process

1. Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 (respiration, combustion)

2. Autotrophs absorb CO2 during photosynthesis.

3. Animals and plants consume plants, incorporating carbon.

4. Decomposition of animals and plants releases carbon back into the atmosphere.

Human Impact on Biodiversity

• Biodiversity refers to the variety of species within an ecosystem.

• Human activities, such as the introduction of invasive species, deforestation, overhunting, and greenhouse gas emissions, contribute to biodiversity loss

• Initiatives include environmental protection laws, habitat reconstruction, and reducing carbon emissions through transportation changes and renewable energy use