Environmental Studies (Chapter 2)

T/F: The total Biomass at a particular trophic level is always MORE than the Biomass of the trophic level ABOVE it.

TRUE

- Producers or Autotrophs

These are Organisms (PLANTS) -that Trap the SUN'S Energy to Manufacture Food from simple raw materials. These are found at the BOTTOM or the BEGINNING of the FOOD CHAIN.

Secondary Consumers or Omnivores

These are Organisms (RAT, LIZARD)that feed on Primary consumers.

Omnivores - 2ND

These are Organisms that can use both Plants and other Animals as food sources

As you move up the food chain energy is degraded.

This is caused by a conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy and heat energy. As stated under the Second Law of Thermodynamics as the energy changes, some of the useful energy is degraded to lower quality, less useful energy.

Pyramid of Numbers (Population)

This shows the number of living organisms present at each trophic level. Green plants are the most numerous and form the base of the pyramid. As you move up the food chain the number of individuals present decreases.

Ecosphere encompasses

the Biosphere and its Interaction with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

The study of Energy and its transformations is called-

thermodynamics

Saprotrophs

feed on dead or decaying matter (detritus) by secreting digestive enzymes extracellularly. This breaks down the cell walls and the nutrients are then absorbed. e.g. fungi and bacteria

Ecological Pyramids

graphical representations designed to show the Biomass, Productivity Energy Flow or Population at each Trophic level in a particular Ecosystem in a given time.

Oceans

include a variety of environments depending on temperature, water, depth, bathymetry (depth and shape of underwater terrain), concentration of nutrients and sediment. Each of these marine environments support a more or less distinctive array of seaweed, plankton, fish, shell fish and other marine organisms.

A Food Web

is a Complex of Interconnected Food Chains in an Ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

is a biological process in which LIGHT ENERGY from the sun is captured and transformed into the Chemical Energy found in the chemical bonds of carbohydrate molecules (glucose).

ENTROPY

is a measure of this disorder or randomness. Organised or usable energy has low entropy,while disorganised energy such as heat has high entropy.

Respiration

is the process by which the Chemical Energy STORED in Carbohydrates and other Molecules is released within the cells by the Breaking Down of these molecules in the presence of Oxygen to form Carbon dioxide And Water with the release of Energy Stored in UNITS called ATP - Adenosine Triphosphate.

Biota includes

living component which is known as all the organisms: plants, animals and microbes in the ecosystem.

As a consequence of the first Law of Thermodynamics-

living things cannot create energy but must capture the energy from the environment.

Detritus is

non-living organic matter which includes animal carcasses, leaf litter and faeces

Ecosystem Energy Flow:

occurs in food chains where energy from food passes from one organism to the next in a sequence.

As you move up to different trophic levels

only 10% of the energy is made available to the next trophic level because energy degrades as it is converted

Abiota.

physical or non-living component

1ST Primary Consumer or Herbivores -

these are Organisms (GRASSHOPPERS) that feed directly upon Producers.

(3rd) Tertiary Consumers

these are organisms (LION, RAVEN) that feed on secondary consumers - Saprotrophs or Saprophytes also are Decomposers

Detritivores

unlike the saprotrophs these consumers ingest detritus. The matter is then broken down and the nutrients absorbed internally. e.g. snails, crabs, clams and worms.

Population:

A group within a given species, living in the same habitat, the individuals of which can and do freely interbreed.

Biotic Structure - Individual:

A single member of a species.

Biosphere:

All of the EARTH'S Communities of Organisms.

Abiotic structure

Atmosphere:

Pyramid of Numbers

(Population)

ORGANISATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment can be divided into the biological or biota and the abiota.

(Second Law of Thermodynamics) and also because all organisms at each trophic level are not consumed.

The primary producers would have the most energy available to them, while those at the top of the food chain have the least amount of energy available to them.

Ecosphere:

The worldwide Ecosystem.

Examples of Ecotones BETWEEN Ocean and Freshwater Systems-

Land--> Mangroves (ecotone) --> Oceans

Pyramid of Biomass

Biomass is the weight of all organic matter contained in organisms.

The way Categories of Organisms FIT together is referred to as the ___

Biotic Structure.

T/F: Breeding between Different Populations of the Same species is Less Common because of differences in Location, Culture and Nationality.

TRUE

T/F: Less usable energy is disorganised.

TRUE

ECOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY

Describes How Much Stored Energy an Organism can Produce from the Food that it Consumes, and hence the Efficiency with which Energy is Transferred from one Trophic level to Another.

Ecosystems seldom have distinct boundaries and are not independent of each other. One tends to blend into the next through a transitional region called :

ECOTONE

Hydrosphere:

Earth's supply of water, liquid and frozen, fresh and salty.

Biotic and Abiotic Interactions -(EBEE)

Ecosystem, Biome, Ecotone and Ecosphere

Biome:

Ecosystems with SIMILAR VEGETATION types occurring in different parts of the world are collectively termed biomes. These are governed by similar types of climatic conditions. Examples include: tropical rain forests, coniferous forests and grasslands.

This region contains many of the species and characteristics of the two adjacent systems and may include unique environments that support distinctive plants and animals as well as those that are common to the adjoining ecosystem.

Ecotone

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be CREATED or DESTROYED although it can be TRANSFORMED from one form to another.

There are conspicuous Ecotones BETWEEN Ocean and Freshwater Systems in the form of-

Estuaries, between ocean and land in the FORM of Beaches, Wetlands and Rocky Coastlines.

T/F: On a practical level it means that it is more Costly to Produce Energy Content in the form of Meat and other Animal Products than in the form of Corn, Soybeans, and other crops. Therefore, in terms of ecological efficiency, a Plant-based Diet is Best.

TRUE

T/F: There are Three laws of thermodynamics

FALSE: Two

Atmosphere:

GASEOUS ENVELOPE surrounding the Earth.

Ecosystem:

Grouping of PLANTS, ANIMALS and other ORGANISMS interacting with each other and the Non-Living component of the environment in such a way as to perpetuate the grouping more or less indefinitely.

Lithosphere:

Is the SOIL and ROCK of Earth's crust.

Energy Flow

Is the movement of energy in a one-way direction through an Ecosystem

T/F: Organisms in a Community can be divided into categories based on how they get nourishment.

TRUE

T/F: Since an organism uses its food for other physical and biological processes and a significant portion is lost as low grade heat, energy transfer between trophic levels is generally inefficient so that on average it is estimated that there is only a 10 percent transfer of energy from one trophic level to the next.

TRUE

THE ENERGY OF LIFE

Matter is anything that has MASS and takes up space. For matter to move or do work it requires ENERGY which is the capacity or ability to do work. The sun is the energy source that powers all life processes.

This process uses carbon dioxide and water as raw materials with the release of oxygen as a by-product

Photosynthesis

How does the Law of Thermodynamics work?

Plants absorb the radiant Energy of the Sun and Convert it into the Chemical energy contained in the Bonds of Glucose. Animals obtain energy by consuming plants or other animals.

Community:

Several interacting Populations living in a HABITAT.

The total population of a specific KIND of plant, animal or microbe is called a

Species.

T/F: As a result, the amount of usable energy available to do work in the universe decreases over time.

TRUE

T/F Individuals belonging to the same species have similar DNA and are able to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

True

Second Law of Thermodynamics

When energy is Converted from one form to another, some Usable Energy i.e. energy available to do Work is Degraded into a Less USABLE FORM such as HEAT that disperses into the Environment.

Trophic Levels

are the FEEDING POSITION an Organism may Occupy in a Food Chain. A plant, for example, is at the First Trophic level while the grasshopper that eats the plant is at the Second Trophic level.