GEOGRAPHY 316: BIOGEOGRAPHY
B. Holzman, PhD
GEOGRAPHY 316: BIOGEOGRAPHY
B. Holzman, PhD
Ecosystems/ Ecological Processes
I. Definitions
II. Biotic Structure of the
Ecosystem
A. Laws of Thermodynamics
B. Food Chains
C. Trophic Levels
I. Some
definitions
Biosphere: all living organisms and their environment
Ecology: study of the interactions between life forms and their physical environment
Ecosystem: grouping of plants, animals and microbes, etc. interacting with each other and their physical environment
"ECO" = home
Community: all plants and animals inhabiting an area (suggests interactions)
Population: a group of individuals of the same species in an area
Species: a group of organisms where all members do or have the potential to interbreed and produce viable offspring
Biomass: total amount of all plants, animals, organisms
Ecotone: where ecosystems blend or meet
A.
Conservation of Matter
In any physical or chemical change, matter
is neither created nor destroyed,
but merely changes from one form to another
B.
Conservation of Energy
C. Law of Energy
Degradation
Energy moves from an organized , useful form to a
disorganized
less useful form. Energy can not be
completely recycled to its
original state of organized, high quality usefulness.
Biotic Structure of an Ecosystem
Producers: all plants with chlorophyll that photosynthesize: (autotrophs)
Consumers: Feed on producers or other consumers (heterotrophs)
Primary: feed on producers (herbivores)
Secondary: feed on primary consumers
(carnivores)
Tertiary:…..
Decomposers: feed on detritus
(usually a bacteria or fungus that feed on dead producers, consumers,
etc.)
