Adaptations:Inherited characteristics of an organism that increase its

survivability by allowing it to be well suited to its environment.

Environment:The biotic and abiotic factors surrounding an organism.

Biome:A large region that is characterized by major vegetation type

and grouped along with similar ecosystems.

Abiotic: Non-living features in an environment.Biotic: Living features in an environment and their interactions.

Population:A group of the same organisms (living thing) living in a certain

place at a certain time.

Niche:The place/role of a species in an interrelating community with

other species. This also includes how it reacts to abundance of resources, enemies, etc.

Ecosystem:An environment where the organisms interact with each other

and the also the abiotic factors. (Woodland, Desert, Shrubland, Rivers, Lakes, Oceans, Tundra.)

Species: Groups of similar organisms that can reproduce with each other.Community: Groups of different populations in a certain area.Habitat: Where an organism lives.

Ecology: The study of relationships in an ecosystem(biotic-biotic, biotic-abiotic).

Biosphere: Ecosystem of all living organisms (land, ocean, atmosphere.) It is the global sum of ecosystems.

Factors Terrestrial AquaticViscocity Low HighBuoyancy Yes; provides some

supportNo; no support provided

Temperature variation

Temperature is constant except on

Temperature varies a lot, depending on

the edges and surface.

natural factors.

Conduction of heat Almost none (insulates)

Good conductor (Lots of heat loss)

Pressure Nearly constant at 1 atm

Pressure increases with depth and is more than 1 atm.

Availability of Gases

Abundant Scarce

Availability of Water

Available in some places

Abundant

Light penetration Everywhere except on dense forests and nights

Only on the surface

Gas Diffusion 10000 faster than water

-

Availability of ions Abundant, but some may be limited due to the usage of many organisms

Available in soil water

The degree to which water absorbs different wavelengths of light is the absorbance spectrum of water.Algae have different pigments that allow them to live in certain depths.

Red algae (phycoerythrin) and brown algae (fucoxanthin) have the capability to absorb green and blue wavelengths- which penetrate the deepest- which will be transferred to the chlorophyll for photosynthesis. So they can live in depths greater than that of green algae.

Energy transfer from one trophic level to another is not efficient and only transfers about 10% from the original amount each time. A lot of energy is lost to body heat and respiration along with decomposers.

Photosythesis: CO2 + H2O = glucose + O2Respiration: Glucose + O2 = H2O + CO2 + Energy

Decomposers are important in an ecosystem since they recycle the organic material from dead bodies into inorganic materials which will be used again for plants to create organic materials.

Matter is recycled, not energy.INTERRELATIONSHIPS

Food chain: Single line of feedingFood web: Interconnected food chains

Mutualism + +(Lichen= fungus +algae)

Commensalism + =(Clownfish + Anemone)

Parasitism - +( Dog/Human + Tick)

Allelopathy - =(Penicillium notatum + bacteria)

One inhibits the growth of another by release of chemicals.

Predation - +(Shark and Fish)

One is food, the other gets food.

Competition - +/ = =(Sharks and dolphins)

Competing with each other for the limited resources, where one can be eliminated or both can coexist.

Trophic level: A level occupied by a consumerBiomass (PYRAMID): The total mass in a community. Since matter is lost as the trophic levels progress, the next should only be about 10% of the previous (drastically smaller). Producers are always the ones with the largest biomass.

Human Impact

Natural Agricultural UrbanDiversity Great Little, usually

dominated by one or two types of animal/crop

Little to none, humans dominate

Stability Complex, Stable

Simple, unstable monocultures

Simple, more animals than plants; unstable

Energy In Light Light and fossil fuels

Fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric

Energy Out - Photosynthesis, respiration, and gradual heat loss

Rapid energy and haet loss, including excessive burning

Matter Recycling

Extremely efficient

Inefficient, only some recycled

So the damn inefficient, bullshit recycling

Problems:Soil erosion: Removal of soil/rock from one place which is then transported to another by wind/water.

Greenhouse effect: Too much CO2 accumulates because not many plants are available to recycle it into oxygen, so more heat is trapped and the Earth slowly cooks.

Biomagnification: Heavy metals and pesticides accumulate in an organism and remains there for a long time. Another organism

consumes the infected organism in a large amount and accumulates a larger amount/concentration of those substances. This repeats, hence biomagnification. (magnification of the toxics along the food chain/web)