5.1-communities and ecosystems

1. 5.1-communities and ecosystems By: Nick Allen

2. 5.1.1: define Habitat, Species, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Ecology. • Definitions for: Habitat- the environment in which a species normally lives, or the location of a living organism. Species- a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Population- a group of organisms of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time. Community- a group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area.

3. 5.1.1(continued) • More definitions: Ecosystem- a community and its abiotic environment. Ecology- the study of relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment.

4. 5.1.2: What is the difference between autotrophs and heterotrophs. • Autotroph: An autotrophic organism is an organism that makes its own food. There are two different types of autotrophy, photoautotrophy and chemoautotrophy. • Heterotrophy: an organism that obtains organic molecules from other organisms, such as wolves feeding on deer. They are meat-eaters.

5. 5.1.3: What is the difference between consumers, Detritivores, Saprotrophs • Consumer: An organism that ingests organic matter that is living or recently killed. • Detritivore: An organism that ingests non-living organic matter. • Saprotroph: An organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion.

6. 5.1.4:describe what is meat by a food chain, give three examples, each with at least three linkages(4 organisms) • A food chain is a sequence of organisms that feed on each other, starting with the producer and ending with the top predator. Example:

7. 5.1.5: What is meant by a food web? • A food web is a diagram that displays all the food relationships of organisms within a community. Example:

8. 5.1.6:Define trophic level • The categories of organisms such as the producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, these are called the trophic levels.

9. 5.1.7:Deduce the trophic level of organisms in a food chain and a food web.

10. 5.1.8:Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms, using appropriate information. Turtle grass Alligator Mangrove snake raccoon Ibis frogs spider opossums cricket Manatee grass

11. 5.1.9:State that light is the initial energy source for almost all communities • Light is the initial energy source for most communities because plants use sunlight for photosynthesis and since other animals plants, that energy is transferred through the food chain.

12. 5.1.10:Explain the energy flow in a food chain. The energy flow starts with the sun and continues through the food chain. Energy is lost however as through respiration as energy.

13. 5.1.11:State that energy transformations are never 100% efficient • Approximately only 10 to 20% will be transferred to the next, higher trophic level • This is why it is inefficient. • Producers will have the most energy.

14. 5.1.12:Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • Population pyramids are shaped like a pyramid because it shows the amount of energy lost between each trophic level. • The number of organisms will be lower the higher on the pyramid you go.

15. 5.1.13:Explain that energy enters and leaves ecosystems, but nutrients must be recycled. • Heat and light comes from the sun, providing energy, the energy that is lost as heat then leaves the planet. • Nutrients must be recycled because there are no nutrients that are made. Producers (autotrophs) take inorganic molecules and convert them to organic compounds.

16. 5.1.14:State that saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers) recycle nutrients. • Saprotrophic bacteria and fungi recycle the nutrient (organic molecules) of dead organisms.