5.1-communities and ecosystems

By: Nick Allen

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.

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.

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.

5.1.3: What is the difference between consumers, Detritivores, SaprotrophsConsumer: 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.

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:

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:

5.1.6:Define trophic levelThe categories of organisms such as the

producer, primary consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary consumer, these are called the trophic levels.

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

5.1.8:Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms, using appropriate information.

Turtle grass Manatee grass

cricket

frogs spider

raccoon

opossums

Ibis

AlligatorMangrove

snake

5.1.9:State that light is the initial energy source for almost all communitiesLight 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.

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.

5.1.11:State that energy transformations are never 100% efficientApproximately 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.

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.

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.

5.1.14:State that saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers) recycle nutrients.Saprotrophic bacteria and fungi recycle the

nutrient (organic molecules) of dead organisms.