Ch 12 - Ecosystem12th Biology
Categories of Ecosystems
How is the biosphere's global ecosystem broadly categorized, and what are examples of man-made ecosystems?
How is the biosphere's global ecosystem broadly categorized, and what are examples of man-made ecosystems?
- Terrestrial Ecosystems: Land-based environments like forests, grasslands, and deserts.
- Aquatic Ecosystems: Water-based environments like ponds, lakes, wetlands, rivers, and estuaries.
- Man-made Ecosystems: Artificial environments created and heavily regulated by humans, such as crop fields and aquariums.
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Vertical Stratification in Ecosystems
Define 'stratification' in an ecosystem's physical structure and illustrate it using the specific vertical hierarchy of a forest.
Define 'stratification' in an ecosystem's physical structure and illustrate it using the specific vertical hierarchy of a forest.
- Definition: The specific vertical distribution of different species occupying distinct physical levels within an ecosystem.
- Example (Forest Hierarchy):
- Trees (e.g., Teak) occupy the top vertical strata (the canopy).
- Shrubs occupy the second intermediate layer.
- Herbs (e.g., Amaranths) occupy the third lower layer.
- Grasses occupy the absolute bottom surface layer.
Prism Memory Hook
T-S-H-G: Trees, Shrubs, Herbs, Grasses.
Four Functional Components of an Ecosystem
The interacting components of an ecosystem function holistically as a single unit when considering which four key ecological aspects?
The interacting components of an ecosystem function holistically as a single unit when considering which four key ecological aspects?
- Productivity: The biological synthesis of organic matter.
- Decomposition: The biochemical breakdown of dead organic matter.
- Energy Flow: The unidirectional transfer of thermodynamic energy across trophic levels.
- Nutrient Cycling: The continuous movement and recycling of inorganic minerals.
Prism Memory Hook
P-D-E-N: Productivity, Decomposition, Energy flow, Nutrient cycling.
Also in this chapter
43 more cards to study in Prism
- 4Functional Components of a Pond Ecosystem
- 5Pond Ecosystem Functioning
- 6Rate of Biomass Production (Productivity)
- 7Secondary Productivity
- 8Gross vs. Net Primary Productivity
- 9Global Annual Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
- 10Detritus
- 11The Three Simultaneous Steps of Decomposition
- 12Extracellular Digestion by Saprotrophs
- 13Mineralisation
- 14Humification and Ecological Properties of Humus
- 15Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR)
- 16Factors Regulating the Rate of Decomposition
- 17Laws of Thermodynamics in Ecosystems
- 18Major Conduits of Energy Flow
- 19Grazing vs. Detritus Food Chains (GFC vs. DFC)
- 20Formation of Ecological Food Webs
- 21Standing Crop vs. Standing State
- 22Lindeman's 10 Percent Law
- 23Structure of Ecological Pyramids
- 24Pyramid of Numbers: Upright vs. Inverted
- 25Inverted Pyramid of Biomass in the Sea
- 26Pyramid of Energy & Pyramid Limitations
- 27Ecological Succession & Climax Community
- 28Gaseous vs. Sedimentary Nutrient Cycles
- 29Primary vs. Secondary Ecological Succession
- 30Global Carbon Reservoir Distribution
- 31Pioneer Species in Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitats
- 32Plant Succession: Hydrarch vs. Xerarch Environments
- 33Annual Global Carbon Fixation
- 34The Phosphorus Cycle Mechanism
- 35Chronological Stages of Hydrarch Succession
- 36Chronological Stages of Xerarch Succession
- 37Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services
- 38Cost Breakdown of Ecosystem Services
- 39Exception to Solar Energy Dependency
- 40Biological Carbon Composition
- 41Schematic Flow of the Phosphorus Cycle
- 42Functional Differences: Carbon vs. Phosphorus Cycles
- 43Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services
- 44Determinants of Primary Productivity
- 45Respiratory Losses in Nutrient Cycles
- 46Vertical Stratification Hierarchy
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