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
Viscocity
Buoyancy
Temperature
variation

Terrestrial
Low
Yes; provides some
support
Temperature is
constant except on

Aquatic
High
No; no support
provided
Temperature varies a
lot, depending on

Conduction of heat
Pressure
Availability of
Gases
Availability of
Water
Light penetration
Gas Diffusion
Availability of ions

the edges and

surface.
Almost none
(insulates)
Nearly constant at 1
atm
Abundant
Available in some
places
Everywhere except
on dense forests and
nights
10000 faster than
water
Abundant, but some
may be limited due
to the usage of many
organisms

natural factors.
Good conductor (Lots
of heat loss)
Pressure increases
with depth and is
more than 1 atm.
Scarce
Abundant
Only on the surface
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 + O2
Respiration: 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.

Mutualism
++

(Lichen= fungus
+algae)
+=
(Clownfish +
Anemone)
- +
( Dog/Human + Tick)
- =
(Penicillium notatum
+ bacteria)
- +
(Shark and Fish)
- +/ = =
(Sharks and dolphins)

Commensalism
Parasitism
Allelopathy
Predation
Competition

One inhibits the

growth of another by
release of chemicals.
One is food, the
other gets food.
Competing with each
other for the limited
resources, where one
can be eliminated or
both can coexist.

INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Food chain: Single line of feeding
Food web: Interconnected food chains
Trophic level: A level occupied by a consumer
Biomass (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
Diversity

Stability

Natural
Great

Complex,
Stable

Agricultural
Little, usually
dominated by
one or two
types of
animal/crop
Simple,
unstable
monocultures

Urban
Little to none,
humans
dominate
Simple, more
animals than
plants;
unstable

Energy In

Light

Energy Out

Matter
Recycling

Extremely
efficient

Light and fossil

fuels

Fossil fuels,
nuclear,
hydroelectric
Photosynthesis, Rapid energy
respiration, and and haet loss,
gradual heat
including
loss
excessive
burning
Inefficient, only So the damn
some recycled
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)