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Annabella Tecchio
11/27/2025
AP Environmental Science
Unit 1 and 2 APES
99
•
Nov 27, 2025
•
Annabella Tecchio
@annabellatecchio_svug
Ecosystems are like nature's intricate puzzles where every piece plays... Show more
Ever wondered how all living things fit together in the natural world? Let's start with the building blocks! An ecosystem consists of all living and nonliving things in an area, interacting as a system.
These systems have different scales, starting with an individual (a single organism), building up to a population (group of the same species, like a herd of deer), then a community (all living organisms in an area). Above ecosystems are biomes (large areas with similar climate conditions), and the entire biosphere (the thin layer of Earth that supports life).
Within ecosystems, organisms interact in fascinating ways. Competition happens when organisms fight over limited resources like food or shelter. Predation occurs when one organism (predator) eats another (prey) for energy. In contrast, mutualism benefits both parties, while commensalism helps one organism without affecting the other.
💡 Think of nature as a complex network of relationships! Predators aren't just hunters - they include herbivores eating plants, carnivores consuming other animals, parasites living off hosts, and parasitoids that lay eggs inside other organisms.
Symbiosis ("living together") describes long-term interactions between different species. A beautiful example is coral, where the coral animal provides structure and carbon dioxide for algae, while the algae supply sugars for coral energy. Similarly, lichens combine fungi and algae in a mutually beneficial partnership.
When resources are limited, competition gets fierce! But nature has clever solutions through resource partitioning, where different species use the same resources in different ways to reduce competition.
This partitioning happens in three main ways. Temporal partitioning involves using resources at different times (like wolves and coyotes hunting at different hours). With spatial partitioning, species use different areas of a shared habitat. Morphological partitioning relies on different body features that evolved to use resources differently.
A biome is a large area sharing similar temperature and precipitation patterns, creating distinctive ecosystems. The plants and animals in each biome have adapted specifically to thrive in those conditions. Nutrient availability in soil significantly determines which plants can survive - tropical rainforests and boreal forests have surprisingly nutrient-poor soil, while temperate forests have richer soil.
💡 Think of biomes as Earth's different "neighborhoods" - each with its own climate, plants, and animals perfectly adapted to local conditions!
Aquatic biomes have their own important characteristics. Salinity (salt content) determines which species can survive there. Water depth affects how much sunlight reaches plants for photosynthesis. Water flow influences which organisms can survive and how much oxygen dissolves in water. And temperature matters because warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, supporting fewer organisms.
Rivers and lakes form our major freshwater ecosystems. Rivers have high oxygen levels thanks to constant water movement, while lakes have distinct zones: the littoral zone near shore, the limnetic zone where light penetrates for photosynthesis, and the dark benthic zone at the bottom where nutrients accumulate.
Wetlands are amazing transition areas between land and water, staying submerged or saturated for at least part of the year. They act as nature's filters by storing excess water, filtering out pollutants, and providing nutrient-rich soil for specialized plants.
Where rivers meet the sea, estuaries create unique environments where fresh and salt water mix. These highly productive ecosystems have abundant plant growth due to nutrients in sediments deposited as rivers slow down. Salt marshes develop along coastlines in temperate climates, while mangrove swamps thrive along tropical coastlines.
💡 Coral reefs are underwater cities! Though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they support about 25% of all marine species.
The marine biome encompasses the vast saltwater ecosystems covering most of Earth's surface. Coral reefs exemplify the delicate balance of marine life - corals take in carbon dioxide to make their calcium carbonate structures, while tiny organisms living within the coral provide nutrients through photosynthesis, creating a beautiful partnership.
The intertidal zone is a narrow band of coastline between high and low tide marks. Organisms here, like starfish and barnacles, have adapted to survive crashing waves, exposure to air, and changing water levels across different zones (splash zone, high tide, mid tide, and low tide).
The vast open ocean has relatively low productivity per area since only algae and phytoplankton can survive in most parts. It's divided into the photic zone where light penetrates and the dark aphotic/abyssal zone below.
The carbon cycle tracks how carbon molecules move between sources and sinks in our environment. Some movements happen quickly (like fossil fuel combustion) while others take centuries. The atmosphere plays a key role in balancing this cycle, which can be thrown off when reservoirs or sinks store excessive carbon.
💡 Carbon cycles through our planet like money in an economy - moving from place to place, changing forms, and sometimes getting stockpiled!
Photosynthesis is a critical process where plants, algae, and phytoplankton remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it to glucose (sugar). This makes photosynthesis a carbon sink, expressed as: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. The glucose becomes both stored chemical energy and the biological form of carbon that fuels life on Earth.
Cellular respiration is the flip side of photosynthesis - both plants and animals perform it to release stored energy. This process uses oxygen to break down glucose, releasing energy and carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, making it a carbon source: 6O₂ + C₆H₁₂O₆ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP (energy).
The oceans and atmosphere constantly exchange carbon through direct exchange, with CO₂ dissolving into and out of ocean water. This typically happens quickly and in balanced amounts, but when excess CO₂ enters the ocean, it leads to ocean acidification - a major threat to marine life.
Marine organisms play vital roles in the carbon cycle. Algae and phytoplankton remove CO₂ through photosynthesis, while coral reefs and shelled organisms use carbon to build calcium carbonate structures. When these organisms die, sedimentation occurs as their carbon-containing bodies sink to the ocean floor and break down into sediments.
💡 The ocean is Earth's largest carbon sink, absorbing about 30% of the CO₂ released by human activities!
Over geologic time, pressure compresses these carbon-rich sediments into sedimentary rock or fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). When humans extract and burn these fuels, we rapidly release carbon that took millions of years to store, disrupting the natural carbon cycle and contributing to climate change.
The nitrogen cycle moves nitrogen between sources and sinks, with the atmosphere serving as the largest reservoir (nitrogen makes up about 78% of our air). Despite its abundance, only specialized bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into biologically available forms.
Nitrogen fixation transforms N₂ gas into usable forms like ammonia (NH₃) or nitrate (NO₃). This happens through bacterial fixation (by soil bacteria or those living symbiotically in plant root nodules) and synthetic fixation (when humans convert N₂ to NH₃ through industrial processes). Plants then take up this nitrogen through assimilation.
Human activities significantly disrupt the nitrogen cycle. Excess fertilizer use can cause ammonia volatilization, releasing NH₃ gas that causes acid rain and respiratory irritation. Leaching occurs when nitrates get carried away by water, leading to eutrophication in water bodies.
💡 Though nitrogen surrounds us in the air we breathe, plants can't use it directly - they rely on bacteria to "fix" it into a usable form first!
The phosphorus cycle differs from other nutrient cycles because it has no atmospheric component - phosphorus primarily exists in rocks and sediments. This makes the cycle extremely slow compared to carbon, nitrogen, or water cycles. Phosphorus is essential for all organisms, forming the backbone of DNA and ATP (energy molecules) and providing structure in bones and teeth.
The phosphorus cycle begins with weathering, as wind and rain break down phosphorus-containing rocks, releasing minerals into soil. Humans accelerate this process by mining phosphate minerals for synthetic fertilizers and detergents.
Plants absorb phosphorus through their roots, then animals acquire it by eating plants or other animals. When organisms die, decomposers break down their remains, returning phosphorus to the soil. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus doesn't dissolve well in water - it tends to form solid particles that sink to the bottom as sediment.
Over long periods, these phosphate sediments get compressed into sedimentary rock by the pressure of overlying water. Geological uplift through tectonic plate collisions can eventually bring these phosphorus-rich rocks back to the surface, continuing the cycle.
💡 Phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems - just a small amount can trigger massive algae blooms!
Both nitrogen and phosphorus can cause eutrophication when they enter water bodies in excess. This fuels explosive algae growth, which initially seems positive but quickly turns harmful. When these algae die, decomposing bacteria consume oxygen while breaking them down, creating oxygen-depleted "dead zones" that kill fish and other aquatic life - a devastating positive feedback loop.
The hydrologic (water) cycle tracks water as it moves through different states of matter and various reservoirs on Earth. Unlike other cycles we've studied, water continuously changes between solid, liquid, and gas forms as it travels.
Energy from the sun drives the entire water cycle. The ocean serves as the largest water reservoir, while ice caps and groundwater contain smaller but crucial reserves of fresh water that humans can use.
Evaporation and evapotranspiration represent the main processes returning water to the atmosphere. During evaporation (sometimes called "vaporization"), liquid water transforms into water vapor. Transpiration occurs when plants draw groundwater up through their roots and release it through their leaves. Together, these processes are called evapotranspiration - the total amount of water entering the atmosphere from both sources.
💡 The water cycle is Earth's greatest recycling system - the water you drink today might have once been in a dinosaur's footprint or part of an ancient ocean!
Both processes depend on energy from the sun, highlighting how solar energy powers most of Earth's important cycles. Without the sun, our planet's water would remain locked in place rather than flowing through the living and nonliving components of our ecosystems.
Primary productivity measures how efficiently ecosystems convert sunlight into organic compounds through photosynthesis. It's typically measured in kilocalories per square meter per year . Ecosystems with high primary productivity generally support greater biodiversity.
We can calculate productivity in different ways. Gross primary productivity (GPP) represents the total energy plants capture through photosynthesis. Plants use some of this energy for their own cellular processes (respiration loss), leaving net primary productivity (NPP) - the energy available for consumers. The formula is simple: NPP = GPP - Respiration Loss.
Ecological efficiency measures what percentage of incoming solar energy plants actually convert into biomass. Some ecosystems are more efficient than others, affecting their overall productivity and biodiversity.
💡 Every bite you take contains energy that began as sunlight captured by plants - you're literally eating sunshine!
Energy flow through ecosystems follows two fundamental laws of thermodynamics. The first law states that energy is never created or destroyed, only transformed. The second law explains that each time energy transfers, some is lost as heat. This creates the 10% rule - generally only about 10% of energy transfers from one trophic level to the next, with the rest lost as heat or used by the organism.
The 10% rule shapes the structure of ecosystems. At each step up the food chain, approximately 90% of energy is used by organisms or lost as heat, with just 10% available to the next level. This same rule applies to biomass (the total mass of living organisms) at each trophic level.
This energy limitation creates a trophic pyramid with producers at the base, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (animals that eat herbivores), and tertiary consumers (animals that eat secondary consumers). Each higher level contains fewer organisms because less energy is available.
Food webs show how energy and matter flow through an ecosystem from organism to organism. While simple food chains show just one linear path of energy transfer, food webs display multiple interconnected chains, revealing how organisms can exist at different trophic levels simultaneously.
💡 Food webs are nature's internet - a complex network where every connection matters. Remove or add just one species, and effects ripple through the entire system!
These webs help us understand ecosystem dynamics. When one population increases or decreases, it affects many others throughout the web. A trophic cascade occurs when adding or removing a top predator creates ripple effects throughout lower trophic levels, demonstrating the delicate balance of healthy ecosystems.
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
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iOS user
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Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Annabella Tecchio
@annabellatecchio_svug
Ecosystems are like nature's intricate puzzles where every piece plays a critical role. From tiny organisms to vast biomes, understanding how these systems work helps us make sense of our natural world. This guide breaks down the key concepts of... Show more
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Ever wondered how all living things fit together in the natural world? Let's start with the building blocks! An ecosystem consists of all living and nonliving things in an area, interacting as a system.
These systems have different scales, starting with an individual (a single organism), building up to a population (group of the same species, like a herd of deer), then a community (all living organisms in an area). Above ecosystems are biomes (large areas with similar climate conditions), and the entire biosphere (the thin layer of Earth that supports life).
Within ecosystems, organisms interact in fascinating ways. Competition happens when organisms fight over limited resources like food or shelter. Predation occurs when one organism (predator) eats another (prey) for energy. In contrast, mutualism benefits both parties, while commensalism helps one organism without affecting the other.
💡 Think of nature as a complex network of relationships! Predators aren't just hunters - they include herbivores eating plants, carnivores consuming other animals, parasites living off hosts, and parasitoids that lay eggs inside other organisms.
Symbiosis ("living together") describes long-term interactions between different species. A beautiful example is coral, where the coral animal provides structure and carbon dioxide for algae, while the algae supply sugars for coral energy. Similarly, lichens combine fungi and algae in a mutually beneficial partnership.
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When resources are limited, competition gets fierce! But nature has clever solutions through resource partitioning, where different species use the same resources in different ways to reduce competition.
This partitioning happens in three main ways. Temporal partitioning involves using resources at different times (like wolves and coyotes hunting at different hours). With spatial partitioning, species use different areas of a shared habitat. Morphological partitioning relies on different body features that evolved to use resources differently.
A biome is a large area sharing similar temperature and precipitation patterns, creating distinctive ecosystems. The plants and animals in each biome have adapted specifically to thrive in those conditions. Nutrient availability in soil significantly determines which plants can survive - tropical rainforests and boreal forests have surprisingly nutrient-poor soil, while temperate forests have richer soil.
💡 Think of biomes as Earth's different "neighborhoods" - each with its own climate, plants, and animals perfectly adapted to local conditions!
Aquatic biomes have their own important characteristics. Salinity (salt content) determines which species can survive there. Water depth affects how much sunlight reaches plants for photosynthesis. Water flow influences which organisms can survive and how much oxygen dissolves in water. And temperature matters because warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, supporting fewer organisms.
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Rivers and lakes form our major freshwater ecosystems. Rivers have high oxygen levels thanks to constant water movement, while lakes have distinct zones: the littoral zone near shore, the limnetic zone where light penetrates for photosynthesis, and the dark benthic zone at the bottom where nutrients accumulate.
Wetlands are amazing transition areas between land and water, staying submerged or saturated for at least part of the year. They act as nature's filters by storing excess water, filtering out pollutants, and providing nutrient-rich soil for specialized plants.
Where rivers meet the sea, estuaries create unique environments where fresh and salt water mix. These highly productive ecosystems have abundant plant growth due to nutrients in sediments deposited as rivers slow down. Salt marshes develop along coastlines in temperate climates, while mangrove swamps thrive along tropical coastlines.
💡 Coral reefs are underwater cities! Though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, they support about 25% of all marine species.
The marine biome encompasses the vast saltwater ecosystems covering most of Earth's surface. Coral reefs exemplify the delicate balance of marine life - corals take in carbon dioxide to make their calcium carbonate structures, while tiny organisms living within the coral provide nutrients through photosynthesis, creating a beautiful partnership.
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The intertidal zone is a narrow band of coastline between high and low tide marks. Organisms here, like starfish and barnacles, have adapted to survive crashing waves, exposure to air, and changing water levels across different zones (splash zone, high tide, mid tide, and low tide).
The vast open ocean has relatively low productivity per area since only algae and phytoplankton can survive in most parts. It's divided into the photic zone where light penetrates and the dark aphotic/abyssal zone below.
The carbon cycle tracks how carbon molecules move between sources and sinks in our environment. Some movements happen quickly (like fossil fuel combustion) while others take centuries. The atmosphere plays a key role in balancing this cycle, which can be thrown off when reservoirs or sinks store excessive carbon.
💡 Carbon cycles through our planet like money in an economy - moving from place to place, changing forms, and sometimes getting stockpiled!
Photosynthesis is a critical process where plants, algae, and phytoplankton remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and convert it to glucose (sugar). This makes photosynthesis a carbon sink, expressed as: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂. The glucose becomes both stored chemical energy and the biological form of carbon that fuels life on Earth.
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Cellular respiration is the flip side of photosynthesis - both plants and animals perform it to release stored energy. This process uses oxygen to break down glucose, releasing energy and carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere, making it a carbon source: 6O₂ + C₆H₁₂O₆ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + ATP (energy).
The oceans and atmosphere constantly exchange carbon through direct exchange, with CO₂ dissolving into and out of ocean water. This typically happens quickly and in balanced amounts, but when excess CO₂ enters the ocean, it leads to ocean acidification - a major threat to marine life.
Marine organisms play vital roles in the carbon cycle. Algae and phytoplankton remove CO₂ through photosynthesis, while coral reefs and shelled organisms use carbon to build calcium carbonate structures. When these organisms die, sedimentation occurs as their carbon-containing bodies sink to the ocean floor and break down into sediments.
💡 The ocean is Earth's largest carbon sink, absorbing about 30% of the CO₂ released by human activities!
Over geologic time, pressure compresses these carbon-rich sediments into sedimentary rock or fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). When humans extract and burn these fuels, we rapidly release carbon that took millions of years to store, disrupting the natural carbon cycle and contributing to climate change.
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The nitrogen cycle moves nitrogen between sources and sinks, with the atmosphere serving as the largest reservoir (nitrogen makes up about 78% of our air). Despite its abundance, only specialized bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into biologically available forms.
Nitrogen fixation transforms N₂ gas into usable forms like ammonia (NH₃) or nitrate (NO₃). This happens through bacterial fixation (by soil bacteria or those living symbiotically in plant root nodules) and synthetic fixation (when humans convert N₂ to NH₃ through industrial processes). Plants then take up this nitrogen through assimilation.
Human activities significantly disrupt the nitrogen cycle. Excess fertilizer use can cause ammonia volatilization, releasing NH₃ gas that causes acid rain and respiratory irritation. Leaching occurs when nitrates get carried away by water, leading to eutrophication in water bodies.
💡 Though nitrogen surrounds us in the air we breathe, plants can't use it directly - they rely on bacteria to "fix" it into a usable form first!
The phosphorus cycle differs from other nutrient cycles because it has no atmospheric component - phosphorus primarily exists in rocks and sediments. This makes the cycle extremely slow compared to carbon, nitrogen, or water cycles. Phosphorus is essential for all organisms, forming the backbone of DNA and ATP (energy molecules) and providing structure in bones and teeth.
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The phosphorus cycle begins with weathering, as wind and rain break down phosphorus-containing rocks, releasing minerals into soil. Humans accelerate this process by mining phosphate minerals for synthetic fertilizers and detergents.
Plants absorb phosphorus through their roots, then animals acquire it by eating plants or other animals. When organisms die, decomposers break down their remains, returning phosphorus to the soil. Unlike nitrogen, phosphorus doesn't dissolve well in water - it tends to form solid particles that sink to the bottom as sediment.
Over long periods, these phosphate sediments get compressed into sedimentary rock by the pressure of overlying water. Geological uplift through tectonic plate collisions can eventually bring these phosphorus-rich rocks back to the surface, continuing the cycle.
💡 Phosphorus is often the limiting nutrient in aquatic ecosystems - just a small amount can trigger massive algae blooms!
Both nitrogen and phosphorus can cause eutrophication when they enter water bodies in excess. This fuels explosive algae growth, which initially seems positive but quickly turns harmful. When these algae die, decomposing bacteria consume oxygen while breaking them down, creating oxygen-depleted "dead zones" that kill fish and other aquatic life - a devastating positive feedback loop.
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The hydrologic (water) cycle tracks water as it moves through different states of matter and various reservoirs on Earth. Unlike other cycles we've studied, water continuously changes between solid, liquid, and gas forms as it travels.
Energy from the sun drives the entire water cycle. The ocean serves as the largest water reservoir, while ice caps and groundwater contain smaller but crucial reserves of fresh water that humans can use.
Evaporation and evapotranspiration represent the main processes returning water to the atmosphere. During evaporation (sometimes called "vaporization"), liquid water transforms into water vapor. Transpiration occurs when plants draw groundwater up through their roots and release it through their leaves. Together, these processes are called evapotranspiration - the total amount of water entering the atmosphere from both sources.
💡 The water cycle is Earth's greatest recycling system - the water you drink today might have once been in a dinosaur's footprint or part of an ancient ocean!
Both processes depend on energy from the sun, highlighting how solar energy powers most of Earth's important cycles. Without the sun, our planet's water would remain locked in place rather than flowing through the living and nonliving components of our ecosystems.
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Primary productivity measures how efficiently ecosystems convert sunlight into organic compounds through photosynthesis. It's typically measured in kilocalories per square meter per year . Ecosystems with high primary productivity generally support greater biodiversity.
We can calculate productivity in different ways. Gross primary productivity (GPP) represents the total energy plants capture through photosynthesis. Plants use some of this energy for their own cellular processes (respiration loss), leaving net primary productivity (NPP) - the energy available for consumers. The formula is simple: NPP = GPP - Respiration Loss.
Ecological efficiency measures what percentage of incoming solar energy plants actually convert into biomass. Some ecosystems are more efficient than others, affecting their overall productivity and biodiversity.
💡 Every bite you take contains energy that began as sunlight captured by plants - you're literally eating sunshine!
Energy flow through ecosystems follows two fundamental laws of thermodynamics. The first law states that energy is never created or destroyed, only transformed. The second law explains that each time energy transfers, some is lost as heat. This creates the 10% rule - generally only about 10% of energy transfers from one trophic level to the next, with the rest lost as heat or used by the organism.
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The 10% rule shapes the structure of ecosystems. At each step up the food chain, approximately 90% of energy is used by organisms or lost as heat, with just 10% available to the next level. This same rule applies to biomass (the total mass of living organisms) at each trophic level.
This energy limitation creates a trophic pyramid with producers at the base, followed by primary consumers (herbivores), secondary consumers (animals that eat herbivores), and tertiary consumers (animals that eat secondary consumers). Each higher level contains fewer organisms because less energy is available.
Food webs show how energy and matter flow through an ecosystem from organism to organism. While simple food chains show just one linear path of energy transfer, food webs display multiple interconnected chains, revealing how organisms can exist at different trophic levels simultaneously.
💡 Food webs are nature's internet - a complex network where every connection matters. Remove or add just one species, and effects ripple through the entire system!
These webs help us understand ecosystem dynamics. When one population increases or decreases, it affects many others throughout the web. A trophic cascade occurs when adding or removing a top predator creates ripple effects throughout lower trophic levels, demonstrating the delicate balance of healthy ecosystems.
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
