Unit 1: The Living World - Ecosystems
In this unit, we will be exploring ecosystems and biomes, biochemical cycles, matter and energy flow, natural climate change, biodiversity, and biogeography.
Ecosystem Structures
An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with non-living environmental components, interacting as a system and resulting from abiotic and biotic interactions and relationships.
Abiotic and Biotic Interactions
Abiotic components are the nonliving elements of the Earth, such as the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, sun, and temperature. Biotic components, on the other hand, are the living organisms on Earth, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and soil.
Interactions of Organisms
- Population: A group of organisms of the same species.
- Community: Populations of different species that live in the same geographic area.
- Habitat: The area or environment where an organism lives and where an eco-community occurs.
- Ecological Niche: The role a species has in an environment, including how it uses biotic and abiotic resources and where it lives.
Interactions Between Organisms
Different types of interactions occur between organisms, including competition, resource partitioning, predation, and various relationships such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.
Difference Between Biodiversity and Ecological Niche Interactions
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in an ecosystem, while ecological niche interactions focus on the role a species has in its environment and how it interacts with other species and resources.
The Living World - Ecosystems and Biomes
Within ecosystems, biomes and terrestrial biomes play a crucial role in shaping the environment and the interactions between living organisms.
Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial biomes are divided into different categories based on climate, geology, soils, and vegetation. These biomes are characterized by their average temperature and precipitation, which define the area over a long period of time.
Climate Graphs
Climate graphs provide a visual representation of the average temperature and precipitation for different biomes, such as tropical rainforests, taiga, temperate deciduous forests, savannas, grasslands, shrublands, and tundras.
Biodiversity and Ecological Niche Interactions
Understanding biodiversity and ecological niche interactions is essential for comprehending the delicate balance of life within ecosystems and the intricate relationships between species.
Conclusion
Studying the living world and the interactions that occur within ecosystems is crucial for understanding the complexities of the environment and the delicate balance that sustains life on our planet.
For further study, you can refer to the AP Environmental Science Study Guide PDF and AP Environmental Science Study Guide Quizlet.
