Subjects

AP Environmental Science

Human Impact on Species

Ecosystems and Biomes

Exploring Biodiversity and Biogeography: A Student's Guide

Name: Knowunity
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Exploring Biodiversity and Biogeography: A Student's Guide

Lauren Davis

@laurendavis_wvyn

3 Followers

The study of biodiversity and biogeography encompasses ecosystem interactions, energy flow, and species diversity, highlighting the crucial relationship between organisms and their environment. This comprehensive guide explores various aspects of ecological systems, from basic concepts to complex interactions.

• Ecosystems consist of both biotic and abiotic components, forming diverse biomes across terrestrial and aquatic environments
• Species diversity and ecosystem resilience are interconnected, with higher biodiversity leading to greater environmental stability
• Biogeochemical cycles, including carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles, facilitate matter and energy flow through ecosystems
• Ecosystem services demonstrate how humans benefit from natural processes, with vultures serving as a prime example of regulating services
• Ecological succession shows how ecosystems recover and evolve over time, whether through primary or secondary processes

4/22/2023

274

<h2 id="interactionsbetweenpopulations">Interactions between Populations</h2>
<p>A community refers to populations sharing a certain area.

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Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems

This chapter delves into primary productivity and energy transfer within ecosystems, particularly focusing on marine environments and photosynthetic processes.

Definition: Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) represents the total rate of photosynthesis, while Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is GPP minus respiration.

Example: In a marine ecosystem, energy flows from primary producers like phytoplankton through various consumer levels, following the 10% rule of energy transfer.

Highlight: Species diversity and ecosystem resilience are directly related, with more diverse ecosystems showing greater ability to withstand environmental changes.

Vocabulary: Ecological niche refers to an organism's role in the ecosystem, with specialists having narrow niches and generalists having broad niches.

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Ecosystem Services and Ecological Succession

This section examines how ecosystems benefit humans through various services and explores how ecosystems change over time through succession processes.

Definition: Ecosystem services are benefits humans receive from natural systems, including provisional, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Example: Vultures provide crucial regulating ecosystem services by removing carcasses and preventing disease spread.

Highlight: Environmental changes can drive rapid adaptation, as demonstrated by the Galápagos finches' beak size changes in response to food availability.

Vocabulary: Primary succession occurs on newly formed land, while secondary succession takes place after disturbances to existing communities.

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Ecosystems and Biomes Fundamentals

This section introduces fundamental ecological concepts and the organization of life on Earth. The text explores various ecosystem types and the critical biogeochemical cycles that sustain life.

Definition: A population consists of members of a specific species sharing the same area, while a community encompasses all living things in a certain area.

Example: The water cycle demonstrates the continuous movement of water through ecosystems via processes like evaporation, precipitation, and transpiration.

Vocabulary: Biogeochemical cycles refer to the circulation of chemical elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through both biotic and abiotic components of Earth.

Highlight: Biomes are classified based on temperature, moisture, climate, terrain, and minerals, ranging from tropical forests to polar ice caps.

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Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

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Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

4.9+

Average App Rating

15 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

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iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

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The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User

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Subjects

AP Environmental Science

Human Impact on Species

Ecosystems and Biomes

Exploring Biodiversity and Biogeography: A Student's Guide

Lauren Davis

@laurendavis_wvyn

3 Followers

4/22/2023

274

AP Environmental Science

Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems

This chapter delves into primary productivity and energy transfer within ecosystems, particularly focusing on marine environments and photosynthetic processes.

Definition: Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) represents the total rate of photosynthesis, while Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is GPP minus respiration.

Example: In a marine ecosystem, energy flows from primary producers like phytoplankton through various consumer levels, following the 10% rule of energy transfer.

Highlight: Species diversity and ecosystem resilience are directly related, with more diverse ecosystems showing greater ability to withstand environmental changes.

Vocabulary: Ecological niche refers to an organism's role in the ecosystem, with specialists having narrow niches and generalists having broad niches.

Ecosystem Services and Ecological Succession

This section examines how ecosystems benefit humans through various services and explores how ecosystems change over time through succession processes.

Definition: Ecosystem services are benefits humans receive from natural systems, including provisional, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

Example: Vultures provide crucial regulating ecosystem services by removing carcasses and preventing disease spread.

Highlight: Environmental changes can drive rapid adaptation, as demonstrated by the Galápagos finches' beak size changes in response to food availability.

Vocabulary: Primary succession occurs on newly formed land, while secondary succession takes place after disturbances to existing communities.

Ecosystems and Biomes Fundamentals

This section introduces fundamental ecological concepts and the organization of life on Earth. The text explores various ecosystem types and the critical biogeochemical cycles that sustain life.

Definition: A population consists of members of a specific species sharing the same area, while a community encompasses all living things in a certain area.

Example: The water cycle demonstrates the continuous movement of water through ecosystems via processes like evaporation, precipitation, and transpiration.

Vocabulary: Biogeochemical cycles refer to the circulation of chemical elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus through both biotic and abiotic components of Earth.

Highlight: Biomes are classified based on temperature, moisture, climate, terrain, and minerals, ranging from tropical forests to polar ice caps.

Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the # 1 ranked education app in five European countries

Knowunity was a featured story by Apple and has consistently topped the app store charts within the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average App Rating

15 M

Students use Knowunity

#1

In Education App Charts in 12 Countries

950 K+

Students uploaded study notes

Still not sure? Look at what your fellow peers are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much [...] I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a C to an A with it :D

Stefan S, iOS User

The application is very simple and well designed. So far I have found what I was looking for :D

SuSSan, iOS User