BIOS10117 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Oenology, Nitrogen Cycle, Chlorofluorocarbon

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Have boundaries such as internal processes like nutrient cycling and exchange. Thermodynamically open- need constant input energy from the sun to function. Biotic structure of organized sub systems such as food webs. Energy flows through an ecosystem, nut nutrients can be recycled and reused o o o. 10% rule- efficiency of energy transformation between each trophic level limits number of trophic levels because transfer of energy from one to the next is usually 5-20% Higher trophic levels are more vulnerable to extinction than lower trophic levels. Carrying capacity set by resources so available resources will get smaller and smaller as move up. Ex) if an island is inhabited by elk and wolves, eventually there will be more elk than wolves because the lower trophic level always has to be bigger than the higher trophic level due to the 10% rule.