GEOG 1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Lightning, Detritivore, Food Web
Document Summary
Nitrogen: 78% of the air, important in proteins, necessary for organic growth, the form of nitrogen in the atmosphere (n2) is not available directly to most organisms. Nitrogen fixing bacteria (in soil, roots, legumes, soybeans). Nitrogen in organic matter (plant litter) is an input to soil surface (form of organic nitrogen): nitrogen runs off into the gulf of mexico. Consumes oxygen creating a dead zone (hypoxia). Niche : a function or occupation of a life form in a community. Habitat : environment in which an organism lives. Producers (autotrophs): self-feeding, chemically fix carbon through photosynthesis. Detritivores: detritve feeders and decomposers (i. e. worms, mites, termites, bacteria, and fungi). Four trophic levels: producer (plants), primary (herbivores), secondary (herbivores, carnivores), tertiary (carnivores, herbivores). Food web : a network of food chains. Summary: nitrogen, which makes up 78% of the air, is essential for organic organisms and growth.
