BIOA02H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 47.5: Ecological Pyramid, Chemosynthesis, Starfish

• School: UTSC
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BIOA02H3
• Professor: Ivana Stehlik

Document Summary

Ecosystem community of organisms and the physical environment it occupies. Physical and biological components of ecosystems are linked by processes that cycle nutrients and transfer energy through the system. Energy ow through a community and carbon cycling through ecosystems in the food chain. Species interactions result in food webs that cycle carbon and other elements through ecosystems. Of all the interactions observed among species, none are more prominent than predation and herbivory. Heterotrophic organisms obtain carbon and other elements for growth from other organisms. When a sea star preys on a mussel, this is predation and also a link in the carbon cycle. Photosynthetic and chemosynthetic organisms are primary producers since they take compounds from the environment and convert them biochemically. Consumers which are heterotrophs depend on primary production. Decomposers like bacteria and fungi are a special class of consumer since they break down molecules of primary producers and composers and return the carbon to the atmosphere through respiration.