BI111 Chapter Notes - Chapter 47.5/46.4: Insular Biogeography, Chemosynthesis, Metapopulation
Document Summary
A community of organisms and the physical environment it occupies together form an ecosystem. The physical and biological components of ecosystems are linked by the process that cycles nutrients and transfers energy through the system. Species interactions result in food webs that cycle carbon and other elements through ecosystems: Heterotrophic organisms commonly consume other heterotrophs but the ecosystems function depends on autotrophs. Photosynthesis and chemosynthesis organisms are known as primary producers, organisms that take up inorganic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other compounds from the environment and convert them biochemically into proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and more. Consumers, heterotrophic organisms of all kinds depend on primary production, directly consuming primary producers or consuming those who do. Decomposers such as certain bacteria and fungi break down the molecules of primary producers and consumers and returning the carbon they contain to the atmosphere through respiration. Moving carbon through a system or organisms is the food chain.
