ECOSYSTEMS NOTES
Biomass Total mass of living plants, animals, fungi, bacteria in given
area
Primary producers First trophic level (algae, plankton etc)
Primary consumers 2nd trophic level (Energy from primary producer)
Secondary consumers 3rd troph level (Energy from primary consumer)
Tertiary consumers 4th troph level (energy from secondary consumer)
Trophic level Level on food chain
Carnivore Often tertiary, eat meat
Herbivore Primary consumers, eat plants
Omnivore Eats plants+animals
Detrivore Every trophic level, eat dead plants+animals
(earthworms+beetles)
biodegradation Living organisms break down organic waste + dead
organisms
decomposition breaking down organic matter
Energy flow Way an organism gets its energy and stores it
Each trophic level only 10% energy of previous
Food chain Model shows flow of energy plant-animal, animal-animal
Food pyramid Shows energy that remains at every trophic level (-10%)
Food web Models of feeding relationships within ecosystem
NUTRIENT CYCLES Continuous flow nutrients in/out stores
Accumulation / stores Accumulation of chemicals (nutr) for short/long periods
Land masses, Atmosphere, oceans
Biotic nutrient flow Decomposition
Abiotic nutrient flow River run-off
Biomass Total mass of living plants, animals, fungi, bacteria in given
area
Primary producers First trophic level (algae, plankton etc)
Primary consumers 2nd trophic level (Energy from primary producer)
Secondary consumers 3rd troph level (Energy from primary consumer)
Tertiary consumers 4th troph level (energy from secondary consumer)
Trophic level Level on food chain
Carnivore Often tertiary, eat meat
Herbivore Primary consumers, eat plants
Omnivore Eats plants+animals
Detrivore Every trophic level, eat dead plants+animals
(earthworms+beetles)
biodegradation Living organisms break down organic waste + dead
organisms
decomposition breaking down organic matter
Energy flow Way an organism gets its energy and stores it
Each trophic level only 10% energy of previous
Food chain Model shows flow of energy plant-animal, animal-animal
Food pyramid Shows energy that remains at every trophic level (-10%)
Food web Models of feeding relationships within ecosystem
NUTRIENT CYCLES Continuous flow nutrients in/out stores
Accumulation / stores Accumulation of chemicals (nutr) for short/long periods
Land masses, Atmosphere, oceans
Biotic nutrient flow Decomposition
Abiotic nutrient flow River run-off
