Species
-Species are groups of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring -When two members of the same specie reproduce they are interbreeding -When two organisms of different species breed they are cross-breeding, however, most cross-breeds are infertile which prevents the mixing of species and let the species stay pure |
Populations
-Members of a species may be reproductively isolated in separate populations -A population is a group of organisms of the same species living together in the same area -Two populations of the same species can go through changes and adaptations due to different areas. Still, they are considered the same specie until they cannot interbreed and produce offspring |
Autotrophic and Heterotrophic Nutrition
-Organisms have either autotrophic or heterotrophic methods of nutrition (a few species have both)
-All organisms need a supply of organic nutrients (carbon compounds) in order to grow and reproduce
-Autotrophic organisms create their own carbon compounds by using carbon-dioxide or other simple substances
-Heterotrophic organisms obtain these carbon compounds from other organisms
-Some uni-cellular organisms obtain these carbon compounds by photosynthesising when there is enough light or feeding on smaller organisms by endocytosis
-Organisms have either autotrophic or heterotrophic methods of nutrition (a few species have both)
-All organisms need a supply of organic nutrients (carbon compounds) in order to grow and reproduce
-Autotrophic organisms create their own carbon compounds by using carbon-dioxide or other simple substances
-Heterotrophic organisms obtain these carbon compounds from other organisms
-Some uni-cellular organisms obtain these carbon compounds by photosynthesising when there is enough light or feeding on smaller organisms by endocytosis
Types of heterotrophs
Consumers
-Consumers are heterotrophs that feed on living organisms by ingestion -Consumers eat organisms that are either alive or organisms that have been dead for a short period of time -These organisms take in the nutrients by absorbing them through digestion. Some intake them by swallowing it, and others by endocytosis (unicellular organisms) |
Detritivores
-Detritivores are heterotrophs that obtain organs nutrients from detritus by internal digestion
-Detritivores intake dead organic matter, such as dead leafs, feathers, and hairs, and ingest their nutrients through digestion
-Some large detritivores, such as earthworms, swallow and digest it
-Other unicellular organisms ingest it in vacuoles
-Detritivores are heterotrophs that obtain organs nutrients from detritus by internal digestion
-Detritivores intake dead organic matter, such as dead leafs, feathers, and hairs, and ingest their nutrients through digestion
-Some large detritivores, such as earthworms, swallow and digest it
-Other unicellular organisms ingest it in vacuoles
Saprotrophs
-Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from dead organic matter by external material
-Saprotrophs release digestive enzymes into the dead organism and digest the nutrients by absorbing the newly broken down carbon compounds
-Release elements such as nitrogen into the environment after decomposing
-They are also known as decomposers
-Most bacteria and fungi are decomposers
-Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from dead organic matter by external material
-Saprotrophs release digestive enzymes into the dead organism and digest the nutrients by absorbing the newly broken down carbon compounds
-Release elements such as nitrogen into the environment after decomposing
-They are also known as decomposers
-Most bacteria and fungi are decomposers
Communities
-Communities are formed by populations of different species living together and interacting with each other
-There are many types of relationships between different organisms
-These include competition: when two species fight for a common need (such as food or habitat)
-Predation: when an organism kills and feeds from the other
-Mutualism: When two species benefit from the relationship
-Commensalism: When one organism benefits and the other is not affected in any way
-Parasitism: When an organism benefits from a bigger one which results being harmed (but not killed)
-Either good or bad relationship, a specie cannot thrive without interactions and live in isolation
-Communities are formed by populations of different species living together and interacting with each other
-There are many types of relationships between different organisms
-These include competition: when two species fight for a common need (such as food or habitat)
-Predation: when an organism kills and feeds from the other
-Mutualism: When two species benefit from the relationship
-Commensalism: When one organism benefits and the other is not affected in any way
-Parasitism: When an organism benefits from a bigger one which results being harmed (but not killed)
-Either good or bad relationship, a specie cannot thrive without interactions and live in isolation
Ecosystems
-A community forms an ecosystem by its interactions with the abiotic environment -Species don't only depend on interaction with other species, but to the abiotic factors that make up their environment (such as air, water, soil, and rock) -These factors affect the communities and populations by determining which will adapt to their changes -For example, some water species will adapt to a change in the pH of the water while some will not -Other species will adapt to the change in temperature of the environment while others will not, etc.. |
Inorganic Nutrients
-Autotrophs obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment
-Heterotrophs obtain the inorganic nutrients as form of carbon compounds in their food
-These nutrients include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and about fifteen other elements
-Autotrophs obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment
-Heterotrophs obtain the inorganic nutrients as form of carbon compounds in their food
-These nutrients include carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, and about fifteen other elements
Nutrient Cycles
-The supply of inorganic nutrients is maintained by nutrient cycling
-We have been sustained by abiotic nutrients for the past three billion years because they are always conserved, no matter how much they are digested. They will always go back to the environment with the same atoms
-Every element has a different cycle in which it is passed down to different factors in a never-ending cycle
-For example, the nitrogen cycle is different to the carbon cycle
-The supply of inorganic nutrients is maintained by nutrient cycling
-We have been sustained by abiotic nutrients for the past three billion years because they are always conserved, no matter how much they are digested. They will always go back to the environment with the same atoms
-Every element has a different cycle in which it is passed down to different factors in a never-ending cycle
-For example, the nitrogen cycle is different to the carbon cycle
Sustainability of Ecosystems
-Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time
-Sustainable resources are resources that can always be provided due to cycles, unlike unsustainable resources that have an end to their extraction
-Sustainable ecosystems require:
-Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time
-Sustainable resources are resources that can always be provided due to cycles, unlike unsustainable resources that have an end to their extraction
-Sustainable ecosystems require:
- nutrient availability
- detoxification of waste products
- energy available
Finding associations between species by using chi-squared test and quadrate sample
-One can estimate the population of a specie by using quadrate sample, which is estimated by counting the number of individual species in a squared sample in different, random areas, multiple times
-One can find negative or positive associations by calculating the diversity of the two species and seeing correlations between them by using the Chi-squared test
-One can estimate the population of a specie by using quadrate sample, which is estimated by counting the number of individual species in a squared sample in different, random areas, multiple times
-One can find negative or positive associations by calculating the diversity of the two species and seeing correlations between them by using the Chi-squared test
Statistical Significance
-Scientists classify the authenticity of the experiment of their results by either considering them null hypothesis (Ho) or alternative hypothesis (H1)
-When the results give less than 5% of probability that they are due to chance, they reject the Ho, when the results give more than 5% of probability that they are due to chance, they fail to reject the Ho
-Scientists use these classifications for their tests on biological statistics
-When they see a change on a population that is correlated with another variable, then they test the probability that the change is due to chance and determine the authenticity
-Scientists classify the authenticity of the experiment of their results by either considering them null hypothesis (Ho) or alternative hypothesis (H1)
-When the results give less than 5% of probability that they are due to chance, they reject the Ho, when the results give more than 5% of probability that they are due to chance, they fail to reject the Ho
-Scientists use these classifications for their tests on biological statistics
-When they see a change on a population that is correlated with another variable, then they test the probability that the change is due to chance and determine the authenticity