Ecosystem Analysis and Resilience — Flashcards

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An ecosystem is an interconnected, self-regulating system formed by interactions between living and non-living components. Energy flows from the sun to producers, then to herbivores, carnivores, and d…

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Biotic components are the living parts of an ecosystem. They are grouped as producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers make food, consumers depend on other organisms for food, and decomposers br…

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Abiotic components are the non-living parts of an ecosystem. They include sunlight, water, air, soil, temperature, and minerals. These factors form the physical and chemical environment for life.

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Decomposers break down organic matter from dead plants and animals and return nutrients to the environment for reuse. This keeps nutrient cycles going and supports new growth.

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Abiotic factors control growth, survival, and distribution. Sunlight supports photosynthesis, water affects plant growth, temperature affects metabolism and reproduction, soil nutrients affect vegetat…

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Plants add organic matter to soil, roots reduce erosion, decomposers release nutrients back into soil and water, forests affect local climate, and aquatic plants and algae influence oxygen levels in w…

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Sunlight is a limiting factor in this situation. A factor can be limiting in one condition but not in another. Here, dense canopy cover reduces light availability for plants below.

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A limiting factor is an environmental condition that restricts the growth, abundance, or distribution of an organism or population. Limiting factors may be physical or biological.