Question

1. Define and provide examples of the following concepts: Environment, ecosystem, abiotic and biotic factors, natural and experimental boundaries, flows of matter and energy. 

2. Explain how the boundaries of an ecosystem may differ from those like national parks, county, state or national borders. Explain how natural features of the landscape (ex: a watershed) or biological phenomena (ex: a species range) can be used to define the boundaries of an ecosystem. 

3. Explain how ecosystems vary in size and scale, and how some ecosystems may be contained within larger ones. 

4. Explain how different ecosystems may be linked by flows of matter and energy across their boundaries, even 
those separated by great distances (ex: birds, sea turtles, rivers, ocean currents). 

5. Explain how matter and energy flow within an ecosystem. How is energy transformed into biomass, and how is it 
transferred from one trophic level to another. Explain the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in terms of flow and transformation of energy and matter. Define and compare the different types of energy: potential, kinetic, thermal, chemical, and provide examples of each. 

6. Explain the difference between a food chain and a food web. Describe the main trophic levels, including detritivores/decomposers, and explain their role in the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem. 

7. Define ecosystem productivity (GPP and NPP) and ecological efficiency. Explain how these two concepts determine a trophic pyramid. Indicate the average and range of ecological efficiencies (%) in nature. 

8. Explain how the concepts above (item 7) can be used to justify dietary preferences (ex: vegetarianism), and how can they be applied to solve the problem of global food availability. 

9. Explain the first and second law of thermodynamics, as well as the concept of entropy. Explain how these apply to the flow of energy and mater in ecosystems. These two laws and concept were covered during lecture, but are also covered in pages 39-42 of the textbook. 

10. Define the concept of biogeochemical cycle. Describe the following cycles: hydrologic, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Pay special attention to the interactions between land, water, and atmosphere; the relevant biological processes; and the role of human activities. You do not need to know the exact chemical formulas/reactions involved, but you must be able to use the appropriate terms for each process, and be able to label a diagram illustrating each cycle. 

11. Explain in what types of environments, and for what kind of organisms, are nitrogen and phosphorus a limiting factor. What happens when there is an excess of each of these nutrients? Refer to the case of the Neuse River Fish Kill in Chapter 1. Explain the phenomena known as „Dead Zone‟, in particular the one found in the Gulf of Mexico near the Mississippi River delta. 

12. Define and provide examples of disturbance in an ecosystem. Explain how a disturbance can alter the flow of matter and energy in an ecosystem. 

13. Define and differentiate the concepts of resistance and resilience. Provide examples of ecosystems resistant to disturbance. Describe the process of ecological succession and explain how does it relate to resilience. 

14. Explain the role of fire in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem. Define the terms „prescribed fire‟ or „controlled burning‟, and explain why are they used in the management of some ecosystems. 

15. Explain the „Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis‟. Why is it not called a theory? How does it apply to the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem? 

16. Define and differentiate restoration and rehabilitation. Explain why humans undertake this kind of projects. 

17. Define the concept of ecosystem services and provide some examples of each type (provisions, regulating, 


support, and cultural services).

18. Define and differentiate instrumental and intrinsic values of ecosystems, and provide some examples.

Answer 1

SOLUTION:-

** Environment:- It's a place or area or region where biotics elements (animals, plants, micro organisms) and non- biotics elements (soil, light, air, water) interacts with each other and also biotics elements interacts with each other and make it a favourable place for living. Then we can call it a Environment.

Example:- Forest area is a natural environment where trees, animals , micro organisms interacts with water, soil cover, air and sunlight.

**Ecosystem:- it's an environment where biotics elements interacts with non biotics elements and make a good system where nutrients and energy flows systematically is known as ecosystem.

Example:- Ecosystem of a pond, where fish and other organisms interacts with the abiotic components and make a good system.

** Abiotic factors:- It's a non- living components which helps to living components to exist on the earth, for example light, water, air, soils etc.

Biotics factors:- It's a living elements which are depended on non living elements.

For example, animals, plants and micro organisms.

** Natural boundaries:- This boundaries are generated naturally . Natural factors makes the boundary and separate one region from another.

For example, Alps mountain separate France from Italy.

*Experimental boundaries:- This boundaries are generated by humans for own purpose. It is a investigated boundaries and also known as political boundary.

For example:- India is separated from Pakistan.

** Flows of matters and energy:- Matters and energy flows in a chain system which is known as food chain in ecosystem. The energy and nutrients which is gained by plants in Photosynthesis process transferred to the heterotrophs through food chain.

For example, grasses - deer - tiger . The energy which is preserved into grass are transferred to goat while it eats grass and then tiger while it eats goats.