Principles of Biology Module 2 Notes
1). Ecology
Ans: The study of the interactions of living organisms with their environment.
2). Ecosystem
Ans: Composed of all the biotic components (living things) in an area along with the
abiotic components (non-living things) of that area
3). Sun
Ans: The main source of energy in almost all ecosystems
4). First law of thermodynamics
Ans: the total amount of energy in a closed system is constant, and energy may be
transferred from place to place or transformed into different forms within a system, but it
cannot be created or destroyed.
5). Second law of thermodynamics
Ans: In every energy transfer, some amount of energy is lost in a form that is unusable.
In most cases, this form is heat energy.
6). Energy
Ans: Flows; 100% > 10% > 1% > 0.1%
7). Nutrients
Ans: Cycles:
(1) producers
(2) primary consumers
(3) consumers
(4) decomposers
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, (1) producers
..... etc.
8). Autotrophs
Ans: auto=self, these organisms feed themselves,
Photosynthetic autotrophs (photoautotrophs) use sunlight as an energy source, whereas
chemosynthetic autotrophs (chemoautotrophs) use inorganic molecules as an energy
source.
9). Heterotrophs
Ans: hetero=other, these organisms are fed by others
10). Producer
Ans: photosynthetic organisms (plants and/or phytoplankton)
11). Decomposer
Ans: break down waste or dead organic matter. Fungi and bacteria.
12). Consumer
Ans: Organisms that consume other organisms
13). Npp
Ans: The total amount of solar energy captured by photosynthesis is gross primary
productivity or GPP. Producers can use some of this energy for their own maintenance
and metabolism, and also use some to produce organic compounds that they accumulate
GPP-Respiration=NPP
14). Trophic level
Ans: composed of organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the
same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy
15). Ecological pyramids
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1). Ecology
Ans: The study of the interactions of living organisms with their environment.
2). Ecosystem
Ans: Composed of all the biotic components (living things) in an area along with the
abiotic components (non-living things) of that area
3). Sun
Ans: The main source of energy in almost all ecosystems
4). First law of thermodynamics
Ans: the total amount of energy in a closed system is constant, and energy may be
transferred from place to place or transformed into different forms within a system, but it
cannot be created or destroyed.
5). Second law of thermodynamics
Ans: In every energy transfer, some amount of energy is lost in a form that is unusable.
In most cases, this form is heat energy.
6). Energy
Ans: Flows; 100% > 10% > 1% > 0.1%
7). Nutrients
Ans: Cycles:
(1) producers
(2) primary consumers
(3) consumers
(4) decomposers
PaperStoc.com Page 1 of 6
, (1) producers
..... etc.
8). Autotrophs
Ans: auto=self, these organisms feed themselves,
Photosynthetic autotrophs (photoautotrophs) use sunlight as an energy source, whereas
chemosynthetic autotrophs (chemoautotrophs) use inorganic molecules as an energy
source.
9). Heterotrophs
Ans: hetero=other, these organisms are fed by others
10). Producer
Ans: photosynthetic organisms (plants and/or phytoplankton)
11). Decomposer
Ans: break down waste or dead organic matter. Fungi and bacteria.
12). Consumer
Ans: Organisms that consume other organisms
13). Npp
Ans: The total amount of solar energy captured by photosynthesis is gross primary
productivity or GPP. Producers can use some of this energy for their own maintenance
and metabolism, and also use some to produce organic compounds that they accumulate
GPP-Respiration=NPP
14). Trophic level
Ans: composed of organisms that share the same function in the food chain and the
same nutritional relationship to the primary sources of energy
15). Ecological pyramids
PaperStoc.com Page 2 of 6
