Ecology And Environment Test - 2

Climatic conditions determine the formation of different biomes on earth. Climate is the main factor in determining which plants can grow in a certain area, which in turn defines the biome. Temperature and precipitation are the two most important factors that determine a region's climate. Biomes are divided into five basic types: aquatic, forest, desert, tundra, and grassland. These five types of biomes can be further divided by differences in seasons or animal and plant species.

The depth of water and the amount of dissolved salts in the water classify the aquatic ecosystem. Different zones defined by depth and distance from shore are: Littoral zone, limnetic zone, profundal zone and benthic zone.

Hydrophytes are the plants which live in water.

Floods and deforestation are two human activities which affect the habitat adversely.

Biosphere is the life supporting zone of earth where atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere meet and make life possible.

A constant interaction between living and non-living components of the biosphere results in the transfer of food and energy. Energy flow is the amount of energy that moves through a food chain. The energy input, or energy that enters the ecosystem, is measured in Joules or calories. Accordingly, the energy flow is also called calorific flow. Energy enters the ecosystem from the Sun and exits after the organisms have taken as much as they need. Organisms release energy back into the biosphere as heat. Energy also enters the ecosystem from the interior of the Earth.

Solar energy is the main source of energy on Earth. At the base of an ecosystem, primary producers actively convert solar energy into stored chemical energy.

The decomposers are generally bacteria. These are also called as reducers or micro consumers.

Detritus is dead particulate organic material. It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms as well as fecal material.

A food chain is a linear network of links in a food web starting from producer organisms (such as grass or trees which use radiation from the sun to make their food) and ending at apex predator species (like grizzly bears or killer whales).