Biosphere: atmosphere (air), lithosphere (land), hydrosphere (water)

hierarchy: organism --> population --> community (many populations) --> ecosystem (communities + abiotic factors)

ecosystem: biotic (living things & their interactions) & abiotic (temperature, light, water, soil) factors

Niche: role or function of an organism in a community

Symbiotic relationships:

Mutualism: both organisms benefit

Commensalism: one organism benefits while the other remains unaffected

Parasitism: one benefits (parasite), while the other (host) is harmed

Biogeochemical cycle: cycles of materials (nutrients) through ecosystems

Materials include water, carbon, nitrogen & phosphorous

Water cycle: roots absorption, transpiration, precipitation, evaporation, respiration

Carbon cycle: carbon dioxide gas & dissolved --> atmosphere --> plants: photosynthesis --> sugars --> animals --> decay --> return atmosphere

Fossil fuel: decay under low oxygen levels --> over time --> fossil fuels: oil & natural gas --> once burned --> CO2 released into atmosphere

Increased CO2: more fossil fuels burning & deforestation lowering photosynthesis effects --> greenhouse effect

Nitrogen: for proteins & nucleic acids

Nitrogen cycle: 78% atmosphere --> organisms get Ni from ammonia (NH3) & nitrates (NO3-) --> 3-) --> plants --> animals --> decay --> return nitrogen compounds

nitrogen cycle: atmopshere (nitrogen fixation) --> nitrogen-fixing bacteria --> nitrates --> plants --> animals --> industries --> decay (ammonia) --> nitrite --> nitrates --> some: denitrifying bacteria --> nitrogen into atmosphere

phosphorous cycle (short cycle): phosphates in soils --> plants --> animals --> decay --> phosphates return to soil

phosphorous cycle (long term): weathering (rocks) --> rivers --> oceans --> sediments --> over time: geological uplifting --> return as rocks

Constant replacement of nutrients

ecological succession: process by which one community replaces another within an ecosystem

symbiosis: living with direct contacts with one another

(primary succession) pioneer organisms: bacteria, fungi & lichens --> first to occupy or colonize an area where no community existed before (volcanic islands) --> pioneers die --> soils becomes richer --> plants grow --> animals prosper --> as time goes, one community replaces another --> until a stable one emerges: climax community --> unless catastrophic events like volcanic eruptions, EQ, forest fires, waves, typhoons

(secondary succession): after strong events, shorter time to reach climax community

Biosphere II: largest self-sustaining bioshpere ever built --> 8 people sealed in with other

vegetation * animals --> soil, water & original air sealed in --> serves as a prototype space colony

Intricate balance between living & using materials from biosphere