Understanding Ecosystems: Biosphere, Biocenosis and Biomes
The Biosphere: Where Life Develops
The biosphere is the zone on land where life develops. Organisms interact with their environment to constitute different types of ecosystems:
- Biotopo: The physical and environmental space where the biocenosis develops.
- Biocenosis: A set of organisms that coexist in a limited space.
The term ecosystem can be very specific:
- Microecosystems: Small areas such as a pool.
- Mesoecosystems: Mid-sized areas like a forest.
- Macroecosystems: Large tracts of land, such as the sea.
Relationships Between Living Beings
- Families: A set of individuals of the same species that live together and help each other obtain food.
- Gregarious: A large group of individuals of the same species from different families who meet at specific times for a purpose and then separate.
- Colonia: A set of individuals originating from the same parent that live together.
- Sociedad: Individuals that have different functions and even anatomical differences.
Interspecific Relationships
- Comensalismo: Established between two individuals of different species, where one benefits from the other.
- Mutualismo: Both individuals receive mutual benefit; when this is permanent, it is called symbiosis.
- Depredacion: One individual serves as food for another.
- Parasitismo: One individual lives thanks to the other.
Components of Ecosystems
Topographic and Climatic Factors
- Topographic: Latitude (distance from the Equator) and longitude (distance from the Greenwich meridian).
- Climatic: The atmospheric conditions that characterize a region.
Hydrologic Factors
- Hydrophilic: Thrive in very wet environments.
- Mesofilos: Need moderate amounts of water.
- Xerofilos: Live in dry environments.
Temperature Regulation
- Poikilotherms: Animals unable to regulate their body temperature, matching the environment.
- Homeotherms: Animals that can regulate their internal body temperature.
Biocenosis Structure
Producers
Organisms that change inorganic matter into organic matter:
- Fotosintetizadores: Transform carbon dioxide, water, and minerals into sugars and oxygen.
- Quimiosintetizadores: Transform inorganic substances into organic substances.
Consumers
Heterotrophic organisms that feed on others:
- Primarios: Herbivores that feed on producers.
- Secundarios: Animals that feed on primary consumers.
- Terciarios: Animals that eat secondary consumers.
Decomposers
Heterotrophic living beings that obtain nutrients by transforming plant and animal remains.
The Food Chain
Example: Seaweed → Shellfish → Boqueron → Tuna → Shark.
Terrestrial and Aquatic Biomes
Terrestrial biomes: Tundra, taiga, deciduous forest, Mediterranean forest, grasslands, steppes, savannas, tropical forests, deserts, and jungles.
Aquatic biomes: Freshwater (rivers, ponds, and lakes) and saltwater (seas and oceans).