1What do ecosystems do
Energy flows, nutrients cycle
2NPP
Net primary production (plants)
3Why are food chains short in most food webs
Consumers very inefficient energy transformers, especially in terrestrial systems, usually less than 6 levels
4Biomagnification
Some materials do not breakdown and get stored in tissues, become concentrated within food chains (higher concentrations higher in food chain)
5What factors determine abundance of a species
Species population attributes, biological conditions, abiotic conditions
6What are some biotic constraints that would affect the distribution of a species
Competition, reproductive requirements, parasitism
7What are some abiotic conditions
Temp (most important), precipitation (most important), sunlight, wind, etc
8How does solar input vary
Latitude (higher=rays are less direct) and season
9Temperate grassland biomes
Vegetation dominated by grass, occur in regions that have cold winters