UNIT 1

CHAPTER 2

SCIENTIFIC TERMINOLOGIES

Autotroph - an organism capable of synthesizing its own food using light or chemical
energy.

Carnivores - an animal or plant that eats the flesh of animals.

Chemosynthesis - a process in which carbohydrates are manufactured from carbon

dioxide and water using chemical nutrients as the energy source.

Consumer – an organism that get their energy by consuming other types of organisms
or organic matter.

Decomposer - an organism that breaks down dead or decaying organisms.

Detrivores - an organism that feeds on dead and decomposing organic matter.

Food chain - a diagram that shows how food energy moves from one organism to
another in a given environment.

Food web - a network of food chains or feeding relationships by which energy and
nutrients are passed on from one species of living organisms to another.

Greenhouse effect - the natural process by which the atmosphere traps some of the
Sun's energy, warming the Earth enough to support life.

Photosynthesis - the process used by plants, algae, and certain bacteria to harness
energy from sunlight into chemical energy.

Producer - an organism that makes its own food.

Protist – a one-celled organisms like slime molds.

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EARTH’S SYSTEMS

 There are natural processes that occur in the planet Earth which are viable in
sustaining life.
 These include one-way flow of energy from the sun, cycling of nutrients and
gravity.
 Energy is needed for the functions that organisms perform, such as growth,
movement, waste removal, and reproduction.
 It is the only requirement for life that is supplied from a source outside the Earth.
 This energy comes from the Sun which is known as solar energy.
 The solar energy interacts with carbon dioxide and other gases in the
atmosphere that makes it warm (greenhouse effect).
 This provides a warm environment which is conducive for living things.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CELLULAR RESPIRATION

 The high energy from the sun is captured by the plants to make sugar and
oxygen from carbon dioxide are converted to sugar and oxygen using sunlight
and water. The process by which carbon dioxide and water are converted to
sugar and oxygen using sunlight is referred to as PHOTOSYNTHESIS. This is
important because all living things need oxygen to survive.
 Organisms such as animals use sugar as a source of energy. The energy
released from the breakdown of sugar is used by the animal cells to make
chemical energy known as ATP or adenosine triphosphate. The synthesis of
ATP by cells is referred to as CELLULAR RESPIRATION.
 Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary processes by which
living things obtain needed substances. They both consume and create the same
substances (water, glucose, oxygen, and carbon dioxide) but in different ways.

NUTRIENT CYCLE

 The major elements which make up all living organisms are carbon, oxygen,
nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.
 These building blocks are acquired by organisms in usable chemical forms as
nutrients in a process called the nutrient cycle.
 Nutrient cycling is one of the most important processes that occur in an
ecosystem.
 It involves biological, geological, and chemical processes which describe the
movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the
production of living matter.
 Elements that are essential to life must be recycled in order for organisms to
exist.
 Nutrients move through the ecosystem in biogeochemical cycles.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE

Carbon Cycle

 CARBON CYCLE is the circulation and transformation of carbon back and forth
between living things and the environment.
 CARBON is an element often referred to as the "building block of life” because
living things are made up of carbon and carbon compounds.
 In the process of photosynthesis, plants take carbon dioxide out of the
atmosphere and combine it with water.
 Using the energy of the Sun, plants make glucose (carbon compound) and
release oxygen.
 All of the non-photosynthetic organisms use the oxygen and glucose to survive.
 In the process of respiration, these organisms release carbon dioxide and goes
back in the atmosphere.
 Decomposers break down the carbon compounds inside the body of the dead
plants and animals wherein carbon dioxide and methane (CH) are released in the
environment.
Nitrogen Cycle

 The NITROGEN CYCLE is the process by which nitrogen is converted into

various chemical forms which include nitrogen fixation, ammonification,
nitrification, and denitrification.
 In the atmosphere, nitrogen exists as dinitrogen gas (N.) which is relatively inert;
it does not easily react with other chemicals to form new compounds.
 Although nitrogen is abundant in the atmosphere (78%), it must be 'fixed' in a
usable form to be taken by plants.
 The process of converting atmospheric N, into ammonia (NH,) is called
NITROGEN FIXATION. Bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen to ammonia. A
relatively small amount of ammonia is produced by lightning. Plants can readily
assimilate ammonia to produce nitrogen compounds such as amino acids,
proteins, and nucleic acids.
 When a plant or animal dies or an animal expels waste, bacteria convert the
organic nitrogen into ammonium (NH,1) in a process called AMMONIFICATION.
 Ammonium is converted into nitrate by bacteria in a process known as
NITRIFICATION. It is important for the ammonia to be converted to nitrates or
nitrites because ammonia gas is toxic to plants.
 Then nitrates are converted to nitrogen gas through the process
DENITRIFICATION which completes the nitrogen cycle.

Oxygen cycle

 The largest reservoir of Earth's oxygen is in minerals found in Earth's crust and
mantle (99.5%).
 The main source of atmospheric free oxygen is PHOTOSYNTHESIS. Thus, the
oxygen cycle is often interconnected with the carbon cycle.
 The animals breathe in the oxygen and then breathe out carbon dioxide.
 The plant can then use this carbon dioxide and the cycle is complete.

Phosphorus Cycle

 Unlike other biogeochemical cycles, the atmosphere does not play a significant
role in the movement of phosphorus.
 Most of the phosphorus is locked up in sediments and rocks and it is not
available for plants to use. Over time, rain and other agents of weathering cause
rocks to release phosphate ions and other minerals. This INORGANIC
PHOSPHATE is then distributed in soils and water.
 However, the quantities of phosphorus in soil are generally small and this is why
people often apply phosphate fertilizers. Animals absorb phosphates by eating
plants or plant-eating animals. Once the phosphorus is taken in by plants and
animals, the phosphate is incorporated into organic molecules such as DNA.
 When the plant or animal dies, it decays, and the organic phosphate is returned
to the soil.

Food Chain and Food Web

  A FOOD CHAIN is the sequence of events in the ecosystems where organisms
obtain nutrition.
 It starts with plants or autotrophs that are eaten by herbivores (plant-eaters). The
herbivores are eaten by carnivores (meat-eaters). These are eaten by other
carnivores.
 When any organism dies, organic matter is broken down by detrivores and the
exchange of energy continues.
 A network of many food chains is called a food web. A food web consists of all
the food chains in a single ecosystem.

FOOD CHAIN

 The base of the food chain is the PRODUCER or AUTOTROPH.

 A PRODUCER is an organism that makes its own food from light energy (through
photosynthesis), or chemical energy (through chemosynthesis).
 Producers include most green plants, many protists (one-celled organisms like
slime molds) and most bacteria.
 A CONSUMER is an organism that eats other organisms to survive. It cannot
make its own food.
 There are three levels of consumers – primary, secondary and tertiary.
 Primary consumers eat producers, secondary consumers eat primary
consumers, and so on.
 The first levels of consumers are organisms that eat plants and are known as
HERBIVORES. This group of organisms is called the PRIMARY CONSUMERS.
 Secondary consumers eat the primary consumers. They are considered
carnivores or “meat eaters.”
 The third level of consumers is called the tertiary consumers which eat the
secondary and primary consumers.
 Organisms that eat plants and other animals are called OMNIVORES which can
either be secondary or tertiary consumers.
 When producers and consumers die, the organic matter is broken down by
DECOMPOSERS or DETRIVORE. A DETRIVORE is an organism that feeds on
detritus, dead and decomposing organisms. Some BACTERIA and FUNGI are
considered as decomposers.

LAW OF CONSERVATION OF MATTER AND ENERGY

 The planet Earth provides a fixed supply of nutrients which are continually
recycled to support life. This process is governed by the Law of Conservation
of Matter and Energy.
 The law of conservation of matter and energy states that matter is neither
created nor destroyed but conserved. This is evident in photosynthesis wherein
atoms from water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are rearranged into glucose
(C,H,0) and oxygen (O,).
 Aside from supply of nutrients, gravity is all important for organisms. Gravity is a
constant force in the lives of the organisms. It keeps organisms firmly attached to
the planet. Gravity causes roots to grow down toward the soil.
SPHERES

 The Earth's life support system is made up of four interconnected spheres: the
lithosphere (litho-stone), hydrosphere (hydro-water), biosphere (bio-life), and
atmosphere (atmo-air).

LITHOSPHERE

 LITHOSPHERE or GEOSPHERE is the entire surface of the earth from the top of
the highest to the bottom of the deepest trench.
 The lithosphere is the solid, rocky crust covering the entire planet.
 It is a large reservoir of resources which are important for the survival of
organisms.
 The lithosphere serves as a source of minerals and fuels such as coal, petroleum
and natural gas.
 It provides nutrients to the plants. The plants are the source of food for other
organisms.

HYDROSPHERE

 HYDROSPHERE is composed of all the bodies of water such as oceans, rivers,

lakes, and even the moisture in the air which is about 71% of the Earth's surface.
 The abundance of liquid water supports life on Earth.
 Water is a part of living cells and each cell is made up of almost 75% water.
 It is important for cells to carry out their normal functions.
 Humans use water in a number of ways - domestic, industry and for electricity.
 Water regulates Earth's climate necessary for the survival of organisms living in
the planet.
 Water has a high specific heat which means that water is slower to heat and
slower to lose heat.
 Resistance to sudden change in temperature makes water an excellent habitat
for many marine and aquatic organisms.
 The hydrosphere provides an important place for many animals and plants to
live.
 Ocean currents also help to disperse heat.

ATMOSPHERE

 Atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and small quantities of

argon, carbon dioxide and other elements.
 OXYGEN and CARBON dioxide are gases that are needed by organisms to
survive.
 The atmosphere acts as a filter by shielding living things from direct solar
radiation during the day.
 ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION can destroy living cells causing harm to skin and
leading to skin cancer,

WEATHER
  WEATHER is a function of the atmosphere.
 Wind, rain, and snow depend on the atmosphere.
 The atmosphere provides cool breezes and rain.
 Air is not static; it circulates due to heating and cooling.
 Wind patterns are due to various air movements. Wind transports heat from the
equator toward the poles, cooling equatorial regions and warming temperate and
polar zones. Air acts as a blanket by retaining heat at night.
 The atmosphere holds the surface heat on the earth and prevents it from
radiating out into space. This process is known as greenhouse effect.

LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE

 The atmosphere is divided into four layers: troposphere, stratosphere,

mesosphere and thermosphere.
 TROPOSPHERE is where weather occurs. The air circulates vertically through
this layer wherein the hot air moves up and cold air moves down. Water vapor
and carbon dioxide in the troposphere trap some of the heat coming from the sun
preventing it from escaping. This is known as the “Greenhouse Effect” which
keeps the Earth warm.
 The STRATOSPHERE which is a more stable layer contains a special form of
oxygen called ozone. This gas protects the organisms from the harmful ultraviolet
rays of the Sun.
 The MESOSPHERE is a cold layer which is thick enough to slow down meteors
entering the atmosphere.
 THERMOSPHERE is very sensitive to solar activity. It is in this layer where the
space stations of the astronauts are located.

BIOSPHERE

 BIOSPHERE is composed of organisms and their habitat which includes the

upper lithosphere, the hydrosphere, and the lowest atmosphere.
 The biosphere extends only a few kilometers below the surface of the Earth
(where the roots of the plants penetrate the soil), and only a few kilometers into
the atmosphere where organisms live a few kilometers above the ground.

ECOSYSTEMS

 ECOSYSTEMS are interconnected systems where matter and energy flows and
is exchanged as organisms feed, digest, and migrate about.
 The interconnectedness of the four spheres helps support life on Earth.
 During volcanic eruption, Earth releases carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen which
attach to the oxygen molecules (oxidized) present in the atmosphere. When
allowed to cool, it condenses to form water. Droplets of water fall and become
part of the ocean and other bodies of water. This shows how lithosphere,
atmosphere and hydrosphere interact to support life.