252 Index
humus, 65
interconnected ecosystems, 62
nitrogen cycle, 67–70
oxygen cycle, 70–71
phosphorous cycle, 71–72
recycling of chemical elements, 61
reservoir, 63
self-regulating cycles, 62
sulphur cycle, 73
water cycle, 64
carbon cycle, 64–67
dissolved gas, 65
fossil fuel reserves, 67
humus conversion, 65
inorganic forms of carbon, 64
main features, 64–65
opposite image of, 70
ozone layer, 67
perturbations, 66–67
reservoirs, 66
ecosystem energy model, 55–58
assumptions, 56
chemical reactions of
photosynthesis and
respiration, 57
energy flow in ecosystem, 55, 57
fossil fuel deposits, creation of, 57
general criteria, 56
mature ecosystem, 57
multi-compartment models, 55
non-natural ecosystems, 58
system dynamics, 56
urban ecosystems, 58
ecosystems’ change in time, 73–76
complexity and stability of
ecosystems, 74–76
diversity index, 76
ecological succession, 73–74
endurance against perturbations,
74
establishment of plant life, 73–74
natural ecosystems, 75
primary succession, 74
secondary succession, 74
single-crop systems, 75
species diversity, 76
system cohesion, 74
energy flow in the ecosystem, 51–58
biomagnification, 54
biomass, 51
decomposers, 53
ecosystem energy model, 55–58
energy loss along the food chain,
54
essential concepts, 51
food chains (trophic levels), 52–54
hydrological cycle, 51
phytoplankton, 54
production, 51
role of photosynthesis and
respiration, 54–55
secondary production, 55
trophic webs, 53
useful concepts, 51
zooplankton, 54
food chains (trophic levels), 52–54
autotrophic-photosynthetic
organisms, 52
bacteria and fungi, 53
consumers, 52
decomposers, 53
energy flow, 53
energy losses, 54
heterotrophic-chemosynthetic
organisms, 52
producers, 52
pyramid of masses, 53
limiting factors in various
environments, 58–61
carbon dioxide concentration, 60
comprehension of essential
ecological phenomena, 59
definition of limiting factor, 58
generalisation, 58
humidity, 59
incident solar radiation, 58
law of the minimum, 58
nutrients salts in water, 60
parasites, 60
primary production, 59–61
radiation, 59
soil quality, 60
substances that harm, 61
temperature, 59
terrestrial ecosystems, 59, 61
total solar energy converted into
chemical energy, 61
nitrogen cycle, 67–70
ammonisation, 69
artificial nitrogen fixation, 69
biological fixation, 68
conversion of ammonia to nitrates,
69
humus, 65
interconnected ecosystems, 62
nitrogen cycle, 67–70
oxygen cycle, 70–71
phosphorous cycle, 71–72
recycling of chemical elements, 61
reservoir, 63
self-regulating cycles, 62
sulphur cycle, 73
water cycle, 64
carbon cycle, 64–67
dissolved gas, 65
fossil fuel reserves, 67
humus conversion, 65
inorganic forms of carbon, 64
main features, 64–65
opposite image of, 70
ozone layer, 67
perturbations, 66–67
reservoirs, 66
ecosystem energy model, 55–58
assumptions, 56
chemical reactions of
photosynthesis and
respiration, 57
energy flow in ecosystem, 55, 57
fossil fuel deposits, creation of, 57
general criteria, 56
mature ecosystem, 57
multi-compartment models, 55
non-natural ecosystems, 58
system dynamics, 56
urban ecosystems, 58
ecosystems’ change in time, 73–76
complexity and stability of
ecosystems, 74–76
diversity index, 76
ecological succession, 73–74
endurance against perturbations,
74
establishment of plant life, 73–74
natural ecosystems, 75
primary succession, 74
secondary succession, 74
single-crop systems, 75
species diversity, 76
system cohesion, 74
energy flow in the ecosystem, 51–58
biomagnification, 54
biomass, 51
decomposers, 53
ecosystem energy model, 55–58
energy loss along the food chain,
54
essential concepts, 51
food chains (trophic levels), 52–54
hydrological cycle, 51
phytoplankton, 54
production, 51
role of photosynthesis and
respiration, 54–55
secondary production, 55
trophic webs, 53
useful concepts, 51
zooplankton, 54
food chains (trophic levels), 52–54
autotrophic-photosynthetic
organisms, 52
bacteria and fungi, 53
consumers, 52
decomposers, 53
energy flow, 53
energy losses, 54
heterotrophic-chemosynthetic
organisms, 52
producers, 52
pyramid of masses, 53
limiting factors in various
environments, 58–61
carbon dioxide concentration, 60
comprehension of essential
ecological phenomena, 59
definition of limiting factor, 58
generalisation, 58
humidity, 59
incident solar radiation, 58
law of the minimum, 58
nutrients salts in water, 60
parasites, 60
primary production, 59–61
radiation, 59
soil quality, 60
substances that harm, 61
temperature, 59
terrestrial ecosystems, 59, 61
total solar energy converted into
chemical energy, 61
nitrogen cycle, 67–70
ammonisation, 69
artificial nitrogen fixation, 69
biological fixation, 68
conversion of ammonia to nitrates,
69