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Communities interacting not only with each other but also with the physical environment encompass an ecosystem, such as the Savanna ecosystem. All of the ecosystems make up the biosphere, the area of life on Earth. The simple standard biological organisation scheme, from the lowest level to the highest level, is as follows: [1]
As with the others, this graph shows producers at the bottom and higher trophic levels on top. When an ecosystem is healthy, this graph produces a standard ecological pyramid. This is because, in order for the ecosystem to sustain itself, there must be more energy at lower trophic levels than there is at higher trophic levels.
That is, the consumer trophic level is one plus the weighted average of how much different trophic levels contribute to its food. In the case of marine ecosystems, the trophic level of most fish and other marine consumers takes a value between 2.0 and 5.0.
Primary succession – Gradual growth and change of an ecosystem on new substrate Pioneer species – First species to colonize or inhabit damaged ecosystems; Ruderal species – Plant species that is first to colonize disturbed lands; Supertramp – Any type of animal which follows the strategy of high dispersion among many different habitats
Alpine level: [7] [20] The zone that stretches between the tree line and snowline. This zone is further broken down into Sub-Nival and Treeless Alpine (in the tropics-Tierra fria; low-alpine) Sub-nival: [20] The highest zone that vegetation typically exists. This area is shaped by the frequent frosts that restrict extensive plant colonization.
Ecological units refer to specific levels or degrees of organization within ecological systems. The units that are most commonly used and discussed within ecological systems are those at the levels of individuals, populations, communities, and ecosystems. [1]
For example, among aquatic ecosystems, higher rates of production are usually found in large rivers and shallow lakes than in deep lakes and clear headwater streams. [25] Among terrestrial ecosystems, marshes, swamps, and tropical rainforests have the highest primary production rates, whereas tundra and alpine ecosystems have the lowest. [25]
Taxonomic rank is a classification level in biological taxonomy, such as species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom.