Levels of Ecological Organization

An individual in a biosphere is defined as a particular species that is capable of carrying out all life processes. In the arctic, the harp seal is considered an organism.

A population is a group of the same type of organisms (species) living in the same place in a given time. An example of this would be all of the harp seals living in the Arctic.

A community is defined as many different populations living together and interacting with one another. Harp seals live with polar bears, caribou, arctic foxes, arctic hares, walrus, moose, and more.

An ecosystem is the interaction of all living organisms in an area and the non-living aspects of the environment. The harp seal swims in the cold Arctic waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.

A biome is a major ecosystem spread over a wide geographic area, and characterized by certain types of flora and fauna. Harp seals live in a terrestrial biome which is the Arctic.

A biosphere is defined as the layer of the planet where every living organism occupies. Harp seals live on the lithosphere (land) but also the hydrosphere (water) on the Earth.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors of the Arctic

A biotic factor is only living component that affects the population of another organism or the environment. Examples of biotic factors in the Arctic would be all the animals and living organisms located in this biome. Organisms such as shrubs, mosses, herbivores, carnivores, birds, fish, etc.

An abiotic factor is a non-living chemical/physical part of the environment that affect organisms and functioning ecosystems. Strong winds, rainfall, temperature, short summer days, long and cold winters are all examples of abiotic factors in the Arctic. The average winter temperature of the arctic is -34 degrees Celsius, and for summer 3-12 degrees Celsius. This enables the biome to sustain life. Yearly precipitation, including melting snow is 15-25 cm.

Energy Flowing Through the Arctic

Food chain

Food web

Energy pyramid

In the food chain, the energy begins with phytoplankton (primary producers). They are then eaten by krill (primary consumers). The krill are then eaten by chinstrap penguin (secondary consumer). The penguin is then eaten by the seal (tertiary consumer).

Predation is the interaction of predator and prey. Examples of this would be that predators of harp seals include polar bears, humans, orcas, and sharks.

Competition is when both species get harmed. In the Arctic, the musk ox and the caribou fight over territory and the foods they eat (sedges, grasses, berries, etc.).

Mutualism is the relationship between two different species in which both benefit. An example of this would be that harp seal feces are food for phytoplankton, which then provide fresh oxygen for fish to breathe.

Oxygen Cycle

During cellular respiration, organisms breathe in oxygen and release carbon dioxide. In photosynthesis, plants take in the CO2, releasing oxygen afterwards. The oxygen is then free floating in the atmosphere and the process starts over again. In the Arctic, the harp seal and other living organisms take in oxygen free floating in the atmosphere, and release CO2. For aquatic creatures, oxygen is dissolved in water, where it can be used in respiration.

Water Cycle

Evaporation occurs when liquid changes to gas. The sun turns liquid water into water vapor. Condensation is when gas turns into a liquid. Clouds form as water vapor condenses. Precipitation then occurs. When liquid water moves across land, it is called surface runoff. Transpiration is the process of water vapor being released from plants and soil. The tundra gets little precipitation. When it rains, the water either turns into permafrost or runs into the seas, evaporating, causing it to rain again. Most of the water turns into ice below the soil.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon enters the atmosphere as CO2 from respiration and combustion. It is then absorbed by producers to make carbohydrates in photosynthesis. Animals consume plants, passing carbon compounds along the food chain. The animals/plants eventually die and are eaten by decomposers in the ground. The carbon is then released from their bodies, and may be available as fossil fuels in the future. In the Arctic, increasing amounts of carbon will move from tundras to ponds, lakes, rivers, and the continental shelves in the form of carbon dissolved in water.