CHAPTER 3: ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING

CHAPTER 3.1 NATURAL LAWS

Chapter 3.1.1: Thermodynamic laws

Chapter 3.1.2: Preservation of matter

Chapter 3.1.3: Limiting factors

Chapter 3.1.4: Trigger factors

Chapter 3.1.5: Holocenotic principle

CHAPTER 3.2: THE FUNCTIONING OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

Chapter 3.2.1: Photosynthesis

Chapter 3.2.2: Food chain

Chapter 3.2.3: Food networks

CHAPTER 3.3: CYCLES IN THE ECOSYSTEM

Chapter 3.3.1: The hydrological cycle

Chapter 3.3.2: Gaseous cycles

Chapter 3.3.3: Sedimentary cycles

Chapter 3.3.4: Circulation periods

CHAPTER 3.4: FOOD PYRAMIDS AND ENERGY FLOW

Chapter 3.4.1: Food pyramids according to numbers and mass

Chapter 3.4.2: Food pyramids according to Energy flow

CHAPTER 3.5: PRODUCTIVITY AND BIOMASS

Chapter 3.5.1: Primary production

Chapter 3.5.2: Secondary production

CHAPTER 3.6: POPULATION NUMBERS AND CARRYING CAPACITY

CHAPTER 3.7: BIOLOGICAL CONTROL MECHANISMS FOR POPULATION

Chapter 3.7.1: Predation

Chapter 3.7.2: Cannibalism, cronism and prolicide

Chapter 3.7.3: Symbiosis

Chapter 3.7.4: Commensalism and amensalism

Chapter 3.7.5: Parasitis

Chapter 3.7.6: Suicide

CHAPTER 3.8: COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES

Chapter 3.8.1: Competition amongst animals

Chapter 3.8.2: Competition amongst plants

CHAPTER 3.9: ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION

Chapter 3.9.1: Primary and secondary succession

Chapter 3.9.2: The climax stage

CHAPTER 3.10: STABILITY

Chapter 3.10.1: Homeostasis

Chapter 3.10.3: The vulnerability of an ecosystem

Chapter 3.10.4: Disturbances and resilience

CHAPTER 3.11: CARRYING CAPACITY

Chapter 3.11.1: Recreational land use

Chapter 3.11.2: Cattle farming

Chapter 3.11.3: Game farming

Chapter 3.11.4: Summary

CHAPTER 3.12: RHYTHMICITY