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Section 2 - Coggle Diagram

- - - - Geographic location and latitude are key factors that determine the climate, vegetation and biodiversity of a region, which in turn influence the formation and characteristics of biomes. Understanding how these factors interact is fundamental to ecology and biodiversity conservation worldwide.
        Example: How far above or below sea level a location is. Temperature is colder at higher elevations because there are fewer air molecules to hold the sun's heat energy.
- - - - It is based on biogeochemicals and refers to the processes and cycles that involve the interaction between biological and also geological and chemical components of the Earth.
        
        Among these cycles, some examples are the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the phosphorus cycle, and the water cycle as well, and there is also one for animals.
        
        Biogeochemical cycles are responsible for the recycling of vital chemical elements, otherwise they would be depleted and life on the planet would be impossible.
        
        Biogeochemical cycles involve both the different forms of life (plant, animal, microscopic, etc.) and natural inorganic elements and compounds (rain, wind, etc.). It is a perpetual movement of matter from one place to another, which allows the recycling of nutrients available in the biosphere.
- - - - Food chains, trophic levels and biological cycles, is essential for maintaining ecosystem stability and safeguarding the well-being of both the environment and humankind.
        
        As humanity faces unprecedented environmental challenges, an informed understanding of ecological dynamics is key to navigating towards a harmonious coexistence with the natural world.
        
        Knowledge of food webs, trophic levels and biological cycles is essential to maintain the health and balance of ecosystems, prevent threats to biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of ecosystem services.
      - Recognizing the role of biodiversity in ecosystem resilience underscores the importance of conservation efforts to prevent species loss and maintain ecosystem functionality.
- - - - In recent decades, ecology has gained relevance due to the remarkable consequences of the impact of human activities on the environment.
- - - - daptations are the ways in which organisms are suited to their environment. They can be structural, color, physiological, behavioral, or reproductive.
        
        Structural adaptations are related to the structure of the organism's body, for example, the streamlined shape of fish helps them to swim more quickly through water.
        
        Color adaptations are related to the organism's color, for example, camouflage helps organisms to blend in with their surroundings, warning coloration helps to warn predators of danger, and mimicry helps organisms to avoid predators by looking like other, more dangerous organisms.
        
        Physiological adaptations are related to the organism's metabolism. For example, during hibernation, bears reduce their chemical processes to conserve energy.
        
        Behavioral adaptations are related to the organism's behavior. For example, during the heat of the day in the desert, lizards burrow into the sand to find a cooler place.
        
        Reproductive adaptations are related to the organism's courtship, mating, or rearing of young, for example, peacocks fan their feathers to attract a mate.
        
        Adaptations are important because they help organisms to survive and reproduce in their environment
    - - Ecologists use a variety of methods to study ecology, including:
      - Observation: directly observing how organisms interact.
      - The experiments: manipulating the environment to study how it affects organisms.
      - The models: create mathematical models to represent ecological interactions.