After reading Chapter 19, you should be able to:

• Define ecology, biogeography, and the ecosystem concept.

• Describe communities, habitats, and niches.

• Explain photosynthesis and respiration and derive net photosynthesis and the world pattern of net primary productivity.

• List abiotic ecosystem components and relate those components to ecosystem operations.

• Explain trophic relationships in ecosystems.

• Define succession, and outline the stages of general ecological succession in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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