1. Read the text and translate the italisized extract in written form.
ECOSYSTEM ECOLOGY
Ecosystem ecology, sometimes referred to as system ecology, is concerned with the flow of energy and circulation of matter in a whole ecosystem, that is how the whole system functions. The intimate couplings between the environment and the species: living there will influence the balance of the ecosystem and the living conditions for its members. It is only by knowing how the whole system works that we are able to understand how changes in abiotic factors that is environmental impacts, will affect a community of organisms.
Organisms can use energy in several forms. Depending on the form of "food" they use, the systems contain several categories of plants and animals.
The majority of plants obtain their energy directly fr om sunlight using green chlorophyll and sometimes additional pigments (like the brown and red algae). Plants are the primary producers of the ecosystem. In their photosynthesis, they convert the energy from sunlight into energy stored in carbohydrates (sugar, starch, cellulose etc.) and other organic compounds. They build biomass in the form of roots, stems and leaves. In addition to sunlight they need water, carbon dioxide from the air and nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus from the ground.
Animals living on plant biomass are called grazers or herbivores. They fill the role of consumers, or primary consumers, in the ecosystem.
Those animals that live by catching other living animals are predators, or carnivores, also called secondary consumers.
Finally, bacteria, and other organisms living on dead organic matter, detritus, are called decomposers. Soil animals, such as earthworms make up the first stage in the decomposition of detritus, while fungi and bacteria take care of the final decomposition. By decomposing the organic matter they return the nutrients to mineral form and the organically bound carbon to carbon dioxide. The roots of plants can then again capture the mineral nutrients, and the circulation of chemical matters is closed. The decomposers are in many ways the most important organisms in the ecosystem. Plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystems is limited by the lack of nitrogen and in aquatic ecosystem often by lack of phosphorus. If the decomposers did not effectively re-circulate these nutrients, primary production would soon cease. Re-circulation of nutrients and other substances is thus essential to all ecosystems.
Большинство растений получают энергию непосредственно из солнечного света, используя хлорофилл и иногда дополнительные пигменты (как например, бурые и красные водоросли). Растения являются первичными продуцентами экосистемы. В их фотосинтезе они преобразуют энергию солнечного света в энергию, запасенную в углеводах (сахаре, крахмале, целлюлозе и т. д.) и других органических соединениях. Они создают биомассы в виде корней, стеблей и листьев. В дополнение к солнечному свету им необходимы вода, углекислый газ из воздуха и питательные вещества, такие как азот, калий и фосфор из почвы.
TASK1. GRAMMAR
A. Turn the following verbs into nouns and translate them into russian:
1. to affect (оказывать воздействие, влияние) – effect (действие, воздействие, влияние);
2. to describe (описывать) – description (описание);
B. Turn the following nouns into verbs and translate them into russian:
6. population (население) – to populate (населять);
7. eutrophication (эвтрофикация, загрязнение водорослями) – to eutrophicate (эвтрофицироваться, загрязняться водорослями);
TASK2. Refer the modal verbs to the past and future wh ere possible:
1. Organisms can use energy in several forms.
Organisms could use energy in several forms.
2. Animals are able to receive their nitrogen through the food.
Animals were able to receive their nitrogen through the food. Animals will be able to receive their nitrogen through the food.
TASK3. PREPOSITIONS
Fill in the missing preposition:
1. In autumn omnivores feed on seeds and are herbivores, but in summer they feed their offsprings on insects and are then predators.
2. Human use of ecosystem resources, for instance by agriculture, forestry or fishing has had dramatic effects on energy flow, nutrient circulation and biological diversity.
TASK4.
Translate from english into russian:
1. Plants are the primary producers of the ecosystem.
Растения являются первичными продуцентами экосистемы.
2. Plant growth in most terrestrial ecosystem is limited by the lack of nitrogen and in an aquatic ecosystem often by lack of phosphorus.
Рост растений в большинстве наземных экосистем ограничен из-за недостатка азота, а в водной экосистеме часто из-за недостатка фосфора.
