Here are a few basic principles of biology that are important to understand many of the ideas that we will be discussing as the term goes on. As you look at these principles try to relate them to examples from your readings and from class, particularly to salmon. Organisms can be viewed as energy-transforming machines, matter transforming machines, and reproducing machines.
Autotrophs are at the base of food webs.
Herbivores, carnivores and decomposers all ultimately get the energy they need from autotrophs. Living organisms use energy to drive chemical reactions. All living organisms use the energy that they obtain to drive all of the chemical reactions necessary for their maintenace, growth and reproduction. These chemical reactions transform matter from the forms in which it is obtained into the compounds that the organism needs. Enzymes are protein molecules that catalyze specific chemical reactions in organisms.