Ecosystem Components

Ecosystem ComponentsEcosystem Components

BIOTIC Components of an Ecosystem

• PRODUCERS

• CONSUMERS

• DECOMPOSERS (type of Consumer)

PRODUCERS (autotrophs)

– Terrestrial: Green plants– Aquatic: Phytoplankton (floating and drifting

protists & cyanobacteria)– Use SUNLIGHT to make their own food via

Photosynthesis—the conversion of sunlight energy into Stored/Potential/Chemical energy (Glucose)

Photosynthesis

Chemiosynthesis

• Some bacteria can make food without sunlight! These specialize producer Bacteria convert Hydrogen Sulfide and CO2 into organic compounds (like sugar) in Hydrothermal vents powered by the heat of the Earth.

• http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/learning/player/lesson05.html• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXGF3XS-yAI• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLOUFrncG7E

CONSUMERS (Heterotrophs)

• --All other organisms in an Ecosystem fall into this category. (Decomposers are a TYPE of Consumer, technically)

• --Organisms that get their organic nutrition from feeding off Producers or other Consumers.

Classes of Consumers:

– Herbivores:– Carnivores: – Omnivores:– Detritivores: (Detritus Feeders: ie: Bark Beetle,

Termite)—Directly consume fragments of dead organic material

– Decomposers (Fungi & Bacteria): Digest Complex organic compounds in fragments of the organic material (in this case, log) into simpler, inorganic compounds—plant nutrients in soil.

Cell Respiration:

• Both PRODUCERS and CONSUMERS use the process of CELL RESPIRATION to release the stored energy in organic compounds, such as Carbohydrates (glucose) to power their cells.

• In this process, Glucose is converted back into Carbon Dioxide and Water as waste products.

• Matter flows in an ecosystem:

• Energy flows in an ecosystem:

NonLiving Parts of an Ecosystem:

• Range of Tolerance for a Species:

• Threshold Effect:

• Limiting Factor Principle in an Ecosystem: