Ecosystem Components Ecosystem Components
Dec 31, 2015
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)
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.
• Range of Tolerance for a Species:
• Threshold Effect:
• Limiting Factor Principle in an Ecosystem: