Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling Key Components •Ecological Structure •Basic Components of the Ecosystem •Matter Cycles and Energy Flow
Jan 01, 2016
Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling
Key Components
•Ecological Structure
•Basic Components of the Ecosystem
•Matter Cycles and Energy Flow
The Nature of Ecology Ecosystem organization
Organisms– Individual species Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region Community – Two or more pop-ulations interacting together Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting Biome – Ecosystems of a geographicArea with similar climate Biosphere – The livings Earth
Ecosystem organization Organisms– Individual species Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region Community – Two or more pop-ulations interacting together Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting Biome – Ecosystems of a geographicArea with similar climate Biosphere – The livings Earth
The Earth’s Life-Support Systems
Troposphere Troposphere
Stratosphere Stratosphere
Hydrosphere Hydrosphere
Lithosphere Lithosphere
Biosphere Biosphere
Sustaining Life of Earth
One-way flowof energy
One-way flowof energy
Cycling ofmatter
Cycling ofmatter
The Source of Energy
Ecosystem Concepts and Components
Biomes Biomes
Role of climate
Role of climate
Aquatic life zones
Aquatic life zones
Biomes That You Are Responsible To Know Details About
• Temperate Deciduous Forest• Temperate Grassland• Taiga• Tundra• Desert• Tropical Rainforest• Savanna
•AKA – Edge (Edge Effect)•More Biodiversity
Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones
Principles of Ecological Factors Abiotic factors Abiotic factors
Biotic factors Biotic factors
Law of tolerance Law of tolerance
Limiting factors Density Independent Density Dependent
Limiting factors Density Independent Density Dependent
The Biotic Components of Ecosystems
Producers(autotrophs)- make their own food
Producers(autotrophs)- make their own food Consumers
(heterotrophs) –Obtain nutrients Herbivores Carnivores Scavengers Detrivores Saprophytes (Decomposers)
Consumers(heterotrophs) –Obtain nutrients Herbivores Carnivores Scavengers Detrivores Saprophytes (Decomposers)
Biological Interactions – Food WebsThe more organisms in FW, the more biodiverse the ecosystem
• Arrows show the direction of energy flow
Trophic Pyramid• Shows the energy available at every step of a
food chain• Trophic Level = an organisms place in a food
chain• Most organisms can occupy more than one
trophic level• Bottom of the pyramid will ALWAYS be
producers• Decomposers are not usually included in a
pyramid
Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of
energy flow Pyramid of
energy flow
Ecologicalefficiency
Ecologicalefficiency
Pyramid ofbiomass
Pyramid ofbiomass
Pyramid ofnumbers
Pyramid ofnumbers
Fig. 4-20 p. 79
Primary Productivity of Ecosystems Gross primary productivity (GPP) Gross primary productivity (GPP)
Net primary productivity (NPP) Net primary productivity (NPP)
Fig. 4-25 p. 81
Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)
The Nitrogen CycleFig. 4-29 p. 86Fig. 4-29 p. 86
The Phosphorus Cycle
The Sulfur Cycle
How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems?
Field research Field research
Remote sensing Remote sensing
Geographic information systems (GIS) Geographic information systems (GIS)
Laboratory research Laboratory research
Systems analysis Systems analysis
Remote Sensing Examples
Deforestation in the Amazon
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/
Deforestation and Development in Bolivia
GIS and Systems Analysis
Fig. 4-33 p. 91Fig. 4-33 p. 91Fig. 4-32 p. 91Fig. 4-32 p. 91
Ecosystem Servicesand Sustainability