Env. St. Ecosystemsblanckd.yolasite.com/resources/Env. St. Ecosystems Part 1.pdf · Earth's major land biomes Example Photos of Ecosystems. 2 Comparisons based on average temperature

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Ecosystems- Part 1-

Habitable Planet Unit 4CIS Environmental Studies

PLHS SiteD. Blanck, M.S.

EcologyThe scientific study of relationships inthe natural world.

Between organisms and their physicalenvironments (physiological ecology)Between organisms of the same species(population ecology)Between organisms of different species(community ecology)Between organisms and matter andenergy flow through biological systems(ecosystem ecology)

Impact of Geography on Ecosystems

Sets basic physical conditions for theorganisms that inhabit a given area

Global circulation patternsClimate zones

Most important factors:Temperature rangesMoisture availabilityLightNutrient availability

BiomesBroad areas characterized by adistinctive climate, soil type, andbiological communityRepresent consistent sets ofconditions for lifeSupport similar kinds of organismswherever they existLand biomes are typically named fortheir characteristic types of vegetation

Earth's major land biomes Example Photos of Ecosystems

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Comparisons based on averagetemperature ranges and rainfall Aquatic biomes

Cover 3/4 of the Earth's surfaceMarine: coral reefs, estuaries, openocean, abyssal zones, etc.Freshwater: rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.Change daily or seasonally

eg. intertidal zone, seasonal poolsStratified into layers

Earth's marine and freshwater biomesBiodiversity in Biomes

Species are not uniformly spreadamong Earth's biomesSpecies richness: An approach toassessing biodiversity involvingpopulation distribution studies.Species richness increases from thepoles to the tropics in both land andaquatic biomes

Biome Distribution

Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

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TrophicLevels

Feedinglevels

within afood web.

Trophic levels (Continued)I. Primary producers: Organisms thatphotosynthesize food

Plants, Algae, Some BacteriaII. Primary Consumers: Animals that feed onproducers (Herbivores)

Zooplankton, Ungulates, Rodents, etc.

III. Secondary Consumers: Animals that eatherbivores (Predators)

Hyena, Snake, Sunfish, etc.IV+. Tertiary Consumers, etc: Predators thatmay prey on other predators

Dominant Carnivore -Top Predator

Food Webs and Trophic LevelsEnergy Pyramid & Biomes

Less energy is passed fromone level to the nextDuring decomposition energyis released as heat

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The rate at which new biomassaccrues in an ecosystem.

Bioaccumulation / BiomagnificationThe increase in concentration of a chemical inorganisms that reside in contaminated ecosystemsThe further increase in concentration of a chemicalin organisms at higher trophic levels

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Nutrient Cycling: Carbon (Biochemical) Nutrient Cycling: Nitrogen

Nutrient Cycling: Phosphorus