1 Ecology What is it? Ecology • Hierarchy of Organization - Individual - Population - # of individuals in given area - Community – all biota in an area - Ecosystem – all biota & abiotic factors - Landscape – multiple ecosystems over large area - Biosphere – all life on Earth Ecology Autecology : study interrelations of individuals with environment Synecology : study of communities Basic Scientific Principles • Law of Conservation of Matter • 1 st Law of Thermodynamics (Energy) Matter cannot be created nor destroyed, rather it can only be transformed Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, rather it can only be converted in form Basic Scientific Principles • 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics When converting energy, always lose some energy as heat
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lecture 240 ecology - fall 2004people.cst.cmich.edu/gehri1tm/bio 240/bio 240 - week 2.pdf2 Major Ecosystem Processes 1) Energy Flow = energy moves through system 2) Nutrient Cycling
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Ecology What is it? Ecology
• Hierarchy of Organization- Individual- Population - # of individuals in given area- Community – all biota in an area- Ecosystem – all biota & abiotic factors- Landscape – multiple ecosystems over
large area- Biosphere – all life on Earth
Ecology
Autecology: study interrelations of individuals with environment
Synecology: study of communities
Basic Scientific Principles
• Law of Conservation of Matter
• 1st Law of Thermodynamics (Energy)
Matter cannot be created nor destroyed, rather it can only be transformed
Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, rather it can only be converted in form
Basic Scientific Principles
• 2nd Law of ThermodynamicsWhen converting energy, always lose some energy as heat
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Major Ecosystem Processes
1) Energy Flow = energy moves through system
2) Nutrient Cycling = chemical elements recycled in system
Energy Flow
• Solar energy – primary energy source (fig 3.5, p. 42)
Of incoming solar radiation:66% absorbed 34% reflected (albedo)
Solar Energy
• Of solar radiation absorbed:- ~22% water cycle- nearly all transform to heat &
radiatesemissivity: relative ability of Earth to
release energy (e.g., radiate heat into space; link to global warming)
Solar Energy • Tiny amount of solar energy into
photosynthesis (< 0.1%)photosynthesis (PNS): use solar energy to convert CO2 & H2O into sugar; by-product = O2primary production: all organic matter resulting from PNS; raw material for other organisms (gross production vs. net production)
Energy Flow in Communities
food chain: sequence of organisms linked by energy & nutrient flow
trophic level: feeding level/position of organism in food chain
Trophic Levels Producer: (autotrophs) anchor of chain;