Chapter 4Chapter 4

Ecosystems: Ecosystems: Components, Energy Components, Energy

Flow, & Matter CyclingFlow, & Matter Cycling

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Chapter OutlineChapter Outline

1. Ecosystem Concepts1. Ecosystem Concepts• Components and organization of EcologyComponents and organization of Ecology

2. Food Webs & Energy Flow2. Food Webs & Energy Flow• autotrophs, heterotrophs, productivity, efficiencyautotrophs, heterotrophs, productivity, efficiency

3. Nutrient Cycles3. Nutrient Cycles• water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphoruswater, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus

4. Ecosystem Services4. Ecosystem Services• importance of ecosystemsimportance of ecosystems

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Ecosystem ConceptsEcosystem Concepts

Ecology: study of relationships between organisms & their environment

biosphere

ecosystem

community

population

organism

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Realm of ecology

OrganismOrganism

• organism: any form of life

•classified into species

•species: groups of organisms that resemble each other and can potentially interbreed

•There are estimated to be 3.6 - 100 million species

•Only about 1.8 million species named

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Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Aha haAha ha

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Abra cadabraAbra cadabra

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Gelae baen, Gelae belae, Gelae baen, Gelae belae,

Gelae donut, Gelae fishGelae donut, Gelae fish

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Heerz lukenatchaHeerz lukenatcha

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Pieza kakePieza kake fly fly

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

((Agathidium bushi, A. cheneyi, A. Agathidium bushi, A. cheneyi, A. rumsfeldirumsfeldi) )

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Agra vationAgra vation

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Caloplaca obamaeCaloplaca obamae

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Agathidium vaderiAgathidium vaderi

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Aptostichus stephencolbertiAptostichus stephencolberti

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Agra katewinsletaeAgra katewinsletae

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Sylvilagus palustris hefneriSylvilagus palustris hefneri

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

Pheidole harrisonfordiPheidole harrisonfordi

Fun Species NamesFun Species Names

GoldenPalace.com monkeyGoldenPalace.com monkey

((Callicebus aureipalatiiCallicebus aureipalatii))

PopulationPopulation

• Population: a group of interacting individuals of the same species

Examples:

• school of fish

• white oak trees in a forest

• people in a city

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CommunitiesCommunities

• Communities: populations of all species living together in a given area

• Example:

• Redwood forest community:

•populations of redwood

•populations of other trees

•populations of animals

•populations of microorganisms

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EcosystemEcosystem

•Ecosystem: a community of different species interacting with one another & with their non–living environment

• Examples:• a patch of woods• a lake or pond• a farm field • your mouth

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BiomeBiome

• Biomes: large land area characterized by a distinct climate & specific populations

• Major biomes: • temperate grassland• temperate deciduous forest• desert• tropical rain forest• tropical deciduous forest• tropical savannah• coniferous forest• tundra

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Aquatic Life ZoneAquatic Life Zone

Aquatic Life Zone: major marine or freshwater portion of the ecosphere, containing numerous ecosystems

• Major aquatic life zones: •lakes•streams•estuaries•coastlines•coral reefs•deep ocean

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Major Components of EcosystemsMajor Components of Ecosystems

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abiotic: non-living components– e.g., water, air,

nutrients, & solar energy

biotic: living components– e.g., plants,

animals, & microorganisms

Biotic ComponentsBiotic Components

• producers (autotrophs "self–feeders"): make their own food from abiotic compounds.

• most by photosynthesis, e.g., green plants• a few by chemosynthesis, e.g., some bacteria

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Biotic ComponentsBiotic Components

• consumers (heterotrophs "other–feeders"): get their energy & nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains.

• omnivores• carnivores • herbivores• decomposers

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Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

herbivoreherbivore: : consumers that only consumers that only feed on plantsfeed on plants

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

carnivorescarnivores: consumers that only feed on animals: consumers that only feed on animals

+ =

Former Conestoga student, Doug Petock

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

• omnivores: consumers that feed on both plants & animals

15 pound “belly buster” cheeseburger

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

• scavengers: feed on dead organisms

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

• detritivores: feed on detritus (partially decomposed organic matter, such as leaf litter & animal dung) and breakdown this organic material into smaller particles

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

• decomposers: consumers that complete the “circle of life” by digesting organic materials into smaller molecules

Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs)

• primary consumers: (herbivores) feed directly on producers

• secondary consumers: (carnivores) feed on primary consumers

• tertiary consumers: feed on carnivores© Brooks/Cole Publishing Company / ITP

Aquatic Aquatic EcosystemsEcosystems

Terrestrial Terrestrial EcosystemsEcosystems

Limiting FactorLimiting Factor

Limiting Factor: an environmental factor that is more important than other factors in regulating survival, growth, or reproduction

• too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth

• tolerance: distribution & abundance of a species determined by range of physical or chemical factors

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Range of ToleranceRange of Tolerance