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