System Ecology

Nana Ivana Hrastnik9.3.2015

IntroIntroEcology is broad and diverese field of study.The basic distinctions in ecology is

considered between AUTECOLOGY and SYNECOLOGY.

Ecosystem ecology maintains that it's always possible to convert species numbers into biomass or nutrient mass.

HistoryHistoryThrough of history of systems

concepts, the two dominant and competing ecological paradigmas were:the organismic viewsthe individualistic views.

The main ecosystem and related concepts:

The oldest concept

 

The youngest concept

Microcosm Broadening of the biocoenosis conceptEcoid Unholistic

Okologisches system Still being used to avoid argumentHolocoen Holistic, biologisticEcosystem Antiholistic, physicalistBiosystem Stressing functional organization

Bioinert body BiogeochemicalBiochore Landscape ecological

Landschaft Holistic

Defining an EcosystemDefining an Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a bounded system.The main features of the ecosystem, energy, flow and nutrient biogeochemical cycling, comprise the major areas of ecosystem ecology research.

Energy Flow in EcosystemsEnergy Flow in Ecosystems An ecosystem is an open system energy and matter input from

outside Every ecosystem must have a system boundary Energy flow begins: solar radiation in primary producers Secondary production: refers to the energetic availability of the

heterotrophic organisms Plants provide the essential base for all ecological food webs Energy resources flowing through the ecosystem are necessary to maintain all growth and development activities. Early stage energy availability is generally used for growth, while later energy surplus is used for maintenance or reproduction

Biofeochemical CyclesBiofeochemical Cycles

Biosphere Hydrosphere Atmosphere Lithosphere

H 49% H 65% N 78% O 62%

O 24% O 33% O 21% Si 22%

C 24% Cl <0,4% Ar <1% Al 6,5%

N <0,1% Na <0,3% C <0,05%

H 3%

Ca <0,1% Mg <0,05%

Ne 0,002%

Na 2,6%

Atomic composition for the first 5 elements

Ecosystem StudiesEcosystem StudiesExperiments:

microcosmmesocosm

Human Influence on Human Influence on EcosystemEcosystemHumans have changed ecosystems more

rapidly and extensively over the last 50 years than in any comparable period of time in human history!!

Four primary ecosystem services needed by humans:supportingprovisioningregulatingcultural

SummarySummaryEcosystem ecology deals with:

functioning at the system level of the ecological community with its abiotic environment, primarily in terms of the energy flow

nutrient cycling.

Research in ecosystem ecology has given understanding of:processesfunctions necessary to sustain life

QuestionsQuestions1. What is the difference between

autecology and synecology?2. What are the main ecosystem and

related concepts?3. How does energy flow in ecosystem

begin?4. Which elements have been the most

employed in living organisms?5. Why do we use ecosystem ecology?

AnswersAnswers1. What is the difference between autecology and

synecology?Autecology is the ecological study of an individual organism and populations and subecology is study of ecological study of relationship among the organisms and populations – it’s a study of whole planet.

2. What are the main ecosystem and related concepts (4)?The main ecosystems are: 1) biochore – landscape ecological,

2) ecosystem - antiholistic, 3) microcosm – biocoenosis concept,

4) bioinert body – biogeochemical.

3. How does energy flow in ecosystem begin?

It begins with the solar radiation by photosynthetic proccesses.

4. Which elements have been the most employed in living organisms?

H, C, O, N, P, Mg, K, Si.

5. Why do we use ecosystem ecology?We use it for understanding of the

processes and functions necessary to sustain life.