G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling Chapter 3 Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling Chapter 3

What is ecology? The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their non- living environment. (oikos “place to live”logos “study of”) How nature is connected.

Communities Subatomic Particles Atoms Molecules Protoplasm Cells Tissues Organs Organ systems Organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere Earth Planets Solar systems Galaxies Universe Organisms Realm of ecology Ecosystems Biosphere

The Nature of Ecology Organism Organism  Any form of life Ecosystem Organization

The Nature of Ecology OrganismOrganism –Any form of life –Species Group of organisms that resemble one anotherGroup of organisms that resemble one another Actually or potentially breed with one anotherActually or potentially breed with one another Produce live, fertile offspringProduce live, fertile offspring Ecosystem Organization

The Nature of Ecology CommunitiesCommunities –Populations of the different species occupying a particular place –Biological community PopulationsPopulations –Group of interacting individual of the same species that occupy a specific area a the same time. OrganismsOrganisms –Any living organism Ecosystem Organization

The Nature of Ecology BiosphereBiosphere All of the earth’s ecosystems EcosystemEcosystem A community of different species interacting with one another and their nonliving environment Ecosystem Organization

The Earth’s Life-Support Systems Fig. 4-6 p. 68 AtmosphereAtmosphere  Troposphere  Stratosphere HydrosphereHydrosphere LithosphereLithosphere BiosphereBiosphere

Sustaining Life of Earth  One-way flow of energy  Sun  Living materials and living things  Into the environment  Cycling of matter  Atoms, ions, molecules needed for survival  Gravity

The Source of Energy Fig. 4-8 p. 69

Ecosystem Concepts and Components BiomesBiomes –“By-ohms” –Land ecosystems –Distinct climate and specific life-forms Role of climateRole of climate –Long term patterns of weather –Determines what type of life will thrive Aquatic life zonesAquatic life zones –freshwater –ocean or marine life Fig. 4-9 p. 70

Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones Fig p. 71

Sun Producers (rooted plants) Producers (phytoplankton) Primary consumers (zooplankton) Secondary consumers (fish) Dissolved chemicals Tertiary consumers (turtles) Sediment Decomposers (bacteria and fungi) Figure 4-11 Page 72 Major components of freshwater ecosystem

Sun Producer Precipitation Falling leaves and twigs Producers Primary consumer (rabbit) Secondary consumer (fox) Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Oxygen (O 2 ) Water Soil decomposers Soluble mineral nutrients Figure 4-12 page 72 Major components of a terrestrial ecosystem

Terrestrial Ecosystems Aquatic Life Zones Sunlight Temperature Precipitation Wind Latitude (distance from equator) Altitude (distance above sea level) Fire frequency Soil Light penetration Water currents Dissolved nutrient concentrations (especially N and P) Suspended solids Salinity Principles of Ecological Factors Abiotic factors- nonliving Figure 4-13 Page 73

The Biotic Components of Ecosystems Producers (autotrophs)Producers (autotrophs) –Transform energy by Photosynthesis Consumers (heterotrophs)Consumers (heterotrophs) –Transform energy by Aerobic Respiration DecomposersDecomposers Fig p. 75

Ecosystems Use Sunlight As Their Source of Energy

Law of Conservation of Matter Photosynthesis Photosynthesis 6 CO H CO H 2 0 C 6 H 12 O O 2 Respiration 6 CO H 2 0

Trophic “Feeding” Levels First Trophic LevelFirst Trophic Level Second Trophic LevelSecond Trophic Level Third Trophic LevelThird Trophic Level Fourth Trophic LevelFourth Trophic Level Producers (plants) Primary consumers (herbivores) –Feed directly on producers Secondary consumer (carnivores) –Feed on Primary Consumers Tertiary consumer –Feed on other carnivores Producers (plants) Primary consumers (herbivores) –Feed directly on producers Secondary consumer (carnivores) –Feed on Primary Consumers Tertiary consumer –Feed on other carnivores

Trophic Levels OmnivoreOmnivore –Eat plants and animals Detritivores and ScavengersDetritivores and Scavengers –Feed on detritus, dead organisms, and waste DecomposersDecomposers –Break down dead organic material –Release the resulting simpler compounds into the soil –Anaerobic respiration (absence of oxygen) Methane, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, hydrogen sulfideMethane, ethyl alcohol, acetic acid, hydrogen sulfide

Mushroom Wood reduced to powder Long-horned beetle holes Bark beetle engraving Carpenter ant galleries Termite and carpenter ant work Dry rot fungus Detritus feedersDecomposers Time progression Powder broken down by decomposers into plant nutrients in soil Figure 4-15 page 75

Biodiversity: What is it and why is it important? The different life-forms and life-sustaining processes.

Biodiversity: What is it and why is it important? Kinds of biodiversity include: Genetic diversityGenetic diversity –Variety in the genetic makeup among individuals within a species Species diversitySpecies diversity –Variety among species found in different habitats of the planet Ecological diversityEcological diversity –Variety of biological communities Functional diversityFunctional diversity –Biological and chemical processes or functions needed for survival

Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems Food chains – sequence of organisms each of which is a food source for the next.

Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems Food webs – a network of interconnected food chains

ECOLOGY Ecological Pyramid A food chain that shows the relationship between the organisms in each trophic level.

Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of energy flowPyramid of energy flow Ecological efficiencyEcological efficiency –Range 5%-20% –Typically 10% Pyramid of biomassPyramid of biomass Pyramid of numbersPyramid of numbers Fig p. 79

The figures represent number of individuals counted at each trophic level. Ecological Pyramids of Numbers

The total dry weight of organisms in a particular trophic level is referenced as “biomass”. Ecological Pyramids of Biomass BIOMASS = # of organisms x the weight of an average individual

Ecological Pyramids of Biomass

Ecological Pyramids of Energy  Energy in ecosystems flows from producers to consumers.  Energy is depicted in kilocalories. 10%.  The average amount of energy that is available to the next trophic level is about 10%.

Ecological Pyramids of Energy

Primary Productivity of Ecosystems Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) –Rate at which an ecosystem’s producers convert solar energy into chemical energy as biomass Net Primary Productivity (NPP)Net Primary Productivity (NPP) –Difference between the rate at which producers store energy as biomass and the rate at which producers use chemical energy stored as biomass

Primary Productivity of Ecosystems

Connections: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems Biogeochemical (nutrient) cyclesBiogeochemical (nutrient) cycles –Hydrologic cycle (H 2 O) –Atmospheric cycles (C,N) –Sedimentary cycles (S,P) –Cycles Book Review

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle Fig p. 83 

Carbon Cycle

Human Activities Affecting the Carbon Cycle Clearing treeClearing tree Burning fossil fuels and woodBurning fossil fuels and wood

Nitrogen Cycle

Human Activities Affecting The Nitrogen Cycle Burning fossil fuelsBurning fossil fuels –Acid rain Animal wasteAnimal waste Removing N from topsoilRemoving N from topsoil Adding N to aquatic systemsAdding N to aquatic systems

The Phosphorus Cycle Fig p. 88

Human Activities Affecting the Phosphorus Cycle MiningMining Forest removalForest removal Adding phosphorus to aquatic systemsAdding phosphorus to aquatic systems –eutrophication

The Sulfur Cycle Fig p. 89

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability Fig p. 92 Using renewable solar energy as an energy sourceUsing renewable solar energy as an energy source Recycling the chemical nutrients organisms need for survival, growth, and reproduction.Recycling the chemical nutrients organisms need for survival, growth, and reproduction.