Sustainability of Ecosystems Diversity and Sustainability

Energy What is an ecosystem? Where does the E come from? Includes all organisms in an area that interact with each other and with their environment of E (energy) and matter. Where does the E come from? Sunlight E is captured by plants by chlorophyll through the process of photosynthesis. E is converted into carbohydrates In this way light E is converted into chemical E

Feeding Levels Producer – First trophic level Radiant E converted into chemical E Primary Consumer – Second trophic level Eat plants (rabbit, deer) Secondary Consumer – Third trophic level Eat primary consumers (foxes, wolves) There is a unique relationship between plants and animals and the amount of E they produce per unit of land area.

Decomposers Part of two very different food chains Producers = Plants (p.11, fig. 2 & 3) Producers = Plants Consumers = Animals and other living things that eat plants and each other Scavengers = feed on bodies of larger dead animals E.g. vultures, ravens, hyenas Detritivores = consume waste (detritus) E.g. earthworms, wood beetles and carpenter ants Decomposers = bacteria and fungi

Frogs Amphibians – from the Greek meaning two lives. Why are they disappearing? Loss of Habitat Wetland and Field reduction Air and Water Quality Skin absorption & Reproductive Issues UV Radiation Cell Damage to Skin; High Altitudes Climate Change Dry Climate = Fewer Frogs

Endangered Species What does it mean to be endangered? To be close to extinction! Effects of Extinction? Decrease in biodiversity Restore the Balance?

Ecology Pests Organisms that cause problems for humans Why are they important to ecosystems? Food, pollination, oxygenation

Habitat Components Abiotic = non-living factors Sunlight, temperature, wind Biotic = living factors Any living component Ecological Niche An organism’s place in an ecosystem Allows organism to survive and reproduce (two most important things in the life of an organism) Population All of the members of the same species Community Collection of all the populations

Energy Movement in Ecosystems A Comparison… (p.34, fig, 1) Producer/Consumer Trophic Level Producer First Trophic Level Primary Consumer Second Trophic Level Secondary Consumer Third Tropic Level Tertiary Consumer Fourth Tropic Level Food Chain vs. Food Web

Energy within Trophic Levels Trophic levels indicate that E is moving from one level to the next. Why is this so important? It is important for us to understand that while there is E transfer it is not 100%. 100KJ of E in and only 10KJ will be used effectively by the tissues. The amount of E transferred from one level to the next varies from 5-20% with 10% being a good average. Where does the rest go??? 30KJ thermal E to environment, 60KJ as waste Note: 1 Calorie (technically kiloCalorie) = 4.184 kilojoules

Feeding People A farm that produces plants will be able to support a larger population of humans then a farm that produces plants and animals