Ecosystem Properties

Ecological Hierarchies Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Organism Tissue Cell Molecules

Definitions Biosphere - The entire portion of the globe that can support life, including the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial surface and belowground Biome – The largest easily recognized subsection of the biosphere, based upon climate

Definitions Ecosystem – A region where plants, animals and microbes can interact with each other and their environment. Community – A region where plants, animals and microbes can interact with each other. Population – An interbreeding group of organisms

Ecosystem Emergent Properties All “systems” are made up of components. Once those components are assembled into the system, they take on new properties, those of the “system”. E.g., bridge over South Canadian River E.g., living system

Ecosystem Emergent Properties What are the emergent properties of a living system, e.g., you? You are composed of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, etc., but you are so much more than bags of elements flopping around As a living entity you: Respire Irritable Capable of reproduction

Ecosystem Emergent Properties So, as a “system” ecosystems also have emergent properties Nutrient cycling Energy flow

Energy in Ecosystems Energy Movement follows 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics Energy can’t be created or destroyed Any transfers of energy are not 100% efficient

Energy flow

Energy Flow Calories Solar Energy 1,000,000 1 % 10,000 Producers 10% Herbivores 1,000 10% Consumers 100 Carnivores 10% 10 Top Carnivore

Energy Flow Solar Energy 1 % Producers 10% Herbivores Food Chain 10% Consumers Carnivores 10% Top Carnivore

Energy Flow Solar Energy 1 % Producers Trophic Level 10% Herbivores Consumers Carnivores 10% Top Carnivore

Any Questions?

Nutrient Cycling There are two major types of nutrient cycles Gaseous – Most of the nutrient is stored in the atmosphere Sedimentary – Most of the nutrient is stored in the sediments or soils

So what nutrients do we need? Macro-nutrients are needed in large quantities Na,Cl, C, H, O, P, K, I, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg Micro-nutrients are also essential, but are needed in only small amounts Mo, B, Cl, Mn, Cu, Zn

Gaseous Nutrient Cycle The carbon cycle CO2 Respiration (photosynthesis) plant Decomposers herbivore carnivore top carnivore

Sedimentary Nutrient Cycle Example: The Phosphorus Cycle erosion plant herbivores carnivores P in soil decomposers (weathering) P in rock (apatite)

So what nutrients do we need? Macro-nutrients are needed in large quantities Na,Cl, C, H, O, P, K, I, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg Micro-nutrients are also essential, but are needed in only small amounts Mo, B, Cl, Mn, Cu, Zn The elements in blue have gaseous cycles

Quick Quiz on Ecosystems What’s the definition of an ecosystem? An area where plants, animals and microbes interact with each other and the environment So why do you need an ecosystem for Energy Flow? Nutrient Cycling? Does energy ever cycle?

NO-O-O!

Take out a clean piece of paper A practice quiz List two types of symbiotic relationships

Quiz, continued Competition between organisms of different species is known as: Intraspecific interactions Intraspecific competition Interspecific interactions Interspecific competition

Quiz, continued If you went up a tall mountain, how many meters increase in elevation would you have to go up to see the same change in vegetation structure that you would see if you went north 30 degrees latitude? 1800 m 4000 m 400 m 100 m

Quiz, continued Which biome has the greatest number of species? Which biome produces most of the wood pulp used for paper in the U.S.?

Quiz, continued In which grassland ecosystem would you expect to find the greatest number of species and why? Undisturbed tall grass prairie Wheat field Corn field Heavily grazed tall grass prairie