1. ECOSYSTEMS REQUIRE AN ENERGY SOURCE

3. Organisms: Energy Sources
Producers: plants and bacteria
derive energy from inorganic sources
phototrophs & chemotrophs
Consumers: grazers, carnivores,etc.
derive energy from living organisms (organic sources)
Decomposers: fungi, scavengers, etc.
derive energy from dead organic matter (organic sources)
autotrophs
Important to remember that consumers can be grazers and / or carnivores
heterotrophs

4. Energy Flow
The ultimate source of energy in most ecosystems is the sun.

6. Producer – Photosynthesis – transform radiant energy into chemical energy

7. Ecosystem Structure: how the parts fit together
Trophic Structure: major feeding relationships between organisms

8. Producers (Autotrophs)
Those members of the community that manufacture organic compounds, such as glucose, from simple inorganic compounds, such as carbon dioxide, using an abiotic energy source, such as sunlight.
Through their energy transforming actions, they make chemical energy available as organic compounds for their own use and, directly or indirectly, other members of the living community.

9. Consumers (Heterotrophs)
Members of the community that must obtain their energy by eating other organisms or parts of them.
All animals are consumers

10. Consumers (Hetertrophs)
Consumer animals may be subdivided into the following groups;
Herbivores – eat plants
Carnivores – eat animals
Omnivores – eat both plants and animals
Detrivores – eat decomposing organic matter (worms, beetles, crabs)

11. Energy Flow: Food Web

12. Radiant energy of sunlight
TROPHIC LEVELS
Radiant energy of sunlight
Trees, shrubs, grasses and ferns
Producers
1st trophic level
Phytoplankton, algae
Herbivores
Plant-eating insects, small birds, possums
Primary Consumers
2nd trophic level
Zooplankton, whelks
Carnivores
Antechinus, owls
Secondary Consumers
3rd trophic level
Starfish, small fish
Snakes, eagles
Tertiary Consumers
4th trophic level
Large fish, sharks
Open forest system
Temperate coastal sea ecosystem

13. Categories of Consumers
primary consumers: (=herbivores) feed directly on producers;
secondary consumers: (=carnivores) feed on primary consumers;
tertiary consumers: feed only on carnivores;
omnivores: consumers that feed on both plants & animals;
scavengers: feed on dead organisms;
decomposers (saprobes): consumers that complete the breakdown & recycling of organic materials from the remains & wastes of other organisms;
detritivores: feed on detritus (partially decomposed organic matter, such as leaf litter & animal dung).

14. What is the polar bear doing?
Fig 2-11b

15. Major components of aquatic ecosystems.
Fig. 4–11

16. Major components of terrestrial ecosystems.
Fig. 4–12

17. The Importance of Decomposers
Fig. 4–16

18. Factors Limiting Populations
Law of tolerance: the ability of species to tolerate changes in their environment (physical or chemical factors). Pollution, global warming, habitat loss are some concerns associated with this.
Limiting factor: any environmental factor that reduces survival or reproduction within a population.
Ex: predation, temperature
Limiting factor principle: too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, regardless if all other factors are near optimum range of tolerance.
Ex: too much fertilizer will kill plants.