ecosystem ecology. ecology “study of the interactions between the organisms and their...
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Ecosystem Ecology
Ecology• “study of the interactions between the
organisms and their environment”
Biotic AbioticLiving
organismsNonliving organisms
Wildflower, animals, bacteria
Sunlight, precipitation, temperature,
soil, rock
Flow of Energy
• Photosynthesis a. Sun + 6 H2O + 6 CO2 C6H12O6 + 6 O2
b. performed by plants, algae, and some bacteria
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/photosynth/overview.html
• Cellular Respiration a. C6H12O6 + 6 O2 Energy + 6 H20 + 6 CO2
b. fuels own metabolism and growth c. aerobic v. anaerobic
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210____
Trophic Levels/Feeding Levels
Food Chain v. Food Web
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210____ (modified
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210____ (modified)
• Scavengers a. consume dead animals (vulture)
• Detritivores a. break down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles (dung beetles)
• Decomposers a. complete the breakdown process by recycling the nutrients from dead tissues back into the ecosystem (fungi, bacteria)
•Gross Primary Productivity ex) total paycheck•Net Primary Productivity ex) paycheck after taxes
Energy Flow• Biomass: total mass of all living matter in an ecosystem• Energy is lost at each level (heat) a. 10% gained; 90% lost b. ecological efficiency
Matter Cycles Through the Biosphere
• Biosphere: combination of all ecosystems on Earth
• Biogeochemical Cycles: movements of matter within and between ecosystems that involved
biological, geological, and chemical processes
The Hydrologic Cycle
1. Evaporation2. Transpiration3. Infiltration4. Precipitation5. Condensation6. evapotranspiration7. Runoff
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210____
• Human Activities a. harvesting trees - decreased evapotranspiration, increased runoff b. construction
The Carbon Cycle1. Photosynthesis2. Respiration3. Exchange4. Sedimentation and burial5. Extraction6. Combustion
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#t_668210____
• Humans and the carbon cycle a. combustion of fossil fuels b. deforestation
The Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen a. proteins and nucleic acids b. useable form nitrates and nitrites c. earth’s atmosphere 78% nitrogen gas d. most abundant element in the atmosphere
• Steps a. nitrogen fixation (nitrogen gas-N2) into ammonia-NH3) b. nitrification (ammonia to nitrites and nitrates) c. ammonification (decomposers) d. denitrification e. leaching
http://bcs.whfreeman.com/friedlandapes/#668210__690858__
Human affect
• Deforestation• Fertilizers• runoff
Phosphorous Cycle
• Major component of DNA, RNA and ATP
• Doesn’t exist in atmosphere a. limited to soil and H2O
• Steps a. weathering of phosphate rocks b. plants take up phosphate from soil and animals eat the plants c. decomposers release phosphate back in to soil d. animal excretion
Human Influence
• Fertilizers• Runoff into aquatic ecosystem a. excess growth of algae (algal bloom) resulting in hypoxia• Found in detergents
Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sulfur
• Important in transmitting signal between cells
• Derived mostly from rocks and decomposed vegetation
• Calcium and Magnesium – limestone and marble
The Sulfur Cycle
• Similar to phosphorous cycle
• Important for proteins
• Found mainly in rocks and soil (coal, oil) as minerals
• Steps a. Weathering b. plants and animals relationship c. decomposers - sulfates convert to hydrogen sulfide gas which escapes into atmosphere, water, soil, marine sediments * result in acid rain
Human Influence
• Emissions from coal-burning power plants
Ecosystem Disturbances
• Disturbance: event caused by physical, chemical, or biological agents that results in changes in population size
a. natural and anthropogenic
• Understanding Biogeochemical Cycles a. helps in determining change by disturbance b. watershed studies - watershed: all of the land in a given landscape that drains into a stream, river, lake, or wetland
• Resistance v. Resilience a. resistance: measure of how much a
disturbance can affect the flows of energy and matter
b. resilience: rate at which an ecosystem can bounce back
• Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis a. rare disturbances low diversity b. frequent disturbances low diversity c. intermediate disturbances highest diversity
Ecosystem Services
• Instrumental Value a. value in terms of how much economic benefit b. ecosystem services c. provisions
• Intrinsic Value a. moral value of an animal’s life
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