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Energy Flow Through An Ecosystem

Part 1

Ecosystem

A community and its physical environment treated together as a functional system or A biological community together with abiotic environment,

characterized by the flow of energy and the cycling of inorganic nutrients

Biotic organisms:Living organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, viruses etc.

Abiotic components

Non-living things in the environment e.g. light, gasses (air), water, soil, temperature.

Ecosystem Types?

Micro

Macro

NOT Makro

Types of Energy:All organisms require energy…

Solar energy

Mechanical energy (+gravitational energy, etc.)

Chemical energy = energy stored inmolecular

bonds

ALL BEGINS WITH THE SUN!

The chemical reaction by which green plants use water and carbon dioxide and light from the sun to make glucose

ENERGY is stored in glucose; glucose is stored as starch

Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called: PRODUCERS

(Autotrophs)

Producers use cellular respiration to supply the energy they need to live

CELLULAR RESPIRATION is the chemical reaction that releases

the energy in glucose. 6O2 + C6H12O6 -->  6H2O + 6CO2 +

energy

Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called Heterotrophs.

Erwinia Carotovora Carcharodon carcharias

Two Types of Heterotrophs Decomposers and Consumers

Heterotrophs-Consumers / Decomposers Decomposers utilize complex compounds in dead

protoplasm.

Bacteria and fungi are the main groups of decomposers.

Bacteria are the main feeders on animal material.

Fungi feed primarily on plants, although bacteria also are important in some plant decomposition processes.

References: Mrs Williamson- Slide show Ecosystems Chapter 52 – Campbell and Reece, 2011 Mr Swart slide show Edenvale High http://www.slideshare.net/medgar9/honors-biolog

y-ecosystems-1011?qid=d55c21a4-f6ee-4697-9966-26aeaf386554&v=qf1&b=&from_search=4

http://www.slideshare.net/medgar9/biology-ecosystems-and-communities-1112?qid=d55c21a4-f6ee-4697-9966-26aeaf386554&v=qf1&b=&from_search=2

http://www.slideshare.net/biologyteacher60/chapter-2-biology?qid=d55c21a4-f6ee-4697-9966-26aeaf386554&v=qf1&b=&from_search=9

Reference list pictures: http://

xaxor.com/photography/27544-animals-in-nature-beautiful-photos.html

http://www.forwallpaper.com/wallpaper/virus-bacteria-636760.html

http://www.showziji.com/alps-mountains-hd-wallpaper/awesome-french-alps-snow-mountain-hd-wallpaper-2048x1152/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/275282595946891764/ Mr Swart slide show Edenvale High Mrs Williamson- Slide show Ecosystems