Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter CyclingEcosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

13th Edition

Chapter 4

G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment

13th Edition

Chapter 4

Dr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community CollegeDr. Richard ClementsChattanooga State Technical Community College

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Basic ecological principlesBasic ecological principles

Major components of ecosystemsMajor components of ecosystems

Matter cycles and energy flowMatter cycles and energy flow

Ecosystem studiesEcosystem studies

Ecological servicesEcological services

The Nature of EcologyThe Nature of Ecology

Ecosystem organizationEcosystem organization

OrganismsOrganisms

PopulationsPopulations

CommunitiesCommunities

EcosystemsEcosystems

BiosphereBiosphere Fig. 4-2 p. 66Fig. 4-2 p. 66

The Earth’s Life-Support SystemsThe Earth’s Life-Support Systems

TroposphereTroposphere

StratosphereStratosphere

HydrosphereHydrosphere

LithosphereLithosphere

BiosphereBiosphereFig. 4-6 p. 68Fig. 4-6 p. 68

Sustaining Life of EarthSustaining Life of Earth

One-way flowof energy

One-way flowof energy

Cycling ofmatter

Cycling ofmatter

Fig. 4-7 p. 69Fig. 4-7 p. 69

The Source of EnergyThe Source of Energy

Fig. 4-8 p. 69Fig. 4-8 p. 69

Ecosystem Concepts and ComponentsEcosystem Concepts and Components

Biomes Biomes

Fig. 4-9 p. 70Fig. 4-9 p. 70

Role of climate

Role of climate

Aquatic life zones

Aquatic life zones

Ecosystem Boundaries: EcotonesEcosystem Boundaries: Ecotones

Fig. 4-10 p. 71Fig. 4-10 p. 71

Principles of Ecological FactorsPrinciples of Ecological Factors

Abiotic factorsAbiotic factorsBiotic factorsBiotic factors

Law of toleranceLaw of toleranceLimiting factorsLimiting factors

Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73

The Biotic Components of EcosystemsThe Biotic Components of Ecosystems

Producers(autotrophs)

Producers(autotrophs)

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis

Consumers(heterotrophs)

Consumers(heterotrophs)

Aerobicrespiration

Aerobicrespiration

Decomposers Decomposers Fig. 4-16 p. 75Fig. 4-16 p. 75

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

Primary consumer (herbivore)Primary consumer (herbivore)

Secondary consumer (carnivore)Secondary consumer (carnivore)

Tertiary consumerTertiary consumer

OmnivoreOmnivore

Detritivores and scavengersDetritivores and scavengers

DecomposersDecomposers

BiodiversityBiodiversity

Genetic diversityGenetic diversity

Species diversitySpecies diversity

Ecological diversityEcological diversity

Functional diversityFunctional diversity

Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in EcosystemsConnections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Fig. 4-18 p. 77; Refer to Fig. 4-19 p. 78Fig. 4-18 p. 77; Refer to Fig. 4-19 p. 78

Food chainsFood chains Food websFood webs

Ecological PyramidsEcological Pyramids

Pyramid ofenergy flow

Pyramid ofenergy flow

Ecologicalefficiency

Ecologicalefficiency

Pyramid ofbiomass

Pyramid ofbiomass

Pyramid ofnumbers

Pyramid ofnumbers

Fig. 4-20 p. 79

Primary Productivity of EcosystemsPrimary Productivity of Ecosystems

Gross primary productivity (GPP)Gross primary productivity (GPP)

Net primary productivity (NPP)Net primary productivity (NPP)

Fig. 4-25 p. 81

Connections: Matter Cycling in EcosystemsConnections: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems

Biogeochemical cyclesBiogeochemical cycles

Hydrologic cycle (H2O)Hydrologic cycle (H2O)

Atmospheric cycles (C, N)Atmospheric cycles (C, N)

Sedimentary cycles (P, S)Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

Hydrologic (Water) CycleHydrologic (Water) Cycle

Fig. 4-27 p. 83Fig. 4-27 p. 83

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)

Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)

Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen CycleFig. 4-29 p. 86Fig. 4-29 p. 86

The Phosphorus CycleThe Phosphorus Cycle

Fig. 4-30 p. 88Fig. 4-30 p. 88

The Sulfur CycleThe Sulfur Cycle

Fig. 4-31 p. 89Fig. 4-31 p. 89

How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems?How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems?

Field researchField research

Remote sensingRemote sensing

Geographic information systems (GIS)Geographic information systems (GIS)

Laboratory researchLaboratory research

Systems analysisSystems analysis

GIS and Systems AnalysisGIS and Systems Analysis

Fig. 4-33 p. 91Fig. 4-33 p. 91Fig. 4-32 p. 91Fig. 4-32 p. 91

Ecosystem Servicesand SustainabilityEcosystem Servicesand Sustainability

Fig. 4-34 p. 92Fig. 4-34 p. 92