rangeland ecology. hierarchy of ecological levels figure from: on-line biology class
Post on 19-Dec-2015
217 views
TRANSCRIPT
Rangeland Ecology
Hierarchy of Ecological Levels
Figure from: www.goldiesroom.orgOn-line biology class
Basic Energy Flow
Producers Plants
DecomposersFungi & Bacteria
ConsumersHerbivores, Carnivores &
Omnivores
HEAT
Inorganic Nutrients H2O, O2 CO2, N, Minerals
HEAT
HEAT
HEAT
HEAT
Inorganic Nutrients H2O, O2 CO2, N, Minerals
Trophic Levels
Autotrophs Producers
HeterotrophsDecomposers
HeterotrophsConsumers
HEAT
This pattern of energy flow among different organisms is the TROPHIC STRUCTURE of an ecosystem.
Fate of Solar Energy
Fuels Photosynthesis Warms Earth Powers Water Cycle
ProducersConvert Solar Energy into Chemical Energy through
Photosynthesis
Producers = Autotrophs = Plants & Algae
6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll C6H12O6 + 6O2
Producers Convert Solar Energy into Chemical Energy
through Photosynthesis Energy is stored in glucose bonds
Glucose is converted and stored as simple sugars and starch in plants
Consumers Eat other living plants, animals or microbes Get energy from preformed organic molecules
heterotrophs
Herbivore - plant eaters
Carnivore - meat eaters
Omnivore - mixed plant/animal diet
Consumers Primary Consumers
Eat Plants Herbivores
Secondary Consumers Eat Primary Consumers Carnivores
Tertiary Consumers Eat Secondary Consumer Carnivores
Detrivores Organisms that eat detritus Detritus Dead plants, animals, & microbes
& fecal wastes of animals Get energy from preformed organic
molecules Decomposers Live on detritus in such a way
that it decays Subgroup of detrivores
Food chains & webs Food chain pathways of feeding
relationships Producer-consumer relationships Parasite-host relationships
Food web Complex pattern of interconnected food chains
A food chain
Nutrie
nts
A food webN
utri
ents
Trophic levelsN
utri
ents
1st Trophic LevelProducers
2nd Trophic Level Primary Consumers
3rd Trophic Level Secondary Consumers
4th Trophic Level Tertiary Consumers