what is an ecosystem 006

7/25/2019 What is an Ecosystem 006

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What Is An EcosystemWhat Is An Ecosystem

An ecosystem is a natural unitAn ecosystem is a natural unit

consisting of all plants, animals andconsisting of all plants, animals and

micro-organisms (biotic factors) in anmicro-organisms (biotic factors) in anarea functioning together with all of thearea functioning together with all of the

non-living physical (abiotic) factors ofnon-living physical (abiotic) factors of

the environment.the environment.


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Auatic systems are those that containAuatic systems are those that containplants and animals that predominantlyplants and animals that predominantly

depend on a significant amount ofdepend on a significant amount ofwater to be present for at least part ofwater to be present for at least part ofthe year.the year.


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A dense, impenetrable thic&et ofA dense, impenetrable thic&et of

shrubs or dwarf trees. A vegetationshrubs or dwarf trees. A vegetation

type dominated by shrubs and smalltype dominated by shrubs and small

trees, especially evergreen trees withtrees, especially evergreen trees with

thic&, small leaves.thic&, small leaves.


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A large underwater formationA large underwater formation

created from the calciumcreated from the calcium

carbonate s&eletons of coralcarbonate s&eletons of coralanimals can also refer to theanimals can also refer to the

animals living on and near theanimals living on and near the

coral reef.coral reef.


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A desert is a landscape form or regionA desert is a landscape form or regionthat receives very little precipitation.that receives very little precipitation.*eserts can be defined as areas that*eserts can be defined as areas that

receive an average annual precipitationreceive an average annual precipitationof less than / mm (0/ in), or as areasof less than / mm (0/ in), or as areasin which more water is lost than falls asin which more water is lost than falls asprecipitation.In the 12ppen climateprecipitation.In the 12ppen climateclassification system, deserts areclassification system, deserts areclassed asclassed as BWhBWh (hot desert) or(hot desert) or BWkBWk(temperate desert).(temperate desert).


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E!'+4+E6E!'+4+E63reater 4ellowstone is the last remaining large,3reater 4ellowstone is the last remaining large,

nearly intact ecosystem in the northernnearly intact ecosystem in the northerntemperate 7one of the Earth and is partlytemperate 7one of the Earth and is partlylocated in 4ellowstone 5ational #ar&. !onflictlocated in 4ellowstone 5ational #ar&. !onflict

over management has been controversial, andover management has been controversial, andthe area is a flagship site among conservationthe area is a flagship site among conservationgroups that promote ecosystem management.groups that promote ecosystem management.he 3reater 4ellow Ecosystem (34E) is one ofhe 3reater 4ellow Ecosystem (34E) is one of

the world8s foremost natural laboratories inthe world8s foremost natural laboratories inlandscape ecology and geology and is a world-landscape ecology and geology and is a world-renowned recreational site. It is also home torenowned recreational site. It is also home tothe animals of 4ellowstone.the animals of 4ellowstone.


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"uman ecosystems are comple: cybernetic"uman ecosystems are comple: cyberneticsystems that are increasingly being used bysystems that are increasingly being used by

ecological anthropologists and otherecological anthropologists and other

scholars to e:amine the ecological aspectsscholars to e:amine the ecological aspects

of human communities in a way thatof human communities in a way thatintegrates multiple factors as economics,integrates multiple factors as economics,

socio-political organi7ation, psychologicalsocio-political organi7ation, psychological

factors, and physical factors related to thefactors, and physical factors related to the

environment.environment.


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Any marine environment, from pond toAny marine environment, from pond to

ocean, in which plants and animalsocean, in which plants and animals

interact with the chemical and physicalinteract with the chemical and physical

features on the environment.features on the environment.


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he region of the shore of a la&e or seahe region of the shore of a la&e or sea

or ocean < the shore of a sea or ocean.or ocean < the shore of a sea or ocean.


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Any marine environment, from pond toAny marine environment, from pond to

ocean, in which plants and animalsocean, in which plants and animals

interact with the chemical and physicalinteract with the chemical and physical

features of the environment.features of the environment.


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6i:ed rainforest or mi:ed forest) is a6i:ed rainforest or mi:ed forest) is a

rainforest classification where eucalyptrainforest classification where eucalypt

forest grows in combination with !oolforest grows in combination with !ool

emperate rainforest species.emperate rainforest species.


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A tropical or subtropical grasslandA tropical or subtropical grassland

containing scattered trees and drought-containing scattered trees and drought-

resistant undergrowth.resistant undergrowth.


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A minute life form a microorganism,A minute life form a microorganism,

especially a bacterium that causesespecially a bacterium that causes

disease.disease.


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A moist sub arctic coniferous forestA moist sub arctic coniferous forest

that begins where the tundra ends andthat begins where the tundra ends and

is dominated by spruces and firs.is dominated by spruces and firs.


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A type of ecosystem dominated byA type of ecosystem dominated by

lichens, mosses, grasses, and woodylichens, mosses, grasses, and woody

plants. undra is found at high latitudesplants. undra is found at high latitudes

(arctic tundra) and high altitudes(arctic tundra) and high altitudes

A treeless plain characteristic of theA treeless plain characteristic of the

arctic and sub arctic regions.arctic and sub arctic regions.


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Is the subfield of ecology which deals with theIs the subfield of ecology which deals with theinteraction of plants, animals and humans withinteraction of plants, animals and humans witheach other and with their environment in urban oreach other and with their environment in urban orurbani7ing settings. Analysis of urban settings inurbani7ing settings. Analysis of urban settings in

the conte:t of ecosystem ecology (loo&ing at thethe conte:t of ecosystem ecology (loo&ing at thecycling of matter and the flow of energy throughcycling of matter and the flow of energy throughthe ecosystem) can result in healthier, betterthe ecosystem) can result in healthier, bettermanaged communities. +tudying the factors whichmanaged communities. +tudying the factors whichallow wild plants and animals to survive (andallow wild plants and animals to survive (and

sometimes thrive) in built environments can alsosometimes thrive) in built environments can alsocreate more livable spaces. It allows people tocreate more livable spaces. It allows people toadapt to the changing environment whileadapt to the changing environment whilepreserving the resources.preserving the resources.


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he dar& arrows represent the movementhe dar& arrows represent the movement

of this energyof this energy.he movement of the inorganic nutrients

is represented by the open arrows.

Energy low hrough the EcosystemEnergy low hrough the Ecosystem

he diagramhe diagram

above showsabove shows

how bothhow bothenergy andenergy and

inorganicinorganic

nutrients flownutrients flow

through thethrough the

ecosystem.ecosystem.


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o summari7e? In the flow of energy ando summari7e? In the flow of energy and

inorganic nutrients through the ecosystem, ainorganic nutrients through the ecosystem, a

few generali7ations can be made?few generali7ations can be made?

0.0. he ultimate source of energy (for mosthe ultimate source of energy (for mostecosystems) is the sunecosystems) is the sun

.. he ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems ishe ultimate fate of energy in ecosystems is

for it to be lost as heat.for it to be lost as heat.

@.@. Energy and nutrients are passed fromEnergy and nutrients are passed fromorganism to organism through the food chainorganism to organism through the food chainas one organism eats another.as one organism eats another.

.. *ecomposers remove the last energy from*ecomposers remove the last energy from

the remains of organisms.the remains of organisms... Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.Inorganic nutrients are cycled, energy is not.


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Food Chains and Webs:Food Chains and Webs:

A food chain is the path of food from a given finalA food chain is the path of food from a given finalconsumer bac& to a producer. or instance, a typicalconsumer bac& to a producer. or instance, a typicalfood chain in a field ecosystem might be?food chain in a field ecosystem might be?

grassgrass grasshoppergrasshopper mousemouse sna&esna&e haw&

he real world, of course, is more complicatedhe real world, of course, is more complicated

than a simple food chain. While many organismsthan a simple food chain. While many organisms

do speciali7e in their diets (anteaters come todo speciali7e in their diets (anteaters come to

mind as a specialist), other organisms do not.mind as a specialist), other organisms do not."aw&s don8t limit their diets to sna&es sna&es"aw&s don8t limit their diets to sna&es sna&es

eat things other than mice. 6ouse eats grass aseat things other than mice. 6ouse eats grass as

well as grasshoppers, and so on.well as grasshoppers, and so on.


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A more realistic depiction of who eats whom isA more realistic depiction of who eats whom is

called a food, web an e:ample is showncalled a food, web an e:ample is shown

below?below?

It is when we have a picture of a food web in front ofIt is when we have a picture of a food web in front ofus that the definition of food chain ma&es more sense.us that the definition of food chain ma&es more sense.

We can now see that a food web consists ofWe can now see that a food web consists of

interloc&ing food chains, and that the only way tointerloc&ing food chains, and that the only way to

untangle the chains is to traceuntangle the chains is to trace backbackalong a given foodalong a given food

chain to its source.chain to its source.


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The food webs you see here are grazing foodchainssince at their base are producers whichthe herbivores then graze on. While grazing

food chains are important, in nature they areoutnumbered by detritus-based food chains. Indetritus-based food chains, decomposers are atthe base of the food chain, and sustain the

carnivores which feed on them. In terms of theweight (or biomass of animals in manyecosystems, more of their body mass can betraced bac! to detritus than to living producers.


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he concept ofhe concept of

biomass isbiomass is

important.important.

It is a general principle that the furtherIt is a general principle that the furtherremoved a trophic level is from its sourceremoved a trophic level is from its source

(detritus or producer), the less biomass it will(detritus or producer), the less biomass it will

contain (biomass here would refer to thecontain (biomass here would refer to the

combined weight of all the organisms in thecombined weight of all the organisms in the

trophic level).trophic level).

what is an ecosystem 006

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