HOW ECOSYSTEMS WORK Page 29 in notebook

ECOSYSTEM A physically distinct area with a community of interacting organisms LIVING or BIOTIC factors: producers, consumers , decomposers NON-LIVING or ABIOTIC factors: geologic, physical or chemical

Life on Earth Depends on the Sun 6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6H12O6 + 6 O2

PRODUCERS Organisms that can use sunlight directly to make their own energy AKA : AUTOTROPH Trap solar energy and perform photosynthesis Vital to ecosystems Ex: grasses, algae, cactuses, trees

Marine Producers Phytoplankton Diatoms Dinoflagellates seaweed

CONSUMERS Rely on producers directly or indirectly for their energy AKA : HETEROTROPHS Primary Consumers = Herbivores Secondary Consumers = Carnivores or Omnivores

Marine CONSUMERS Zooplankton Krill Sponges Jellyfish Molluscs Crustaceans Echinoderms Worms Vetebrates

DECOMPOSERS Breaks down dead organisms and waste material Returns nutrients to soil, water and air Ex : fungi and bacteria Are theses organisms producers or consumers?

ENERGY TRANSFER Each time one organism eats another, a transfer of energy occurs Study energy transfers by mapping out food chains and food webs

Marine Food Chain

SPECIAL TERMS Predator Prey Scavenger Parasite Host

Marine Ecosystems Estuaries Salt Marsh Mangrove Swamp Rocky Shore/Intertidal Zone Sandy Shore/Barrier Island Coral Reef Hydrothermal Vents

FOOD WEB

PYRAMID Concept 1- NUMBERS 2- BIOMASS 3- ENERGY

Pyramid of Numbers

Pyramid of Biomass

Pyramid of Energy

Food Web Questions Are there any relationships on the diagram that are not feeding relationships? Are some organisms more important than others? Why are decomposers important? Do you think anything is missing? Where do humans fit?

SCENARIOS Commercial fishery triples the annual catch of Red Cod . IMPACT A Commercial fishery triples the annual catch of Red Cod . B The land on the edge of the estuary is converted to intensive farming. There is a big increase in agricultural runoff and nutrients into the estuary. This increases the risk of phytoplankton blooms. C Due to increased carbon emissions, the ocean is becoming more acidic. Bryozoans and other shelled animals can no longer make their shells. SCENARIOS

SCENARIOS Commercial fishery triples the annual catch of Red Cod . IMPACT A Commercial fishery triples the annual catch of Red Cod . Increase in zooplankton, small fish and juvenile sea stars B The land on the edge of the estuary is converted to intensive farming. There is a big increase in agricultural runoff and nutrients into the estuary. This increases the risk of phytoplankton blooms. Phytoplankton blooms; Depletion of oxygen , death of fish C Due to increased carbon emissions, the ocean is becoming more acidic. Bryozoans and other shelled animals can no longer make their shells. Organisms with Calcium Carbonate shells cannot produce a shell; organisms grow more slowly, shells become thinner,

IMPACT A Commercial fishery triples the annual catch of Red Cod . Decrease in squid, sea birds and dolphins; damage to seafloor B The land on the edge of the estuary is converted to intensive farming. There is a big increase in agricultural runoff and nutrients into the estuary. This increases the risk of phytoplankton blooms. SHARP INCREASE IN DECOMPOSITION OF THE DEAD ORGANISMS BY OXYGEN-USING BACTERIA C Due to increased carbon emissions, the ocean is becoming more acidic. Bryozoans and other shelled animals can no longer make their shells. Loss of cockles and other bivalves as well as the loss of bryozoan habitats SCENARIOS

Calculate the Percentage loss of energy at each level Cayuga lake, NY- lake ecosystem Humans 1.2 calories Trout 6 calories Smelt 30 calories Small aquatic 150 calories animals 5. Algae 1000 calories

Calculate the Percentage loss of energy at each level Cayuga lake, NY- lake ecosystem Humans 1.2 calories 80 % Trout 6 calories 80 % Smelt 30 calories 80 % Small aquatic 150 calories 85 % animals 5. Algae 1000 calories

BIOLOGICAL MAGNIFICATION

Biological Magnification Aka: bio-magnification or bio-accumulation The concentration of a substance that cannot be broken down naturally (non- biodegradable) increases as it passes through the food chain/web Often the increase is 10 times Often fatal to higher level consumers