ECOSYSTEM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Ecosystem 3 levels that make up an ecosystem Individual Population Community Is a natural unit of living (Biotic) and non-living (Abiotic) things that work together. Eg: Marine, Aquatic, Desert, Rainforest, Tundra and many more

Ecosystem services are “fundamental life-support services upon which human civilization depends,” and can be either direct or indirect. Direct: pollination, wood, erosion prevention Indirect: considered climate moderation, nutrient cycles, detoxifying natural substances and many more.

Notes An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living things that work together.

Trophic Relations Ecosystems are natural machines that change matter and energy in the area Trophic- from the Greek word FOOD Trophic relations: the natural connections of food between living organisms ie. The food chain

Food Chain Producers Consumers Decomposers

Producers Producers are organisms, (photosynthetic) like green plants, that produce organic compounds from inorganic compounds. Autotroph - lowest level in the food chain They use sun light, carbon dioxide, and nutrients to produce organic material Inorganic: water, salts, minerals Organic: proteins, fats

Consumers Organisms that obtain nutrients from other organisms. This is also a heterotroph. Heterotroph is an organism that cannot synthesize their own food and must obtain it. Heterotrophs include herbivores (feed only on plants), carnivores (feed on other animals), omnivores (feed on both) and saprobes (breaking down the remains of dead plants and animals).

Consumers Many types of consumers First order – usually herbivores Second order Third order Fourth order

Decomposers An organism that primarily feeds on dead organisms or the waste from living organisms Decomposers are the garbage men of the animal kingdom

Notes Trophic relations: Food Chain Producers: organisms that produce organic compounds from inorganic compounds. (plants) They use sun light, CO2, and nutrients Inorganic: water, salts, minerals Organic: proteins, fats

Notes Consumers: Organisms that obtain nutrients from other organisms. First order – usually herbivores, eat only grains fruits, etc. Second order – eat the first order animals Third order – eat the one preceding Fourth order – top of the food chain

Notes Decomposers: primarily feeds on dead organisms or the waste from living organisms

Matter & Energy Flow Corresponds to the circulation of material and energy between living organisms and their area Law of Conservation of Mass by Antoine Laurent de Lavoisier: matter cannot be created or destroyed only transformed.

Chemical Recycling Natural phenomenon by the action of decomposers, replace inorganic material from organic material

Cycles Water Cycle: The process of water going from atmosphere  ground  organisms  atmosphere  ground  Carbon Cycle: The movement of carbon from atmosphere  plants  animals  atmosphere Nitrogen Cycle: The movement of nitrogen from atmosphere  bacteria  plants and animals  atmosphere

Energy Contrary to matter, energy is not conserved in an ecosystem An ecosystem must always receive a continuous supply of energy ie from the sun

Biomass Is the total mass of organic material in an ecosystem at a given time The entire earth contains about 75 billion tons of biomass, 0.00000000126% of the total mass of the Earth As the Trophic level increases, the biomass of each Trophic level decreases. That is, producers have a much higher biomass than animals that consume them. The level with the least biomass is the highest predators in the food chain.

                                                    

Primary Productivity The quantity of new biomass obtained by producers from the ecosystem. Biomass is also influenced by net primary productivity (NPP). This measure is important, it represents the quantity of energy available for 1st order consumers.

Influences A few factors can influence the primary productivity in an ecosystem: Amount of light Amount of water Access to essential nutrients Temperature

Notes Matter is conserved energy is not Biomass: the total mass of organic material in an ecosystem at a given time Primary productivity: the quantity of new biomass obtained by producers from the ecosystem. Influences: Amount of light Amount of water Access to essential nutrients Temperature

Classwork #6 Ecosystem 1. Definitions: a) Ecosystem: b)      Trophic Relations: c)      Producers: d)      Consumers: e)      Decomposers: 2. True or False? a)      Decomposers are autotrophs: b)      A lynx that eats a hare is a 2nd order consumer: c)      Mushrooms are producers: d)      Decomposers transform organic matter into inorganic matter: e)      A heterotroph can produce there own food:  

3. Concerning the following organisms construct the food chain, and give their trophic level. a)      Snake, Plant, Mouse, Owl: b) Grasshopper, Racoon, Bullfrog, Weeds