Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13th Edition Chapter 4 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Key Concepts Basic ecological principles Major components of ecosystems Matter cycles and energy flow Ecosystem studies Ecological services

Ecosystem organization The Nature of Ecology Ecosystem organization Organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere Fig. 4-2 p. 66

The Earth’s Life-Support Systems Troposphere Stratosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Fig. 4-6 p. 68

Sustaining Life of Earth One-way flow of energy Cycling of matter Fig. 4-7 p. 69

The Source of Energy Fig. 4-8 p. 69

Ecosystem Concepts and Components Biomes Role of climate Aquatic life zones Fig. 4-9 p. 70

Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones Fig. 4-10 p. 71

Principles of Ecological Factors Abiotic factors Law of tolerance Biotic factors Limiting factors Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73

The Biotic Components of Ecosystems Producers (autotrophs) Photosynthesis Consumers (heterotrophs) Aerobic respiration Decomposers Fig. 4-16 p. 75

Trophic Levels Primary consumer (herbivore) Secondary consumer (carnivore) Tertiary consumer Omnivore Detritivores and scavengers Decomposers

Biodiversity Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecological diversity Functional diversity

Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems Food chains Food webs Fig. 4-18 p. 77; Refer to Fig. 4-19 p. 78

Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of energy flow Ecological efficiency Fig. 4-20 p. 79 Ecological efficiency Pyramid of biomass Pyramid of numbers

Primary Productivity of Ecosystems Gross primary productivity (GPP) Net primary productivity (NPP) Fig. 4-25 p. 81

Connections: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems Biogeochemical cycles Hydrologic cycle (H2O) Atmospheric cycles (C, N) Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle Fig. 4-27 p. 83

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial) Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic) Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

The Nitrogen Cycle Fig. 4-29 p. 86

The Phosphorus Cycle Fig. 4-30 p. 88

The Sulfur Cycle Fig. 4-31 p. 89

How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems? Field research Remote sensing Geographic information systems (GIS) Laboratory research Systems analysis

GIS and Systems Analysis Fig. 4-32 p. 91 Fig. 4-33 p. 91

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability Fig. 4-34 p. 92