Ecosystems and Energy Chapter 3

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we are taught.” -Baba Dioum

O'Connell3 Chapter 3 Overview Ecology Feeding Relationships The Energy of Life The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems

What is Ecology? Ecology – study of the interactions among organisms, and between organisms (biotic) and their abiotic (non-living) environment.

What is Ecology? Levels of Biological Organization

What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Population

What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Community

What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Ecosystem CO 2

What is Ecology? Biomes (Landscape ) – encompasses larger area and several ecosystems Biosphere – the whole earth

O'Connell10 THE STRUCTURE OF ECOSYSTEMS The parts that fit together Physical and chemical factors Feeding relationships Species interactions Climate

O'Connell11 How Ecosystems Are Formed Abiotic Plants Animals (moisture and temperature ) (+ moisture = forest) (temperature = forest type) (lynx or bobcat) predict

O'Connell12 Inorganic and Organic Inorganic Oxygen Carbon dioxide Nitrogen Water pH Organic All living things Products of living things

O'Connell13 Inorganic and Organic

O'Connell14 Moisture and Temperature

O'Connell15 Abiotic Factors The physical and chemical part of an ecosystem. Conditions: Vary in time and space. No Competition Temperature Wind pH Salinity Fire

O'Connell16 Abiotic Factors (cont.) Resources: Consumed by organisms. Competition Water Chemical nutrients Light Oxygen Spatial needs

O'Connell17 Abiotic Effects in Ecosystem Development

The Energy of Life Potential vs. Kinetic Energy

The Energy of Life Thermodynamics –

The Energy of Life 1 st Law of Thermodynamics – energy can change forms, but is not created or destroyed 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics – “Entropy Rules!” amount of usable energy decreases as energy changes forms 1 st Law deals with quantity of energy, 2 nd Law with quality of energy.

The Energy of Life Photosynthesis 6 CO H 2 O + radiant energy C 6 H 12 O H 2 O + 6 O 2

The Energy of Life Cellular Respiration C 6 H 12 O O H 2 O 6 CO H 2 O + energy

The Energy of Life Case-in-Point: Life Without the Sun

O'Connell24 Trophic Categories Autotrophs Producers – make their own organic food from inorganic materials Some bacteria, algae, plants Heterotrophs Consumers – eat live plants and/or animals From bacteria to blue whales Detritus feeders and decomposers – eat dead matter Ravens and vultures; bacteria, earthworms, some insects

O'Connell25 Trophic Categories and Terminology 10/10/2015

O'Connell26 Autotrophs

O'Connell27 Trophic Relationships Among Producers and Consumers

O'Connell28 Detritus Feeders

O'Connell29 Trophic Levels Third-order Consumer Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer

O'Connell30 Match Organisms With Trophic Level(s) Trophic Levels Organism s ProducerPrimary Consumer Secondar y Consumer Third- Order Consumer PlantsX RabbitsX SnakesX OwlsXX BacteriaXXXX 10/10/2015

O'Connell31 Match Organisms With Trophic Level(s) Trophic Levels Organism s ProducerPrimary Consumer Secondar y Consumer Third- Order Consumer Autotroph s X Herbivore s X Carnivore s XX Omnivore s XXX ParasitesXXX 10/10/2015

The Path of Energy Flow Food Chains –

The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

Food Webs –

O'Connell35 Marine Food Web

The Path of Energy Flow Case-in-Point: How Humans Have Affected the Antarctic Food Web Krill Baleen whales Squid Fishes Toothed whales Seals Penguins What would happen if you eliminated krill?

O'Connell37 Where the Biomass Comes From

The Path of Energy Flow Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of Numbers Pyramid of Biomass

The Path of Energy Flow Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of Energy

O'Connell40 Trophic Level Energy Exchanges Third-order Consumer Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer 10,000 Kcal - 100x - 10x 100 Kcal 10 Kcal 1Kcal

The Path of Energy Flow Example: Thermodynamics in Action Desert: Primary producers = 100 g / m 2 Temperate forest: Primary producers = 1,500 g / m 2 Food webs very simple, very few tertiary consumers Food webs very complex, more tertiary consumers, some quaternary.

The Path of Energy Flow Desert Biomass Pyramid Primary producers = 100 g / m 2 Primary consumers = 10 g / m 2 Secondary consumers = 1.0 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers = 0.1 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers must range over large areas to obtain enough energy to subsist. such as kg coyote must range ~12 ha to subsist (30 acres).

The Path of Energy Flow Temperate Forest Biomass Pyramid Primary producers = 1,500 g / m 2 Primary consumers = 150 g / m 2 Secondary consumers = 15 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers = 1.5 g / m kg coyote only needs ~1 ha to subsist (2.5 acres). Also, possibility of quaternary consumers, like bears. NOTE: just relative examples, not accurate

The Path of Energy Flow Ecosystem Productivity