Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling Key Components Ecological Structure Basic Components of the Ecosystem Matter Cycles and Energy Flow

The Nature of Ecology  Ecosystem organization  Organisms– Individual species  Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region  Community – Two or more pop- ulations interacting together  Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting  Biome – Ecosystems of a geographic Area with similar climate  Biosphere – The livings Earth  Ecosystem organization  Organisms– Individual species  Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region  Community – Two or more pop- ulations interacting together  Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting  Biome – Ecosystems of a geographic Area with similar climate  Biosphere – The livings Earth

The Earth’s Life-Support Systems  Troposphere  Stratosphere  Hydrosphere  Lithosphere  Biosphere

Sustaining Life of Earth  One-way flow of energy  Cycling of matter

The Source of Energy

Ecosystem Concepts and Components  Biomes  Role of climate  Aquatic life zones

Biomes That You Are Responsible To Know Details About Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Grassland Taiga Tundra Desert Tropical Rainforest Savanna

AKA – Edge (Edge Effect) More Biodiversity Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones

Principles of Ecological Factors  Abiotic factors  Biotic factors  Law of tolerance  Limiting factors  Density Independent  Density Dependent  Limiting factors  Density Independent  Density Dependent

The Biotic Components of Ecosystems  Producers (autotrophs)- make their own food  Producers (autotrophs)- make their own food  Consumers (heterotrophs) – Obtain nutrients  Herbivores  Carnivores  Scavengers  Detrivores  Saprophytes (Decomposers)  Consumers (heterotrophs) – Obtain nutrients  Herbivores  Carnivores  Scavengers  Detrivores  Saprophytes (Decomposers)

Biological Interactions – Food Webs The more organisms in FW, the more biodiverse the ecosystem Arrows show the direction of energy flow

Trophic Pyramid Shows the energy available at every step of a food chain Trophic Level = an organisms place in a food chain Most organisms can occupy more than one trophic level Bottom of the pyramid will ALWAYS be producers Decomposers are not usually included in a pyramid

Ecological Pyramids  Pyramid of energy flow  Ecological efficiency  Pyramid of biomass  Pyramid of numbers Fig p. 79

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

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)

The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)

The Nitrogen Cycle Fig p. 86

The Phosphorus Cycle

The Sulfur Cycle

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

Remote Sensing Examples Deforestation in the Amazon

Deforestation and Development in Bolivia

GIS and Systems Analysis Fig p. 91 Fig p. 91

Ecosystem Services and Sustainability