Principles of Ecology

Ecosystem An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of: Plants Animals micro-organisms physical factors

Ecosystem

Abiotic and Biotic abiotic components are non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment chemicalphysical environment abiotic components can impact evolution evolution Biotic components are living organisms

Abiotic and Biotic

Microbes Microbe-an organism that is microscopicorganismmicroscopic include Bacteria Fungi Archaea Protists Microscopic Plantslants green algae Microscopic Animalsnimals Plankton Planarian Amoebamoeba Sometimes including viruses, but others consider these as non-livingviruses

Microbes

Animals Kingdom Animalia Multicellular Eukaryoticukaryotic Body plan becomes fixed as they developody plan some undergo a process of metamorphosismetamorphosis Most animals are motile (can move)motile Most animals are heterotrophs (consumers)heterotrophs

Animals – The tree is NOT in the kingdom Animalia

Plants vs. Algae Kingdom Plantaeingdom Eukarotic Autotrophs Obtain most of their energy from sunlight via a process called photosynthesissunlightphotosynthesis Have a cell wall of cellulose Kingdom Protista Common algae =seaweedsseaweeds Algae classified by color Green Red brown algae. brown algae Each algal groups includes various microscopic and single- celled organisms

Plants

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds (sugars) carbon dioxideorganic compoundssugars Uses the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria.plantsalgaebacteria light In Chloroplast CO 2 + H 2 0>>>C 6 H 12 O 6 +O 2 In Chloroplast Carbon Dioxide+Water+Light>>>>Glucose+Oxygen

Co2 + H2O>O2+C6H12O6

Respiration Cellular respiration is the process that converts nutrients into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and release waste products.adenosine triphosphate In Mitochondria O 2 +C 6 H 12 O 6 >>>CO 2 +H 2 0+energy Oxygen + Glucose>>>Carbon Dioxide +Water + Energy

Respiration

Aerobic and Anaerobic Aerobic respiration requires oxygen in order to generate energy (ATP).oxygenATP Anaerobic=without oxygen the organism doe not metabolized by cellular respiration but undergoes a process of fermentation. fermentation Both create energy for organism

Aerobic and Anaerobic

Nitrogen Fixation Nitrogen fixation-the process by which nitrogen is taken from the atmosphere and converted into nitrogen compounds nitrogenatmosphere Ammonia nitrate nitrite. This is an essential process for life because fixed nitrogen is needed to amino acids Which makes proteins.amino acidsproteins Happens from bacteria on the roots of legumes

Nitrogen fixation

Blue-green algae Cyanobacteria is known as blue-green algae or blue-green bacteria A phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis.hylumbacteria photosynthesis Important component of the marine nitrogen cycle & primary producer in many areas of the oceannitrogen cycle primary producerocean Found in freshwater Hyper saline lakes Found in arid areas they are a major component of biological soil crusts.

Blue Green Algae

Nitrogen Gas Nitrogen is a chemical elementchemical element the symbol N atomic number 7 atomic number atomic mass µ. atomic mass Elemental nitrogen is Colorless Odorless Tasteless mostly inert diatomic gasinertdiatomic constitutes 78% by volume of Earth's atmosphere.Earth's atmosphere

Nitrogen Gas

Ammonia Ammonia- a compound of nitrogen and hydrogencompoundnitrogenhydrogen formula NH3formula pungent odor.odor Ammonia contributes to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to foodstuffs and fertilizers.nutritionalfoodstuffsfertilizers Ammonium ions are a toxic waste product of animals.toxicanimals In fishes and aquatic invertebrates, it is excreted directly into the water. In mammals, sharks, and amphibians, it is converted in the urea cycle to urea, because it is less toxic and can be stored more efficiently.urea cycle urea In birds, reptiles, and terrestrial snails, metabolic ammonium is converted into uric acid, which is solid, and can therefore be excreted with minimal water loss.uric acid

Ammonia

Nitrate A nitrate is a salt of nitric acid with an ion composed of one nitrogen and three oxygen atoms (NO−3).saltnitric acidionnitrogenoxygen In freshwater or estuarine systems nitrate can reach high levels that can potentially cause the death of fish.freshwaterestuarine While nitrate is much less toxic than ammonia or nitrite, levels over 30 ppm of nitrate can inhibit growth, impair the immune system and cause stress in some aquatic species. Fertilizer can increase primary production of algae, and cause an algae bloom.

Nitrate