1. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones
Fig p. 71

9. Principles of Ecological Factors
Abiotic factors
Law of tolerance
Biotic factors
Limiting factors
Fig p. 73; Refer to Fig p. 73

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

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

12. Biodiversity Genetic diversity Species diversity Ecological diversity
Functional diversity

13. Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food chains
Food webs
Fig p. 77; Refer to Fig p. 78

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

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

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

17. Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
Fig p. 83

18. The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
Fig p

19. The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)
Fig p

20. The Nitrogen Cycle
Fig p. 86

21. The Phosphorus Cycle
Fig p. 88

22. The Sulfur Cycle
Fig p. 89

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

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

25. Ecosystem Services and Sustainability
Fig p. 92