Area IIA: The Living World

Area IIA: The Living World
Energy Flow

Ecosystems are composed of two main components
Ecosystem Components Ecosystems are composed of two main components abiotic factors include all of the non-living components biotic factors include all of the biological components of the ecosystem autotrophs (or producers) require only inorganic nutrients and an external energy source to produce food organic nutrients photoautotrophs use light for energy chemoautotrophs use chemicals for energy 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 Figure 1.1

Ecosystem Components biotic factors, continued
heterotrophs (or consumers) require a source of organic nutrients C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O herbivores are animals that eat plants carnivores feed on other animals omnivores eat plants or animals detritivores convert waste into food decomposers (mostly bacteria and fungi) recycle organic matter by breaking down dead organic material detritus feeders primarily eat detritus (decomposing organic matter) (termites, many beetles, etc.) Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-16 The work of detritivores
Mushroom Wood reduced to powder Long-horned beetle holes Bark beetle engraving Carpenter ant galleries Termite and carpenter work Dry rot fungus Detritus feeders Decomposers Time progression Powder broken down by decomposers into plant nutrients in soil

Ecosystem Components Energy flows through the populations of an ecosystem, while chemicals cycle within and between ecosystems life is sustained by the sun, chemical cycles, and gravity matter is cycled through the biosphere to be reused gravity holds the atmosphere and causes downward movement of matter Figure 1.1

Ecosystem Components sustenance of life, continued sunlight:
there is one-way flow of high-quality energy from the sun which eventually becomes low-quality energy and dissipated into space as heat lights and warms the planet drives winds, ocean currents, and precipitation powers cycling of matter the amount of energy reaching the Earth through sunlight equals the amount of energy radiated by the Earth energy in = energy out Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-8 Sustenence of life on Earth
Carbon cycle Phosphorus Nitrogen Water Oxygen Heat in the environment Heat

Ecosystem Components sustenance of life, continued sunlight, continued
34% of energy from the sun is reflected by the atmosphere 66% makes it into atmosphere of the energy that gets through: 80% warms the troposphere and evaporates and cycles water 1% generates winds 0.1% is used by plants, algae, and bacteria for photosynthesis Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-9 Flow of energy to, from Earth
Solar radiation Energy in = Energy out Reflected by atmosphere (34%) UV radiation Absorbed by ozone by the earth Visible light Lower stratosphere (ozone layer) Troposphere Heat Greenhouse effect Radiated by atmosphere as heat (66%) Earth Heat radiated

Ecosystem Components sustenance of life, continued sunlight, continued
the greenhouse effect helps Earth retain heat infrared light is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone) this causes the air to warm Figure 1.1

Nature of an ecosystem Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-15 Feeding relationships
Soil and water nutrients Producers (plants and phytoplankton) Consumers Feeding on Living Organisms Primary (rabbits, zooplankton) Secondary & Higher Consumers Feeding on Other Consumers (foxes, turtles, hawks) Break down organic matter for recycling Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) Dead Organisms or the Organic Wastes of Detritus Feeders (crabs, termites) Scavengers (vultures, hyenas)

Fig. 4-17 Energy, chemicals, organisms
Heat Abiotic chemicals (carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, minerals) Producers (plants) Decomposers (bacteria, fungus) Consumers (herbivores, carnivores) Solar energy

Matter cycling in ecosystems

Energy and Nutrient Flow

Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food chains and food webs show how energy moves in an ecosystem food chain: pathway (through a sequence of organisms) along which food and energy are transferred from level to level arrows show direction of energy transfer food web: complex network of interconnected food chains trophic level: feeding level of an organism in a food chain Figure 1.1

trophic levels, continued first, some basic ecosystem processes: 1. production: rate of incorporation of energy and materials into the bodies of organisms 2. consumption: metabolic use of organic materials 3. decomposition: breakdown of organic materials into inorganic ones usable by autotrophs carried out by prokaryotes and fungi links all trophic levels Figure 1.1

trophic levels, continued primary producers: use photosynthesis to produce sugars and organic compounds; support all other trophic levels primary consumers: herbivores (eat plants or algae) secondary consumers: carnivores that eat herbivores tertiary consumers, etc.: carnivores that eat other carnivores Figure 1.1

Example foodchains

(decomposers and detritus feeders)
Fig Food chain Heat First Trophic Level Second Trophic Third Trophic Fourth Trophic Solar energy Producers (plants) Primary consumers (herbivores) Tertiary (top carnivores) Secondary (carnivores) Detritivores (decomposers and detritus feeders)

A marine food web

Fig. 4-19 Antarctic food web
Humans Blue whale Sperm whale Crabeater seal Killer whale Elephant seal Leopard Adélie penguins Petrel Fish Squid Carnivorous plankton Krill Phytoplankton Herbivorous zooplankton Emperor penguin

Pyramids are used to represent energy available to each trophic level biomass: dry weight of all organic matter contained in organisms you eat biomass, and you contain biomass energy transfer through biomass is inefficient percent usable energy from one trophic level is called ecological efficiency ranges from 2% to 40% (usually 10%) explains why top carnivores are few Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-20 Pyramid of energy flow
Heat 10 100 1,000 10,000 Usable energy available at each tropic level (in kilocalories) Producers (phytoplankton) Primary consumers (zooplankton) Secondary (perch) Tertiary (human) Decomposers

Fig. 4-21 Annual energy flow
Top carnivores Decomposers/detritivores 21 Carnivores 5,060 383 Herbivores 3,368 Producers 20,810

Pyramid of Net Productivity

Pyramid of Numbers

Pyramid of Standing Crop Biomass

Producers produce biomass at different rates in different ecosystems energy budget depends on primary productivity primary productivity: amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs in a given time period can be measured as biomass added/area/time (g/m2/yr) Figure 1.1

primary productivity, continued gross primary productivity (GPP) is total production of chemical energy produced by autotrophs producers use some of the biomass they produce to stay alive, grow, etc., so not all of it is available to higher trophic levels the amount available to higher levels is called net primary productivity (NPP) NPP = GPP – R (where R means respiration: plant’s own energy needs) Figure 1.1

Growth and reproduction
Fig GPP vs. NPP Sun Photosynthesis Gross primary production Respiration Energy lost & unavailable to consumers Growth and reproduction Net primary production (energy available to consumers)

Terrestrial Ecosystems Average net primary productivity (kcal/m2/yr)
Fig NPP by zone Swamps and marshes Tropical rain forest Temperate forest Northern coniferous forest (taiga) Savanna Agricultural land Woodland and shrubland Temperate grassland Tundra (arctic and alpine) Desert scrub Extreme desert Estuaries Lakes and streams Continental shelf Terrestrial Ecosystems Open ocean Aquatic Ecosystems 800 1,600 2,400 3,200 4,000 4,800 5,600 6,400 7,200 8,000 8,800 9,600 Average net primary productivity (kcal/m2/yr)

Productivity of Ecosystems

primary productivity, continued most productive communities (per unit area) algae beds and reefs, swamps/marshes tropical forests estuaries least productive communities (per unit area) desert alpine/tundra open ocean Figure 1.1

NPP limits the number of consumers on the planet only the biomass represented by NPP is available as food to consumers, and producers are limited in how fast they can produce biomass Are humans using biomass faster than it can be regenerated? If yes, bad things will probably happen. think sustainability Figure 1.1

4-3 Ecosystem Components
Biodiversity is a renewable resource found in the Earth’s variety of genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes genetic diversity: variety of genetic material within a species or population species diversity: number of different species in different habitats ecological: variety of ecosystems in area functional: biological and chemical processes needed for survival Figure 1.1

Fig. 4-11 Freshwater ecosystem
Sun Producers (rooted plants) Producers (phytoplankton) Primary consumers (zooplankton) Secondary consumers (fish) Dissolved chemicals Tertiary consumers (turtles) Sediment Decomposers (bacteria and fungi)

Fig. 7-8 Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary
Herring gulls Snowy egret Peregrine falcon Cordgrass Short-billed dowitcher Marsh periwinkle Bacteria Clamworm Soft-shelled clam Zooplankton and small crustaceans Phytoplankton Smelt Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers

Fig. 7-12 Reef trophic levels
Gray reef shark Green sea turtle Sea nettle Fairy basslet Blue tangs Brittle star Banded coral shrimp Sergeant major Parrot fish Hard corals Algae Phytoplankton Symbiotic algae Zooplankton Sponges Bacteria Moray eel Blackcap basslet Coney Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All consumers and producers to decomposers

Fig. 4-12 Terrestrial ecosystem
Sun Producer Precipitation Falling leaves and twigs Producers Primary consumer (rabbit) Secondary consumer (fox) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Oxygen (O2) Water Soil decomposers Soluble mineral nutrients

Fig. 6-20 Temperate desert ecosystem
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Gambel's quail Red-tailed hawk Collared lizard Jack rabbit Yucca Kangaroo rat Agave Roadrunner Diamondback rattlesnake Darkling beetle Bacteria Prickly pear cactus

Fig. 6-24 Tall-grass prairie ecosystem
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Bacteria Golden eagle Prairie dog Blue stem grass Coyote Grasshopper sparrow Pronghorn antelope coneflower

Fig. 6-26 Arctic tundra ecosystem
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All consumers and producers to decomposers Lemming Arctic fox Horned lark Mosquito Grizzly bear Long-tailed jaeger Caribou Willow ptarmigan Snowy owl Dwarf willow Mountain cranberry Moss campion

Fig. 6-29 Tropical rain forest ecosystem
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Bacteria Bromeliad Ants Tree frog Green tree snake Katydid Climbing monstera palm Squirrel monkeys Blue and gold macaw Harpy eagle Ocelot Slaty-tailed trogon

Fig. 6-31 Temperate deciduous forest
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers Bacteria Fungi Wood frog Racer Shagbark hickory White-tailed deer White-footed mouse White oak Gray squirrel Hairy woodpecker Broad-winged hawk Long-tailed weasel May beetle Mountain winterberry Metallic wood-boring beetle and Metallic wood- boring beetle and larvae

Fig. 6-32 Taiga forest ecosystem
Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary Secondary to higher-level All producers and consumers to decomposers Bacteria Bunchberry Starflower Fungi Snowshoe hare Bebb willow Moose Wolf Balsam fir Blue jay Great horned owl White spruce Pine sawyer beetle and larvae Marten

Biomagnification many types of poisons in environment
some stored in fatty tissue: DDT get concentrated in upper trophic levels of concern to humans since we are in an upper trophic level

Biomagnification

Area IIA: The Living World

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Area IIA: The Living World"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback

Log in

Auth with social network:

Area IIA: The Living World

Similar presentations

Presentation on theme: "Area IIA: The Living World"— Presentation transcript:

Similar presentations

About project

Feedback