1. Chapter 16 - Ecosystems Section 1 –What is an Ecosystem?
Section 2 –Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Section 3 –Cycling of Materials in Ecosystems

2. Organisms & their Environment
Ecology
Study of the interaction between organisms and their physical environment (soil, water & climate)
Habitat
A location where populations of species resides
Community
The collection of many species living in on particular habitat
Examples

3. Organisms & their Environment
Ecosystem
A system that features a community and all its physical environment
Abiotic Factors
Non-living, physical aspects of a habitat
Ex: Soil
Biotic Factors
Living organisms in a habitat
Ex: Trees
Examples

5. Ecosystem Inhabitants
Biodiversity
Genetic differences of organism, communities and ecosystems
Desert:
Large organisms: Camel, Red Fox, Jack Rabbit
Small organisms: Mice, Snakes
Insects: Beetles, Spiders, Red Ants
Plants: Cacti, Desert Willow
Microscopic organisms in sand
Everything works together to have a functional ecosystem

6. Ecosystem Boundaries Quadrants are usually used for scientific studies
Are not just black and white, there are gray areas
Dependent on space being studied
Ecosystems can be:
Enough room for a few species OR many species
Ex: Tree or Forest
Low OR high possibility of migration
Ex: Island or Ocean
Quadrants are usually used for scientific studies

7. Succession Progression of species replacement in a particular area
Primary Succession
No species have existed in the area before
Basically flat land being developed
Secondary Succession
Growth is reoccurring where growth once was and died off
No two succession are alike, every situation and environment is different and the growth is by chance and competition
Draw Glacier Bay Example

8. Primary Energy Source
Photosynthetic organism: convert light energy to chemical energy
Primary Productivity
Rate of organic material being produced by photosynthetic organism
Determine how much energy is available to the system
Producers
Convert light energy into chemical energy
Consumers
Consume plants or other organisms for energy

9. Trophic Levels
Diagram of energy movement to determine an energy source
First Level
Food Chain: path of energy (1 to 1)
Producer to Consumers

10. Trophic Levels Second Level Third Level – Secondary Consumers
Herbivores
Primary consumers – only consume photosynthetic organisms
Able to digest cellulose using mutualistic microorganisms
Third Level – Secondary Consumers
Carnivores
Organisms that consume other organisms for energy
Omnivores
Organisms that consume plants and/or other organisms for energy
Detritivores (Decomposers)
Obtain energy from dead organic matter or animal wastes

11. Fourth Level

12. Loss of Energy Energy Transfer Energy Pyramid
From organism to organism some energy is loss as heat
The heat loss limits the number organisms receiving energy from the initial source
Only 1/10th of the energy is stored within each organism
Energy Pyramid
The size of the box determines the amount of energy stored
Energy is lost from bottom to the top
Producers to Top Consumers

14. Limitations of Trophic Levels
Heat Loss - #1 reason for max of four trophic levels
Some items require more energy to produce, however provide the same amount of energy
One barrel of wheat creates cereal
Five barrels fed a pig that creates bacon
Biomass
Dry weight of organic matter found in an ecosystem
Determines the amount of energy available in a system

15. Biogeochemical Cycle
A closed pathway that allows for a living thing to eventually die off and join the non-living environment
The energy is never wasted and ALWAYS reused
Example:
Tree lives for 30 years
Dies and is consumed by decomposers
Decomposers convert the organic matter to soil and nutrients used for the surrounding trees

16. The Water Cycle Nonliving Portion (Most important)
Water vapor in the atmosphere condenses
Falls to the ground as precipitation
Some water becomes ground water (retained water in the Earth)
Rest of the water is heat and becomes water vapor

17. The Water Cycle Living Portion Water is taken up by roots
Transpires on the leaves – sun heats the surface and wind currents drive the water to the surface
Eventually drawn to the air

19. The Carbon Cycle Cycles between Living and Nonliving Portions
Carbon dioxide is used by photosynthetic organisms
Carbon returns to the pool of carbon dioxide in 3 ways:
Respiration
Cellular respiration inhales oxygen
Exhales carbon dioxide

20. The Carbon Cycle Combustion Erosion Sediments transformed by heat
Fossil fuel – coal, oil and natural gas
Erosion
Shells of organism contain dissolved carbon dioxide
Sediments of shells – Limestone
Exposure and erosion allow carbon to be available

22. The Phosphorous & Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen & Phosphorus used to build proteins and nucleic acids
Phosphorous reused through eating plants
Nitrogen Fixation
Assimilation
Ammonification
Nitrification
Denitrification
Write definitions on the board