1. Earth’s Systems

2. Earth’s Systems Nutrient Cycles Energy Transfers
Self-Sustaining Systems
Human Impacts

3. Nutrient Cycles
A Nutrient Cycle is the passage of a nutrient or element through an ecosystem.
Carbon
Nitrogen
Hydrologic
These are closed systems, with a fixed supply that is continually recycled through biotic and abiotic parts of ecosystems.

4. Nutrient Cycles - Carbon

5. Nutrient Cycles - Nitrogen

6. Nutrient Cycles - Hydrologic
Condensation

7. Energy Transfers
Energy flows from species to species in a food chain. Within a typical food chain, there are producers, consumers, and decomposers.

8. Energy Transfers

9. Energy Transfers

10. Energy Transfers
A Food Web in Lake Huron

11. Energy Transfers
Bio-Accumulation of Chemicals

12. Role of Species in Ecosystems
Endemic- normally live and thrive
Exotic- are introduced deliberately or accidently by humans or migrate into an ecosystem
Indicator- species that provide early warning of environmental damage
Specialist- relies on a very small range of conditions to survive (narrow niche)
Generalist- live in many different places as they can tolerate a wide range of environments

13. Keystone Species
Play a critical role in an ecosystem- they support the ecosystem and connect it together
Extinction of species that depend on the keystone species can send ripple effects through an entire ecosystem

14. Self-Sustaining Systems
A spacesuit, out of necessity, is a self-sustaining system.

15. Self-Sustaining Systems
Biosphere 2 is a structure built in an attempt to build an “Earth-like” system to sustain life
Located in the Arizona desert outside of Tucson

16. Self-Sustaining Systems
The Earth is a self-sustaining system.

17. Human Impacts on Ecosystems
Homework- Research and explain a specific example of how human activity has impacted an ecosystem.
Asian Carp threaten the Great Lakes