1. Ecosystems

2. Studying organisms in their environment
biosphere
ecosystem
community
population
organism

3. Ecosystem All the organisms in a community plus abiotic factors
ecosystems are transformers of energy & processors of matter
Ecosystems are self-sustaining
capture energy
transfer energy
cycle nutrients

4. Ecosystem inputs nutrients cycle energy flows through
biosphere
energy flows through
constant input of energy
nutrients cycle
Don’t forget the laws of Physics!
Matter cannot
be created or destroyed
nutrients can only cycle

5. General Nutrient cycling
consumers
consumers
consumers
producers
decomposers
decomposers
nutrients ENTER FOOD CHAIN = made available to producers
nutrients made available to producers
return to abiotic reservoir
Decomposition connects all trophic levels
abiotic reservoir
abiotic reservoir
geologic processes
geologic processes

6. Carbon cycle abiotic reservoir: CO2 in atmosphere enter food chain:
photosynthesis
return to abiotic:
respiration
combustion
Carbon cycle

7. Nitrogen cycle abiotic reservoir: N in atmosphere enter food chain:
nitrogen fixation by soil & aquatic bacteria
recycle:
decomposing & nitrifying bacteria
return to abiotic:
denitrifying bacteria

8. Phosphorus cycle abiotic reservoir: rocks, minerals, soil
enter food chain:
erosion releases phosphate
uptake by plants
recycle:
decomposing bacteria & fungi
return to abiotic:
loss to ocean sediment

9. Water cycle Solar energy abiotic reservoir:
surface & atmospheric water
enter food chain:
precipitation & plant uptake
recycle:
transpiration
return to abiotic:
evaporation & runoff
Water cycle
Solar energy

10. Breaking the water cycle
Deforestation breaks the water cycle
groundwater is not transpired to the atmosphere, so precipitation is not created
forest  desert
desertification

11. Biomes
Biome= A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region
Terrestrial Biomes= land
Aquatic Biomes= water