1. Ecosystems and Energy Chapter 3

2. What is Ecology? Ecology – study of the interactions among organisms and between organisms (biotic) and their abiotic environment. Ecosystem - a functional unit of ecology, as small as a classroom aquarium, as large as a forest or coral reef.

3. What is Ecology? Levels of Biological Organization

4. What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Population – members of the same species

5. What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Community – all of an area’s populations

6. What is Ecology? Ecological Levels of Organization: Ecosystem – community + abiotic environment CO 2

7. What is Ecology? Landscape – encompasses larger area and several ecosystems Biosphere – the whole earth

8. The Energy of Life Potential vs. Kinetic Energy

9. The Energy of Life Thermodynamics – energy transformations

10. The Energy of Life 1 st Law of Thermodynamics – energy can change forms, but is not created or destroyed 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics – “Entropy Rules!” amount of usable energy decreases as energy changes forms 1 st Law deals with quantity of energy, 2 nd Law with quality of energy.

11. The Energy of Life Photosynthesis 6 CO 2 + 12 H 2 O + radiant energy C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 H 2 O + 6 O 2

12. The Energy of Life Cellular Respiration C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 + 6 H 2 O 6 CO 2 + 12 H 2 O + energy

13. The Energy of Life Case-in-Point: Life Without the Sun

14. The Flow of Energy Through Ecosystems Producers, Consumers, and Decomposers

15. The Path of Energy Flow Food Chains –

16. Food Webs –

17. The Path of Energy Flow Case-in-Point: How Humans Have Affected the Antarctic Food Web Krill Baleen whales Squid Fishes Toothed whales Seals Penguins What would happen if you eliminated krill?

18. The Path of Energy Flow Ecological Pyramids – 10 % rule Pyramid of Numbers Pyramid of Biomass

19. The Path of Energy Flow Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of Energy

20. The Path of Energy Flow Example: Thermodynamics in Action Desert: Primary producers = 100 g / m 2 Temperate forest: Primary producers = 1,500 g / m 2 Food webs very simple, very few tertiary consumers Food webs very complex, more tertiary consumers, some quaternary.

21. The Path of Energy Flow Desert Biomass Pyramid Primary producers = 100 g / m 2 Primary consumers = 10 g / m 2 Secondary consumers = 1.0 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers = 0.1 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers must range over large areas to obtain enough energy to subsist. such as... 13.5 kg coyote must range ~12 ha to subsist (30 acres).

22. The Path of Energy Flow Temperate Forest Biomass Pyramid Primary producers = 1,500 g / m 2 Primary consumers = 150 g / m 2 Secondary consumers = 15 g / m 2 Tertiary consumers = 1.5 g / m 2 13.5 kg coyote only needs ~1 ha to subsist (2.5 acres). Also, possibility of quaternary consumers, like bears. NOTE: just relative examples, not accurate

23. The Path of Energy Flow Ecosystem Productivity Net Primary Productivity Gross Primary Productivity Plant cellular respiration =

24. The Path of Energy Flow Ecosystem Productivity – terrestrial, fresh water