1. Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling Key Components Ecological Structure Basic Components of the Ecosystem Matter Cycles and Energy Flow

2. The Nature of Ecology  Ecosystem organization  Organisms– Individual species  Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region  Community – Two or more pop- ulations interacting together  Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting  Biome – Ecosystems of a geographic Area with similar climate  Biosphere – The livings Earth  Ecosystem organization  Organisms– Individual species  Population – a group of the same species in a Specific geographic region  Community – Two or more pop- ulations interacting together  Ecosystem – All of the biotic and Abiotic organisms interacting  Biome – Ecosystems of a geographic Area with similar climate  Biosphere – The livings Earth

3. The Earth’s Life-Support Systems  Troposphere  Stratosphere  Hydrosphere  Lithosphere  Biosphere

4. Sustaining Life of Earth  One-way flow of energy  Cycling of matter

5. The Source of Energy

6. Ecosystem Concepts and Components  Biomes  Role of climate  Aquatic life zones

7. Biomes That You Are Responsible To Know Details About Temperate Deciduous Forest Temperate Grassland Taiga Tundra Desert Tropical Rainforest Savanna

8. AKA – Edge (Edge Effect) More Biodiversity Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones

9. Principles of Ecological Factors  Abiotic factors  Biotic factors  Law of tolerance  Limiting factors  Density Independent  Density Dependent  Limiting factors  Density Independent  Density Dependent

10. The Biotic Components of Ecosystems  Producers (autotrophs)- make their own food  Producers (autotrophs)- make their own food  Consumers (heterotrophs) – Obtain nutrients  Herbivores  Carnivores  Scavengers  Detrivores  Saprophytes (Decomposers)  Consumers (heterotrophs) – Obtain nutrients  Herbivores  Carnivores  Scavengers  Detrivores  Saprophytes (Decomposers)

11. Biological Interactions – Food Webs The more organisms in FW, the more biodiverse the ecosystem Arrows show the direction of energy flow

12. Trophic Pyramid Shows the energy available at every step of a food chain Trophic Level = an organisms place in a food chain Most organisms can occupy more than one trophic level Bottom of the pyramid will ALWAYS be producers Decomposers are not usually included in a pyramid

15. Ecological Pyramids  Pyramid of energy flow  Ecological efficiency  Pyramid of biomass  Pyramid of numbers Fig. 4-20 p. 79

16. Primary Productivity of Ecosystems  Gross primary productivity (GPP)  Net primary productivity (NPP) Fig. 4-25 p. 81

17. Hydrologic (Water) Cycle

18. The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)

19. The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)

20. The Nitrogen Cycle Fig. 4-29 p. 86

21. The Phosphorus Cycle

22. The Sulfur Cycle

23. How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems?  Field research  Remote sensing  Geographic information systems (GIS)  Laboratory research  Systems analysis

24. Remote Sensing Examples Deforestation in the Amazon http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/GlobalMaps/

26. Deforestation and Development in Bolivia

27. GIS and Systems Analysis Fig. 4-33 p. 91 Fig. 4-32 p. 91

28. Ecosystem Services and Sustainability