1. Ecosystem Structure

2. The Nature of Ecology   The study of the interrelationships between plants and animals and their physical environment   The study of the interrelationships between plants and animals and their physical environment   Organisms   Populations   Communities   Ecosystems   Biosphere

3. How do Ecologists learn about natural systems?   Field research   Remote sensing   Geographic information systems (GIS)   Laboratory research   Systems analysis (mathematical, computer models)   Systems analysis (mathematical, computer models)

4. Matter: anything that has mass and occupies space   Elements   Compounds   Mixtures   Molecules

5. The States of Matter   Solid   Liquid   Gas

6. Energy: the ability to do work   Kinetic energy   Potential energy   Heat

7. The Law of Conservation of Matter   Matter cannot be created nor destroyed   Matter cannot be created nor destroyed   Matter only changes form   There is no “away”

8. Laws Governing Energy Changes   Energy is neither created nor destroyed   Energy only changes form   You can’t get something for nothing First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy) ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT

9. Laws Governing Energy Changes Second Law of Thermodynamics   In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat (lower quality)   You cannot break even in terms of energy quality

10. Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems   High-throughput (waste) economy   Matter-recycling economy   Low-throughput economy

11. Ecosystem Structure Ecosystems have two general categories of components:Ecosystems have two general categories of components: –Biotic - living organisms –Abiotic - nonliving

12. The Biotic Components of Ecosystems   Producers (autotrophs) - Photosynthesis   Consumers (heterotrophs) - Aerobic respiration   Decomposers

13. Consumers Primary, secondary, tertiary, etc.Primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. Herbivore - plant eaterHerbivore - plant eater Carnivore - meat eaterCarnivore - meat eater Omnivore - mixed plant/animal dietOmnivore - mixed plant/animal diet

14. The Abiotic Components of Ecosystems 1) Outside energy source 2) Physical factors that determine weather, climate weather, climate 3) Chemicals essential for life

15. Outside Energy Source Powersphotosynthesis Warms earth Powers water cycle

16. Physical factors that determine weather, climate HeatWindPrecipitationTopography

17. HeatHeat   Location   Reflection   Retention

18. Wind and Precipitation Uneven heatingUneven heating Ascending, descending air massesAscending, descending air masses

19. ModifiersModifiers Rotation of the globeRotation of the globe Geologic featuresGeologic features

20. Rain Shadows

21. Lake-effect Precipitation

22. Chemicals Essential for Life Elements and compoundsElements and compounds Recycled between biotic and abiotic partsRecycled between biotic and abiotic parts Elements and compoundsElements and compounds Recycled between biotic and abiotic partsRecycled between biotic and abiotic parts

23. Organic vs. Inorganic Organic compounds made by living thingsOrganic compounds made by living things –e.g., proteins, fats, DNA Inorganic compounds produced by biotic or abiotic processesInorganic compounds produced by biotic or abiotic processes –e.g., water, carbon dioxide

24. Limiting Factor Principle Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, even if all other factors are optimal for that population.Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, even if all other factors are optimal for that population. Single factor most over-abundant or deficient in an ecosystem determines presence/absence of specific plants/animals.Single factor most over-abundant or deficient in an ecosystem determines presence/absence of specific plants/animals.

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

26. Biomes - terrestrial ecosystems

27. Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral) Temperate grassland Temperate deciduous forest Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen coniferous forest (e.g., montane coniferous forest) Arctic tundra (polar grasslands) Tropical savanna, thorn forest Tropical scrub forest Tropical deciduous forest Tropical rain forest, tropical evergreen forest Desert Ice Mountains (complex zonation) Semidesert, arid grassland Tropic of Capricorn Equator Tropic of Cancer

28. BiomesBiomes Determined primarily by precipitationDetermined primarily by precipitation –Forests (> 75 cm rain per year) –Grasslands (30-75 cm rain per year) –Deserts (< 30 cm rain per year)

29. BiomesBiomes Determined secondarily by temperatureDetermined secondarily by temperature –Type of forest, grassland, or desert determined by average annual temperature

31. Aquatic ecosystems Determined by salinityDetermined by salinity –Marine –Estuary –Freshwater Type determined by: depth, nearness to shore, size, water movement

32. Ecosystem Function   One-way flow of energy   Cycling of matter

33. Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems   Food chains   Food webs Trophiclevels

34. Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Gambel's quail Red-tailed hawk Collared lizard Jack rabbit Yucca Kangaroo rat Agave Roadrunner Diamondback rattlesnake Darkling beetle Darkling beetle Bacteria Prickly pear cactus Prickly pear cactus

35. Ecological Pyramids   Pyramid of energy flow   Ecological efficiency (10%)   Pyramid of biomass   Pyramid of numbers

36. Energy Productivity of Ecosystems   Primary productivity   Secondary productivity Energy stored/area/time

37. Matter Cycling in Ecosystems -Biogeochemical or nutrient cycles -Hydrologic cycle (H 2 O) -Atmospheric or gaseous cycles (C, N) -Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

38. Hydrologic (Water) Cycle Driven by physical forces

39. The Carbon Cycle Driven by biological forces: photosynthesis and respiration

40. The Nitrogen Cycle Driven by biological forces: bacteria Root nodules on legumes Cyanobacteria

41. The Phosphorus Cycle Driven by physical forces

42. Community Change Ecological succession - gradual replacement of one kind of community of organisms by another over time Ecological succession - gradual replacement of one kind of community of organisms by another over time -Initiated by disturbance

43. Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1   Primary succession - begins with barren area, no soil

44. Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1   Slow soil development by weathering, activities of tolerant species   Slow soil development by weathering, activities of tolerant species - pioneer species

45. Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1   Gradual changeover to less tolerant species over long periods of time   Gradual changeover to less tolerant species over long periods of time - equilibrium or successional species

46. Primary Succession

47. Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2   Secondary succession - begins with soil already in place

48. Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2   Rapid changeover to less tolerant species over shorter periods of time   Rapid changeover to less tolerant species over shorter periods of time - rapid because soil already present

49. Secondary Succession

50. Succession and Wildlife

51. The End Product   If undisturbed, communities change toward a relatively stable stage   If undisturbed, communities change toward a relatively stable stage - climax community - long-term presence if not disturbed - dominated by less-tolerant species - general equilibrium - long-term presence if not disturbed - dominated by less-tolerant species - general equilibrium