1. Sustainability of Ecosystems Diversity and Sustainability

2. Energy What is an ecosystem? Includes all organisms in an area that interact with each other and with their environment of E (energy) and matter. Where does the E come from? Sunlight E is captured by plants by chlorophyll through the process of photosynthesis.

3. Feeding Levels Producer – First trophic level Radiant E converted into chemical E Primary Consumer – Second trophic level Eat plants (rabbit, deer) Secondary Consumer – Third trophic level Eat primary consumers (foxes, wolves) There is a unique relationship between plants and animals and the amount of E they produce per unit of land area.

4. Producers and Consumers Producers = Plants Consumers = Animals and other living things that eat plants and each other Scavengers = feed on bodies of larger dead animals E.g. vultures, ravens, hyenas Detritivores = consume waste (detritus) E.g. earthworms, wood beetles and carpenter ants Decomposers = bacteria and fungi

5. Food Pyramids Food pyramids = organizes organisms in different levels, with producers in the bottom Energy levels tend to be highest at the base of food pyramids Bioaccumulations = is the build up of toxins as you move up the pyramids - e.g. Mercury build up in fish - e.g. Pesticide (DDT) build up in birds

6. Habitat Components Abiotic = non-living factors Sunlight, temperature, wind Biotic = living factors Any living component Ecological Niche An organism’s place in an ecosystem Allows organism to survive and reproduce (two most important things in the life of an organism) Population All of the members of the same species Community Collection of all the populations

7. Frogs Amphibians – from the Greek meaning two lives. Why are they disappearing? Loss of Habitat Wetland and Field reduction Air and Water Quality Skin absorption & Reproductive Issues UV Radiation Cell Damage to Skin; High Altitudes Climate Change Dry Climate = Fewer Frogs

8. Endangered Species What does it mean to be endangered? To be close to extinction! Effects of Extinction? Decrease in biodiversity Restore the Balance?

9. Ecology Pests Organisms that cause problems for humans Why are they important to ecosystems? Food, pollination, oxygenation Bees Banning of insecticides How does that affect farmers?

10. Energy Movement in Ecosystems A Comparison…(p.34, fig, 1) Producer/ConsumerTrophic Level ProducerFirst Trophic Level Primary ConsumerSecond Trophic Level Secondary ConsumerThird Tropic Level Tertiary ConsumerFourth Tropic Level Food Chain vs. Food Web

11. Energy within Trophic Levels Trophic levels indicate that E is moving from one level to the next. Why is this so important? It is important for us to understand that while there is E transfer it is not 100%. 100KJ of E in and only 10KJ will be used effectively by the tissues. The amount of E transferred from one level to the next varies from 5-20% with 10% being a good average. Where does the rest go??? 30KJ thermal E to environment, 60KJ as waste Note: 1 Calorie (technically kiloCalorie) = 4.184 kilojoules

12. Feeding People A farm that produces plants will be able to support a larger population of humans then a farm that produces plants and animals. Why?