Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling

1. Ecosystems: Components, Energy Flow, and Matter Cycling G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13th Edition Chapter 4 Dr. Richard Clements Chattanooga State Technical Community College

2. Key Concepts • Basic ecological principles • Major components of ecosystems • Matter cycles and energy flow • Ecosystem studies • Ecological services

3. The Nature of Ecology • Ecosystem organization • Organisms • Populations • Communities • Ecosystems • Biosphere Fig. 4-2 p. 66

4. The Earth’s Life-Support Systems • Troposphere • Stratosphere • Hydrosphere • Lithosphere • Biosphere Fig. 4-6 p. 68

5. Sustaining Life of Earth • One-way flowof energy • Cycling ofmatter Fig. 4-7 p. 69

6. The Source of Energy Fig. 4-8 p. 69

7. Ecosystem Concepts and Components • Biomes • Role of climate • Aquatic life zones Fig. 4-9 p. 70

8. Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones Fig. 4-10 p. 71

9. Principles of Ecological Factors • Law of tolerance • Abiotic factors • Limiting factors • Biotic factors Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73

10. The Biotic Components of Ecosystems • Producers(autotrophs) • Photosynthesis • Consumers(heterotrophs) • Aerobicrespiration • Decomposers Fig. 4-16 p. 75

11. Trophic Levels • Primary consumer (herbivore) • Secondary consumer (carnivore) • Tertiary consumer • Omnivore • Detritivores and scavengers • Decomposers

12. Biodiversity • Genetic diversity • Species diversity • Ecological diversity • Functional diversity

13. Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Food chains • Food webs Fig. 4-18 p. 77; Refer to Fig. 4-19 p. 78

14. Ecological Pyramids • Pyramid ofenergy flow Fig. 4-20 p. 79 • Ecologicalefficiency • Pyramid ofbiomass • Pyramid ofnumbers

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

16. Connections: Matter Cycling in Ecosystems • Biogeochemical cycles • Hydrologic cycle (H2O) • Atmospheric cycles (C, N) • Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

17. Hydrologic (Water) Cycle Fig. 4-27 p. 83

18. The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial) Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

19. The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic) Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

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

21. The Phosphorus Cycle Fig. 4-30 p. 88

22. The Sulfur Cycle Fig. 4-31 p. 89

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

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

25. Ecosystem Servicesand Sustainability Fig. 4-34 p. 92