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 MATES Chapter 4 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

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

3. The Nature of Ecology • Ecosystem organization • Organisms; any form of life • Populations • Same species living in the same area • Communities • Population of all species in an area • Ecosystems • Interaction of all abiotic and biotic in an area • Biosphere zone where life is found Fig. 4-2 p. 66 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

4. The Earth’s Life-Support Systems • Troposphere • Inner layer of Atmosphere • 11 mile s most of the air • Stratosphere • 11-30 miles Ozone • Hydrosphere • Water surface ground • Lithosphere • Crust upper mantle • Biosphere • Living environment Fig. 4-6 p. 68 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

5. Sustaining Life of Earth • One-way flowof energy • Low quality energy lost • as heat • Cycling ofmatter • Earth is fixed from space • molecules, ions, atoms • recycled Fig. 4-7 p. 69 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

6. The Source of Energy Photosynthesis Cellular Respiration SPRAGUE ENV MATES Fig. 4-8 p. 69

7. Ecosystem Concepts and Components • Biomes • Classified by • climate • Role of climate • Aquatic life zones • Freshwater • Saltwater SPRAGUE ENV MATES Fig. 4-9 p. 70

8. Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones Edge effect One Ecosystem merges with another Fig. 4-10 p. 71 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

9. Principles of Ecological Factors • Abiotic factors • Law of tolerance • Range of tolerance of species • High tolerance to some low to others • Biotic factors • Limiting factors • Ex. Water SPRAGUE ENV MATES 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 SPRAGUE ENV MATES Fig. 4-16 p. 75

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

12. Biodiversity • Genetic diversity • Variety of genetic material within a population • Why is this important? • Species diversity • Number of species present in a habitat • Ecological diversity • Variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems • Functional diversity • The energy flow and matter cycling SPRAGUE ENV MATES

13. Connections: Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Food chains • Food webs SPRAGUE ENV MATES 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 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

15. Primary Productivity of Ecosystems • Gross primary productivity (GPP) • Rate at which primary producers convert solar to biomass • Net primary productivity (NPP) • Stored energy minus the rate at which they use Fig. 4-25 p. 81 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

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

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

18. The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)Photosynthesis/ cellular Respiration SPRAGUE ENV MATES Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85

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

20. The Nitrogen Cycle Fig. 4-29 p. 86 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

21. The Phosphorus Cycle Sulfate salts Oceans SPRAGUE ENV MATES Fig. 4-30 p. 88

22. The Sulfur Cycle -Stored in salts buried under ocean -Enters Atmosphere Hydrogen Sulfide “What Smells?” -Algae produce Dimethyl Sulfide “Nuclei for Clouds” -Sulfur Dioxide to Sulfur Trioxide to Sulfuric Acid - Bacteria Anaerobic Sulfate to Sulfide and th cycle continues Fig. 4-31 p. 89 SPRAGUE ENV MATES

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

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

25. Ecosystem Servicesand Sustainability Fig. 4-34 p. 92 SPRAGUE ENV MATES