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Ecosystem Properties

Ecosystem Properties. Ecological Hierarchies. Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Organism Tissue Cell Molecules. Definitions. Biosphere - The entire portion of the globe that can support life, including the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial surface and belowground

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Ecosystem Properties

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  1. Ecosystem Properties

  2. Ecological Hierarchies • Biosphere • Biome • Ecosystem • Community • Population • Organism • Tissue • Cell • Molecules

  3. Definitions • Biosphere - The entire portion of the globe that can support life, including the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial surface and belowground • Biome – The largest easily recognized subsection of the biosphere, based upon climate

  4. Definitions • Ecosystem – A region where plants, animals and microbes can interact with each other and their environment. • Community – A region where plants, animals and microbes can interact with each other. • Population – An interbreeding group of organisms

  5. Ecosystem Emergent Properties • All “systems” are made up of components. Once those components are assembled into the system, they take on new properties, those of the “system”. • E.g., bridge over South Canadian River • E.g., living system

  6. Ecosystem Emergent Properties • What are the emergent properties of a living system, e.g., you? • You are composed of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, etc., but you are so much more than bags of elements flopping around • As a living entity you: • Respire • Irritable • Capable of reproduction

  7. Ecosystem Emergent Properties • So, as a “system” ecosystems also have emergent properties • Nutrient cycling • Energy flow

  8. Energy in Ecosystems • Energy Movement follows 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics • Energy can’t be created or destroyed • Any transfers of energy are not 100% efficient

  9. Energy flow

  10. Energy Flow Calories Solar Energy 1,000,000 1 % 10,000 Producers 10% 1,000 Herbivores 10% Consumers 100 Carnivores 10% 10 Top Carnivore

  11. Energy Flow Solar Energy 1 % Producers 10% Herbivores Food Chain 10% Consumers Carnivores 10% Top Carnivore

  12. Energy Flow Solar Energy 1 % Producers Trophic Level 10% Herbivores 10% Consumers Carnivores 10% Top Carnivore

  13. Any Questions?

  14. Nutrient Cycling • There are two major types of nutrient cycles • Gaseous – Most of the nutrient is stored in the atmosphere • Sedimentary – Most of the nutrient is stored in the sediments or soils

  15. So what nutrients do we need? • Macro-nutrients are needed in large quantities • Na,Cl, C, H, O, P, K, I, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg • Micro-nutrients are also essential, but are needed in only small amounts • Mo, B, Cl, Mn, Cu, Zn

  16. Gaseous Nutrient CycleThe carbon cycle Respiration CO2 (photosynthesis) plant Decomposers herbivore carnivore top carnivore

  17. Sedimentary Nutrient CycleExample: The Phosphorus Cycle erosion plant herbivores carnivores P in soil decomposers (weathering) P in rock (apatite)

  18. So what nutrients do we need? • Macro-nutrients are needed in large quantities • Na,Cl, C, H, O, P, K, I, N, S, Ca, Fe, Mg • Micro-nutrients are also essential, but are needed in only small amounts • Mo, B, Cl, Mn, Cu, Zn • The elements in blue have gaseous cycles

  19. Quick Quiz on Ecosystems • What’s the definition of an ecosystem? • An area where plants, animals and microbes interact with each other and the environment • So why do you need an ecosystem for • Energy Flow? • Nutrient Cycling? • Does energy ever cycle?

  20. NO-O-O!

  21. Take out a clean piece of paper • A practice quiz • List two types of symbiotic relationships

  22. Quiz, continued • Competition between organisms of different species is known as: • Intraspecific interactions • Intraspecific competition • Interspecific interactions • Interspecific competition

  23. Quiz, continued • If you went up a tall mountain, how many meters increase in elevation would you have to go up to see the same change in vegetation structure that you would see if you went north 30 degrees latitude? • 1800 m • 4000 m • 400 m • 100 m

  24. Quiz, continued • Which biome has the greatest number of species? • Which biome produces most of the wood pulp used for paper in the U.S.?

  25. Quiz, continued • In which grassland ecosystem would you expect to find the greatest number of species and why? • Undisturbed tall grass prairie • Wheat field • Corn field • Heavily grazed tall grass prairie

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