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Ecosystems and Energy Flow

Ecosystems and Energy Flow. Energy Transfer. Primary producers the trophic level that supports all others autotrophs Primary consumers herbivores Secondary/ tertiary/ quaternary consumers carnivores Detrivores /decomposers

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Ecosystems and Energy Flow

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  1. Ecosystems and Energy Flow

  2. Energy Transfer • Primary producers • the trophic level that supports all others • autotrophs • Primary consumers • herbivores • Secondary/ tertiary/ quaternary consumers • carnivores • Detrivores/decomposers • special consumers that derive nutrition from non-living organic matter

  3. Decomposers • Break down/recycle organic matter • Fungi • Bacteria • Some invertebrates (worms, etc)

  4. Productivity • Primary productivity- amount of light energy converted to chemical energy by autotrophs • Gross (GPP): total energy • Net (NPP): represents the storage of energy available to consumers • R: energy used for respiration • NPP = GPP - R • Biomass: primary productivity reflected as dry weight of organic material • Secondary productivity: the rate at which an ecosystem's consumers convert chemical energy of the food they eat into their own new biomass

  5. Global NPP

  6. Energy Flow • Ecological efficiency • % of E transferred from one trophic level to the next (10%) • Pyramid of productivity • multiplicative loss of energy in trophic levels • Biomass pyramid • trophic representation of biomass in ecosystems • Pyramid of numbers • trophic representation of the number of organisms in an ecosystem • Follows “rule of 10”

  7. Chemical Cycling • Biogeochemical cycles: the various nutrient circuits, which involve both abiotic and biotic components of an ecosystem • Water • Carbon • Nitrogen • Phosphorus

  8. Pollution • Water pollution • Sewage/agricultural runoff • Excess nitrogen causes eutrophication • algal blooms kill fish • Creates “dead zones” • Air pollution • Burning of wood, coal, chemicals, fossil fuels, etc. • Smog • respiratory problems • Acid precipitation • crop damage • structural damage to buildings/statues

  9. Biological Magnification • Trophic process in which retained substances become more concentrated at higher levels • Buildup of toxins in predatory fish • DDT Causes egg shells of predatory birds to become fragile

  10. Greenhouse Effect • Warming of planet due to atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide • Burning of fossil fuels • Deforestation • CO2 traps heat from sunlight like a greenhouse • Results in • Increased ocean temps  death of coral reefs • Increased global temps melting of polar ice caps/ raised ocean levels/changes in weather patterns

  11. Ozone Depletion • Effect of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) released into the atmosphere • Takes ~50 years for results to be seen after release of CFC’s (ie. the worst is yet to come) • Depletion of ozone increased UV rays skin cancer, crop damage, etc.

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