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Chapter 55 Ecosystems. Objectives -Physical Laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems -Energy and other limiting factors control primary production in ecosystems -Energy transfer between trophic levels is typically only 10% efficient
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Chapter 55 Ecosystems Objectives -Physical Laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems -Energy and other limiting factors control primary production in ecosystems -Energy transfer between trophic levels is typically only 10% efficient -Biological and geochemical processes cycle nutrients between organic and inorganic parts of an ecosystem -Human activities now dominate most chemical cycles on earth.
Ecosystems are the sum of all biotic and abiotic factors and interactions within its physical boundaries. • Law of Conservation of Mass • Mass can never be created or destroyed only transferred and/or cycled through an environment. • -Ecosystems are run by two major processes • Chemical cycling • Energy Flow Cave Pool Ecosystem
Energy can’t be recycled. Constant energy input is needed. (Sun)
Gross Primary Production - is the total amount of sun energy transferred to chemical energy. Net Primary Production - Gross Primary Production (GPP) – Energy used by organism for respiration (R) NPP = GPP – R -NPP is the amount of new biomass (Organic Matter) created at a given time. -NPP is limited by: 1. Light 2. Nutrients 3. Temperature 4. Precipitation (Evapotranspiration)
Energy transfer is 10% efficient -Loss of energy is why food chains are so short -The percent passed on is in the biomass of the organism
Matter cycles through organic and inorganic forms Biogeochemical Cycles -nutrient cycles that contain both biotic and abiotic forms
Humans dominate most chemical cycles Increased Carbon Dioxide Levels Artificial Fertilizer Bioaccumulation