The document discusses key concepts in ecology including:
1) The biosphere is made up of all parts of the planet that support life, and ecologists study interactions between organisms and their environment across different levels of organization from individuals to the entire biosphere.
2) Energy and matter cycle through ecosystems, with primary producers like plants capturing energy from the sun and matter from their environment and making it available to consumers.
3) Nutrients cycle through biogeochemical cycles but can become limiting factors, controlling primary productivity and ecosystem dynamics.
The document discusses key concepts in ecology including:
1) The biosphere is made up of all parts of the planet that support life, and ecologists study interactions between organisms and their environment across different levels of organization from individuals to the entire biosphere.
2) Energy and matter cycle through ecosystems, with primary producers like plants capturing energy from the sun and matter from their environment and making it available to consumers.
3) Nutrients cycle through biogeochemical cycles but can become limiting factors, controlling primary productivity and ecosystem dynamics.
The document discusses key concepts in ecology including:
1) The biosphere is made up of all parts of the planet that support life, and ecologists study interactions between organisms and their environment across different levels of organization from individuals to the entire biosphere.
2) Energy and matter cycle through ecosystems, with primary producers like plants capturing energy from the sun and matter from their environment and making it available to consumers.
3) Nutrients cycle through biogeochemical cycles but can become limiting factors, controlling primary productivity and ecosystem dynamics.
The document discusses key concepts in ecology including:
1) The biosphere is made up of all parts of the planet that support life, and ecologists study interactions between organisms and their environment across different levels of organization from individuals to the entire biosphere.
2) Energy and matter cycle through ecosystems, with primary producers like plants capturing energy from the sun and matter from their environment and making it available to consumers.
3) Nutrients cycle through biogeochemical cycles but can become limiting factors, controlling primary productivity and ecosystem dynamics.
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FLOW OF MATTER IN THE
BIOSPHERE 3.1 - What is Ecology? • It is the scientific study of interaction among organisms and between organisms and their environment What is the Biosphere? • The biosphere is the combined portions of the entire planet where life exists. Levels of Organization
• To understand relationships within the
biosphere ecologists ask questions about events and organisms that range in complexity from a single individual to the entire biosphere Levels (con’t.)
• Species: a group of organisms so similar
to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring. • Populations: a group of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. • Communities: different populations that live together in a defined area. Levels (con’t.)
• Ecosystems: all the organisms that live in
a particular place, together with their nonliving or physical environment. • Biomes: a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities. Levels of Organization Biotic and Abiotic Factors
• Biotic Factors – Any living part of the
environment with which an organism might interact – Ex. – animals, plants, mushrooms & bacteria
• Abiotic Factors – Any nonliving part of
the environment – Ex. – sunlight, heat, water, soil, etc. Biotic and Abiotic Factors Together • The differences between biotic and abiotic factors are not always clear and simple • Many physical factors can be strongly influenced by the activities of organisms – Ex. – pond “muck” is a combination of soil (abiotic) and leaf mold & decomposing plant material (biotic) Biotic and Abiotic Factors Ecological Methods
gas? • What do you need before you can play in a soccer game or run for 5 miles? • Living systems need a constant input of Energy. Primary Producers
• Autotrophs – Organisms that use energy from the environment to make complex organic compounds – Also known as producers. Why? – Two types • Photosynthesis - Energy from the Sun • Chemosynthesis - Life without Light Primary Producers • Primary Producers – The first producers of energy-rich compounds that are later used by other organisms • Energy from the Sun – Capturing light energy and using it to convert CO2 & H2O into O2 & Carbohydrates • Energy without Light – Using chemical energy to make Carbohydrates Sources of Energy Consumers
• Heterotrophs – Rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply. – Also known as consumers • Why? Consumers • Types of Consumers – Herbivores • Obtain energy and nutrients by eating plant materials – Carnivores – • Kill and eat other animals – Omnivores • Eat both plants and animals – Scavengers • Consume the carcasses of dead animals – Detritivores • Feed on dead and decaying plant and animal remains – Decomposers • Chemically break down matter Beyond Consumer Categories
• These simple categories often don’t
express the real complexities of nature.
• Examples: – Hyenas (carnivores) will scavenge if they get a chance – Aquatic animals will eat a mixture of algae, bits of animal carcasses, and detritus 3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Energy flows through the ecosystem in one direction. Energy Flow in Ecosystems Food Chain • A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. Food Web • A network of many feeding interactions Food Web Food Webs and Disturbance
• Relationships in Food Webs are not
simple. • Disturbances do happen and their effects can be dramatic. • Example - Marine Food Web / Krill Antarctic Food Web Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids
• Each level in a food chain or food web is
a trophic level. • Each trophic level depends on the level below it for energy. What is a Trophic Level? Ecological Pyramids
• Can be used to represent energy, matter
or number of individuals at each trophic level Energy Pyramid
• Only 10% of the energy available at one
trophic level makes it to the next level
• When one organism eats another,
energy is lost. Where does this energy go? Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid
• Represents all the living tissue (food) at
each trophic level. Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers
• The number of individual organisms at
each trophic level usually decreases as you go up the pyramid of numbers. Pyramid of Numbers 3-4 Cycles of Matter • Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled in the biosphere.
• Where does your body get the materials, such
as Carbon, it needs to function? __________
• Elements , chemical compounds and other
forms of matter are passed from one organism to another through biogeochemical cycles.
Bio - ______ Geo - ______ Chemical - ______
Water Cycle Other Biogeochemical Cycles
• Carbon Cycle - carbon is especially
important because it is the key ingredient in all living organisms.
• Carbon is found in oceans, the air, and
certain types of rock. Carbon Cycle • Nitrogen Cycle - All organisms require nitrogen to make amino acids which are used to build proteins. Nitrogen Cycle • Phosphorus Cycle - Unlike carbon nitrogen and oxygen, phosphorous does not enter the air, it remains mostly in rock, soil minerals, and ocean sediments. – Phosphorous is of great biological importance for molecules like DNA and RNA. Phosphorous Cycle Nutrient Limitation
• Primary Productivity: the rate at which
organic matter is created by a producer. - Controlled by the availability of nutrients in the environment
• How can a nutrient be a limiting factor
for an ecosystem? - If even a single essential nutrient is in short supply, primary productivity will be limited Nutrient Limitation
• Limiting Nutrient – the nutrient whose supply limits productivity
– Ex. - If ample sunlight and water are
available, the primary productivity of an ecosystem may be limited by the availability of nutrients. Nutrient Limitation • In Soil – Growth of crop plants is limited by one or more nutrients that must be taken up by plants through their roots – That’s why farmers use fertilizers!
• In Aquatic Ecosystems – Sometimes receive large amounts of a limiting nutrient (runoff from fertilized fields) – The result can be an Algal Bloom which can cover the water’s surface and disrupt the ecosystem
