Matter: Forms, Structure, and Quality.

Ecosystem Components, Energy Flow and Matter CyclingChapter 4 Millers Living in the Environment!3th Edition

1Chapter 4Ecology, Ecosystems, and Food Webs4-1 Ecology and Life4-2 Earths Life-Support Systems4-3 Ecosystem Concept4-4 Food Webs and Energy Flow in Ecosystems4-5 How do Ecologists learn about Ecosystems?4-6 Ecosystem Services and Sustainability24-1 Ecology and LifeEcology- study of relationships between organisms and their environmentEcology examines how organisms interact with their nonliving (abiotic) environment such as sunlight, temperature, moisture, and vital nutrientsBiotic interaction among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and the ecosphere3Distinction between SpeciesWild species- one that exists as a population of individuals in a natural habitat, ideally similar to the one in which its ancestors evolved

Domesticated species- animals such as cows, sheep, food crops, animals in zoos

4VocabularyPopulationGroup of interacting individuals of the same species that occupy a specific area at the same timeGenetic DiversityPopulations that are dynamic groups that change in size, age distribution, density, and genetic composition as a result of changes in environmental conditions5Habitat Place where a population or individual organism naturally livesCommunity Complex interacting network of plants, animals, and microorganismsEcosystem Community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energyEcosphere or Biosphere All earth's ecosystems6

What is Life?All life shares a set of basic characteristics Made of cells that have highly organized internal structure and functionsCharacteristic types of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules in each cell7Living OrganismsCapture and transform matter and energy from their environment to supply their needs for survival, growth, and reproductionMaintain favorable internal conditions, despite changes in their external environment through homeostasis, if not overstressed

8Living OrganismsPerpetuate themselves through reproductionAdapt to changes in environmental conditions through the process of evolution

9www.sws.uiuc.edu/nitro/biggraph.asp 104-2 GeosphereLithosphere Crust and upper mantle

CrustOutermost, thin silicate zone, eight elements make up 98.5% of the weight of the earths crust

The Earth contains several layers or concentric spheres114-2 Geosphere

MantleSurrounded by a thick, solid zone, largest zone, rich with iron, silicon, oxygen, and magnesium, very hotCoreInnermost zone, mostly iron, solid inner part, surrounded by a liquid core of molten materialInner Core is hotter than surface of the Sun

12Thin envelope of air around the planetTroposphereextends about 17 kilometers above sea level, contains nitrogen (78%), oxygen(21%), and is where weather occursStratosphere17-48 kilometers above sea level, lower portions contains enough ozone (O3) to filter out most of the suns ultraviolet radiation

4-2 Atmosphere13Consists of the earths liquid water, ice, and water vapor in the atmosphere

4-2 Hydrosphere14

What Sustains Life on Earth?Life on the earth depends on three interconnected factorsOne-way flow of high-quality energy from the sun Cycling of matter or nutrients (all atoms, ions, or molecules needed for survival by living organisms), through all parts of the ecosphereGravity, which allows the planet to hold onto its atmosphere and causes the downward movement of chemicals in the matter cycles

15SunFireball of hydrogen (72%) and helium (28%)Nuclear fusionSun has existed for 6 billion yearsSun will stay for another 6.5 billion yearsVisible light that reaches troposphere is the ultraviolet ray which is not absorbed in ozone

16Solar Energy72% of solar energy warms the lands0.023% of solar energy is captured by green plants and bacteriaPowers the cycling of matter and weather systemDistributes heat and fresh water

17www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/ climch/clichgr1.htm 18Type of NutrientsNutrient Any atom, ion, or molecule an organism needs to live grow or reproduceEx: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen etcMacronutrient nutrient that organisms need in large amountEx: phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, iron etcMicronutrient nutrient that organism need in small amountEx: zinc, sodium, copper etc19Biomes Large regions characterized by distinct climate, and specific life-formsClimate Long-term weather; main factor determining what type of life will be in a certain area.

20Ecosphere SeparationThe Ecosphere and its ecosystem can be separated into two partsAbiotic- nonliving, componentsEx: air, water, solar energyPhysical and chemical factors that influence living organismsBiotic- living, components Ex: plants and animals21Range of ToleranceVariations in its physical and chemical environmentDifferences in genetic makeup, health, and age.Ex: trout has to live in colder water than bass22Limiting FactorMore important than others in regulating population growthEx: water light, and soilLacking water in the desert can limit the growth of plants23Limiting Factor Principletoo much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit growth of population, even if all the other factors are at optimum (favorable) range of tolerance.Ex: If a farmer plants corn in phosphorus-poor soil, even if water, nitrogen are in a optimum levels, corn will stop growing, after it uses up available phosphorus.24Dissolved Oxygen ContentAmount of oxygen gas dissolved in a given volume of water at a particular temperature and pressure.Limiting factor of aquatic ecosystem

25Salinityamount of salt dissolved in given volume of water

26Living Organisms in EcosystemProducers or autotrophs- makes their own food from compound obtained from environment.Ex: plant gets energy or food from sun27Living Organisms in EcosystemPhotosynthesis- ability of producer to convert sunlight, abiotic nutrients to sugars and other complex organic compoundsChlorophyll- traps solar energy and converts into chemical energy2829Producer transmit 1-5% of absorbed energy into chemical energy, which is stored in complex carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acid in plant tissue30Chemosynthesis-Bacteria can convert simple compounds from their environment into more complex nutrient compound without sunlightEx: becomes consumed by tubeworms, clams, crabsBacteria can survive in great amount of heat

31Consumers or HeterotrophsObtain energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains

32ConsumersHerbivores (plant-eaters) or primary consumersFeed directly on producersDeer, goats, rabbits

http://www.holidays.net/easter/bunny1.htm 33ConsumersCarnivores (meat eater) or secondary consumersFeed only on primary consumerLion, Tiger

34ConsumersTertiary (higher-level) consumer Feed only on other carnivoresWolf

35ConsumersOmnivores- consumers that eat both plants and animalsEx: pigs, humans, bears

36ConsumersScavengers- feed on dead organismsVultures, flies, crows, shark

37ConsumersDetritivores- live off detritusDetritus parts of dead organisms and wastes of living organisms.Detritus feeders- extract nutrients from partly decomposed organic matter plant debris, and animal dung.

38ConsumersDecomposers - Fungi and bacteria break down and recycle organic materials from organisms wastes and from dead organisms Food sources for worms and insectsBiodegradable - can be broken down by decomposers

39RespirationAerobic Respiration Uses oxygen to convert organic nutrients back into carbon dioxide and waterGlucose + oxygen Carbon dioxide + water + energyAnaerobic Respiration or FermentationBreakdown of glucose in absence of oxygen

40Food ChainFood Chain-Series of organisms in which each eats or decomposes the preceding oneDecomposers complete the cycle of matter by breaking down organic waste, dead animal. Plant litter and garbage. Whether dead or alive organisms are potential (standard) sources of food for other organisms.

41Second Law of EnergyOrganisms need high quality chemical energy to move, grow and reproduce, and this energy is converted into low-quality heat that flows into environmentTrophic levels or feeding levels- Producer is a first trophic level, primary consumer is second trophic level, secondary consumer is third.Decomposers process detritus from all trophic levels.42Food WebComplex network of interconnected food chainsFood web and chains One-way flow of energyCycling of nutrients through ecosystem

43Food WebsGrazing Food WebsEnergy and nutrients move from plants to herbivoresThen through an array of carnivoresEventually to decomposers

(100,000 Units of Energy)44Food WebsGrazing Food WebsEnergy and nutrients move from plants to herbivoresThen through an array of carnivoresEventually to decomposers(1,000 Units of Energy)

45Food WebsGrazing Food WebsEnergy and nutrients move from plants to herbivoresThen through an array of carnivoresEventually to decomposers(100 Units of Energy)

46Food WebsGrazing Food WebsEnergy and nutrients move from plants to herbivoresThen through an array of carnivoresEventually to decomposers(10 Units of Energy)

47Food WebsGrazing Food WebsEnergy and nutrients move from plants to herbivoresThen through an array of carnivoresEventually to decomposers(1 Units of Energy)

48Food WebsDetrital Food WebsOrganic waste material or detritus is the major food sourceEnergy flows mainly from producers (plants) to decomposers and detritivores.

49Pyramid of Energy FlowMore steps or trophic levels in food chain or web, greater loss of usable energy as energy flows through trophic levelsMore trophic levels the Chains or Webs have more energy is consumed after each one. Thats why food chains and webs rarely have more than 4 steps50Pyramid of Energy FlowLoss of usable energy as energy flows through trophic levels of food chains and webs Rarely have more than 4 steps

51BiomassDry weight of all organic matter contained in organisms.Biomass is measured in dry weight Water is not source of energy or nutrient Biomass of first trophic levels is dry mass of all producersUseable energy transferred as biomass varies from 5%-20% (10% standard)52Pyramid of BiomassStorage of biomass at various trophic levels of ecosystem

53Pyramid of NumbersNumber of organisms at each trophic level

54http://www.nicksnowden.net/Module_3_pages/ecosystems_energy_flows.htm Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)Rate in which producers convert solar energy into chemical energy (biomass) in a given amount of time

56Net Primary Productivity (NPP)Rate in which energy for use by consumers is stored in new biomass of plantsMeasured in kilocalories per square meter per year or grams in biomassNPP is the limit determining the planets carrying capacity for all species.59% of NPP occurs in land / 41% occurs in ocean57Ecological EfficiencyPercentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to another.10% ecological efficiency 1,000,000 units of energy from sun10,000 units available for green plants (photosynthesis)1000 units for herbivores100 units for primary carnivores10 units for secondary carnivores58Studying EcosystemsFIELD RESEARCHGoing into nature and observing/measuring the structure of ecosystemsMajority of what we know now comes from this typeDisadvantage is that it is expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to carry out experiments due to many variablesLABORATORY RESEARCHSet up, observation, and measurement of model ecosystems under laboratory conditions Conditions can easily be controlled and are quick and cheapDisadvantage is that it is never certain whether or not result in a laboratory will be the same as a result in a complex, natural ecosystemSYSTEMS ANALYSISSimulation of ecosystem rather than study real ecosystemHelps understand large and very complicated systems59Ecosystem ImportanceEcosystem services are the natural services or earth capital that support life on the earth Essential to the quality of human life and to the functioning of the worlds economies60Ecosystem ImportanceEcosystem services include: Controlling and moderating climateProviding and renewing air, water, soilRecycling vital nutrients through chemical cyclingProviding renewable and nonrenewable energy sources and nonrenewable mineralsFurnishing people with food, fiber, medicines, timber, and paper61Ecosystem ImportanceEcosystem services includePollinating crops and other plant speciesAbsorbing, diluting, and detoxifying many pollutants and toxic chemicalsHelping control populations of pests and disease organismsSlowing erosion and preventing floodingProviding biodiversity of genes and species62Why Is Biodiversity So Important? Food, wood, fibers, energy, raw materials, industrial chemicals, medicines, Provides for billions of dollars in the global economyProvides recycling, purification, and natural pest controlRepresents the millions of years of adaptation, and is raw material for future adaptations

63Two Principles of Ecosystem SustainabilityUse renewable solar energy as energy sourceEfficiently recycle nutrients organisms need for survival, growth, and reproduction

64Nutrient Cycles and Soils65Matter Cycling in EcosystemsNutrient or Biogeochemical CyclesNatural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms in a cyclic manner from the nonliving environment to living organisms and back again66Nutrient Cycles (Closed System) Energy Flow (Open System)WaterCarbonNitrogenPhosphorus

SulfurRockSoilEnergy Flow

67Biogeochemical Cycle LocationsHydrosphereWater in the form of ice, liquid, and vaporOperates local, regional, and global levelsAtmosphericLarge portion of a given element (i.e. Nitrogen gas) exists in gaseous form in the atmosphereOperates local, regional, and global levelsSedimentaryThe element does not have a gaseous phase or its gaseous compounds dont make up a significant portion of its supplyOperates local and regional basis68Nutrient Cycling & Ecosystem Sustainability Natural ecosystems tend to balanceNutrients are recycled with reasonable efficiencyHumans are accelerating rates of flow of materNutrient loss from soilsDoubling of normal flow of nitrogen in the nitrogen cycle is a contributes to global warming, ozone depletion, air pollution, and loss of biodiversityIsolated ecosystems are being influenced by human activities69