Ecosystems & Energy Flow (4.1-4.2)

Could we live on the Moon? On Mars? In this scene from “The Martian,” Matt Damon solves one major problem: how to grow food on Mars. What would we need to live in lives inhospitable places?

4.1

• Essential idea: The continued survival of living organisms including humans depends on sustainable communities.

4.1.U1 Species are groups of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring. AND 4.1.U7 A community is formed by populations of different species living together and interacting with each other. AND 4.1U8 A community forms an ecosystem by interacting with the abiotic environment.

Ecology The study of relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment

PopulationA group of organisms of the same

species living in the same area at the same time

EcosystemA community and its abiotic environment

non-living

CommunityA group of populations living and

interacting with each other in an area

HabitatThe environment in

which a species normally lives (the location of a

living organism)

SpeciesA group of organisms that can interbreed to

produce fertile offspring

http://stewartpet.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Dog-Breeds.jpghttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/13/hercules-liger-worlds-largest-cat-photos_n_3920158.html

OrganismOrganism

Population

Population

Community

Community

Ecosystem

Ecosystem

BiomeLevels of Organization

4.1.U2 Members of a species may be reproductively isolated in separate populations.

Harris’s antelope squirrel inhabits the canyon’s south rim (L). Just a few miles away on the north rim (R) lives the closely related white-tailed antelope squirrel

Harris’s antelope squirrel inhabits the canyon’s south rim (L). Just a few miles away on the north rim (R) lives the closely related white-tailed antelope squirrel

Populations may become isolated from each other• The may be separated geographically • Over time, they may evolve to look or behave

differently or sing a slightly different song• If those populations are reunited and do not

interbreed, then they are reproductively isolated

4.1.U3 Species have either an autotrophic or heterotrophic method of nutrition (a few species have both methods). AND 4.1.U4 Consumers are heterotrophs that feed on living organisms by ingestion.

Autotrophs Convert solar energy into organic molecules (food) and become the base of the food chain

4.1.U9 Autotrophs obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment

They obtain the nutrients they need from the abiotic environment – ex. Carbon & nitrogen

4.1.U5 Detritivores are heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion.

DetritivoreIngests non-living organic matter

Ingest first, then digest

Examples: • Earthworms ingest dead

matter• Larvae of dung beetles feed

by ingestion of feces rolled into a ball by their parent

https://youtu.be/uO4lkv-jLRs

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/dung_beetle.htm

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/dung-beetle/#dung-beetle_1_ball.jpg

Saprotrophs Live in or on non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes

into it and absorbing digestive products

Digest first, then absorb

Also known as decomposers because they break down carbon compounds in dead organic matter and return elements back into the ecosystem.

Examples: • Bacteria• Fungi

4.1.U6 Saprotrophs are heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion

https://pacificbiochar.com/fungi-feeding-on-biochar/

4.1.S1 Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores or saprotrophs from a knowledge of their mode of nutrition

4.1.S1 Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores or saprotrophs from a knowledge of their mode of nutrition

4.1.S1 Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores or saprotrophs from a knowledge of their mode of nutrition

4.1.S1 Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores or saprotrophs from a knowledge of their mode of nutrition

4.1.S1 Classifying species as autotrophs, consumers, detritivores or saprotrophs from a knowledge of their mode of nutrition

4.1.U10 The supply of inorganic nutrients is maintained by nutrient cycling.

Chemical elements are in limited supply on Earth

• Why do they not run out?They are recycled!

• Often it is not as simple as the element being incorporated into an organisms cells and then returned to the environment.

• It usually passes from the environment to an organism to another and then another before being returned to the ecosystem by decomposers.

4.1.U11 Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time.

Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time

Sustainability has become a hot topic because our use of some resources are unsustainable.

When something is used quicker than it is replaced then it is unsustainable. Example: Fossil fuels

3 requirements for sustainability in ecosystems:1. Nutrient availability2. Detoxification of waster products3. Energy availability

4.1.U11 Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time.

Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long periods of time

- Nutrients can be recycled indefinitely- Waste from one species can be exploited as a resource by

another- Example: Urine and feces contain nitrogen compounds

and farmers often put animal manure on fields to grow crops. Plants need nitrogen to form DNA and protein

- Energy cannot be recycled. Most energy is supplied by the sun.

Back to the picture on the first slide…How did Matt Damon get the plants to grow on Mars???