Environmental Science Chapter 3 Notes #3. Energy Flow in Ecosystems Producer /Consumer Almost all organisms get their energy from the sun Herbivore

Environmental Environmental ScienceScienceChapter 3Chapter 3

Notes #3Notes #3

Energy Flow in EcosystemsEnergy Flow in Ecosystems

ProducerProducer /C /Consumeronsumer Almost all organisms get their energy from the sunAlmost all organisms get their energy from the sun

Herbivore/ Carnivore/ Omnivores/ DecomposersHerbivore/ Carnivore/ Omnivores/ Decomposers

photosynthesisphotosynthesis 6CO6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + light energy O + light energy C C66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22

Cellular respirationCellular respiration CC66HH1212OO66 + 6O + 6O22 6CO 6CO22 + 6H + 6H22O + energyO + energy

Food ChainFood Chain Food WebFood Web Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

The Cycling of MaterialsThe Cycling of Materials

There are 3 main cycles that allow There are 3 main cycles that allow for the reuse of materialsfor the reuse of materials

The Water CycleThe Water Cycle The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle The Nitrogen CycleThe Nitrogen Cycle

How Ecosystems ChangeHow Ecosystems Change Ecological SuccessionEcological Succession – a regular pattern – a regular pattern

of changes over time in the types of of changes over time in the types of species in a communityspecies in a community

(Can take 1000’s of years)(Can take 1000’s of years) Cause of succession?Cause of succession?

Ex. Pine trees create shade – however – Ex. Pine trees create shade – however – can’t grow in the shade – but oak and can’t grow in the shade – but oak and maple can, so they grow and replace the maple can, so they grow and replace the pine treespine trees

How Ecosystems ChangeHow Ecosystems Change

Climax CommunityClimax Community – the community that – the community that eventually forms if left undisturbedeventually forms if left undisturbed

ex. Maple forest remains a maple forest if ex. Maple forest remains a maple forest if no serious disturbances occurno serious disturbances occur

PioneersPioneers grow in (the 1st organisms to grow in (the 1st organisms to colonize in newly available area and start colonize in newly available area and start the process of succession. the process of succession.


Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession – when a new – when a new ecosystem occurs where there had been ecosystem occurs where there had been anotheranother

Ex. After Mt. St. Helens erupted, it left Ex. After Mt. St. Helens erupted, it left nothing, now there is regenerationnothing, now there is regeneration

Ex. Ex. Old Field successionOld Field succession – when farmland is – when farmland is abandoned abandoned



Fire maintained communities – Fire maintained communities – Natural fires are left to burn…why?Natural fires are left to burn…why? Clears out old dead brushClears out old dead brush Allows for new plants to growAllows for new plants to grow


Primary Succession Primary Succession Succession that occurs on surfaces Succession that occurs on surfaces

where no ecosystem existed beforewhere no ecosystem existed before Ex. An island created by a volcanoEx. An island created by a volcano Area where an exposed glacier retreatsArea where an exposed glacier retreats

Slower than secondary- begins where Slower than secondary- begins where there’s no soilthere’s no soil


Ex. If glacier retreats and leaves rock Ex. If glacier retreats and leaves rock behindbehind Lichens and bacteria move in (don’t need Lichens and bacteria move in (don’t need

soil)soil) Fungus + alga with a mutualistic Fungus + alga with a mutualistic

relationshiprelationship The alga photosynthesizes & the fungus The alga photosynthesizes & the fungus

absorbs nutrients from the rocksabsorbs nutrients from the rocks Together they break down the rockTogether they break down the rock


Water freezes and thaws in cracks, breaking it Water freezes and thaws in cracks, breaking it down even furtherdown even further

Soil accumulates as dust particles & dead Soil accumulates as dust particles & dead remains of lichen and bacteriaremains of lichen and bacteria

Moss gains hold, dies and adds to the soilMoss gains hold, dies and adds to the soil Fertile soil is formed, seeds of small plants Fertile soil is formed, seeds of small plants

growgrow After that it is similar to secondary successionAfter that it is similar to secondary succession

AssignmentsAssignments

Food Chain/Food Web/ Energy Pyramid Food Chain/Food Web/ Energy Pyramid are due Tomorrow!! Anything unfinished are due Tomorrow!! Anything unfinished is homework.is homework.

Transparency Worksheets 6-8 are due Transparency Worksheets 6-8 are due today! today!

Transparency Worksheet 9/ Yellowstone Transparency Worksheet 9/ Yellowstone Case Study are due tomorrow. Case Study are due tomorrow.

Documents

Environmental Science Chapter 3 Notes #3. Energy Flow in Ecosystems Producer /Consumer Almost all organisms get their energy from the sun Herbivore