Ecosystems: Components,
Energy Flow, and Matter
CyclingChapter 4
Objective 4.1-4.3Describe the major
components of an ecosystem
What is Ecology? How organisms interact with one another and with
their nonliving environment Study of CONNECTIONS
What are Organisms?Eukaryotes Prokaryotes
Ecological Organization•Individual
•Species are groups of organisms that resemble one another
•Populations•Group of interacting individuals of the same species
•Communities•Populations of different species occupying the same place
•Ecosystems•Community interacting with one another and nonliving environment
•Biomes•Regions made up of ecosystems
•Biosphere•Zone of earth where life is found
Fig. 4-2 p. 66
Earth’s Life-Support Systems Atmosphere
Troposphere11 miles above sea level
Stratosphere11-30 miles
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
Sustaining Life on Earth
THE Source of Energy
Greenhouse Effect Not the same
thing as global warming!
Unreflected solar radiation degraded to infrared radiation
Greenhouse gases reduce heat flow back to space
What are some greenhouse gases?
Abiotic Components
Terrestrial EcosystemAquatic Life Zone
Nonliving, physical and chemical factors that influence organisms in land ecosystems and aquatic life zones
Law of Tolerance Presence of a species determined by abiotic factors
falling within the range of tolerance
Individuals in a population may have slightly different tolerance ranges because of genetic differences, health, age
Tolerance Limits
Limiting Factors
Terrestrial EcosystemAquatic Life Zone
Limiting Factor Principle: Too much OR too little of any abiotic factor can limit/prevent growth, even if all other factors are at or near optimum range
Biotic Components
Producers (autotrophs)
Living organisms in land ecosystems and aquatic life zones,producers or consumers
chemosynthesis
photosynthesis
Biotic ComponentsConsumer Examples
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
Scavenger
Biotic Components Detritivores: feed on parts of dead organisms, cast-
off fragments, and wastes of living organisms
Using Energy
Aerobic Respiration
Use oxygen to convert organic nutrients back into carbon dioxide and water
Anaerobic Respiration
Break down glucose without oxygen
End products vary
Biodiversity
Genetic Diversity
Species DiversityFunctional
Diversity
Biodiversity
Ecological Diversity
Ecotone
Objective 4.4-4.5Describe energy flow in
ecosystems
Trophic Levels
Food
Web
s
Human
Blue whale Sperm whale
Crabeater seal
Killerwhale Elephant
seal
Leopardseal
Adéliepenguins Petrel
Fish
Squid
Carnivorous plankton
Krill
Phytoplankton
Herbivorouszooplankton
Emperorpenguin
Biomass Each trophic level contains a certain amount of
organic matter which is transferred from one trophic level to another
Second Law of ThermodynamicsFirst Law of Thermodynamics
Ecological Efficiency
EnergyInput:
20,810 + 1,679,190
1,700,000 (100%)
Energy Output
Total Annual Energy Flow
Metabolic heat,export
Waste,remains
1,700,000kilocalories
Producers
Herbivores
Carnivores
Topcarnivores
Decomposers,detritivores
EnergyTransfers
20,810(1.2%)
Incoming solar energynot harnessed
1,679,190(98.8%)
4,245 3,368 13,197
720 383 2,265
90 21 272
5 16
Top carnivores
Carnivores
Herbivores
Producers
5,060
Decomposers/detritivores
20,810
3,368
383
21
Abandoned Field Ocean
Tertiary consumers
Secondary consumers
Primary consumers
Producers
Pyramid of Biomass
Pyramid of Numbers
Grassland(summer)
Temperate Forest(summer)
Producers
Primary consumers
Secondary consumers
Tertiary consumers
Primary ProductivityGross Primary Productivity
(GPP)
Primary ProductivityNet Primary Productivity (NPP)
1. Explain why food chains are typically short
2. Make an argument for vegetarianism based on the second law of thermodynamics