Download Ecosystems - Environmental

Ecosystems: Components, Energy
Flow, and Matter Cycling
G. Tyler Miller’s
Living in the Environment
13th Edition
MATES
Chapter 4
SPRAGUE ENV MATES
Key Concepts
Basic ecological principles
Major components of ecosystems
Matter cycles and energy flow
Ecosystem studies
Ecological services
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The Nature of Ecology
Ecosystem organization
Organisms; any form of life
Populations
Same species living in the same area
Communities

Population of all species in an area
Ecosystems

Interaction of all abiotic and biotic in an area
4-2 p. 66
Biosphere zone where lifeFig.
is found
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The Earth’s Life-Support Systems
Troposphere
 Inner layer of Atmosphere
 11 mile s most of the air
Stratosphere
 11-30 miles Ozone
Hydrosphere
 Water surface ground
Lithosphere
 Crust upper mantle
Biosphere
 Living environment
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Fig. 4-6 p. 68
Sustaining Life of Earth
One-way flow
of energy
 Low quality energy lost
as heat
Cycling of
matter
 Earth is fixed from space
molecules, ions, atoms
recycled
Fig. 4-7 p. 69
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The Source of Energy
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
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Fig. 4-8 p. 69
Ecosystem Concepts and Components
 Biomes
 Classified by
climate
 Role of
climate
 Aquatic
life zones
 Freshwater
 Saltwater
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Fig. 4-9 p. 70
Ecosystem Boundaries: Ecotones
Edge effect
One Ecosystem
merges with
another
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Fig. 4-10 p. 71
Principles of Ecological Factors
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
Law of tolerance
 Range of tolerance of species
 High tolerance to some low to others
Limiting factors
 Ex. Water
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Fig. 4-14 p. 73; Refer to Fig. 4-13 p. 73
The Biotic Components of
Ecosystems
 Producers
(autotrophs)
 Photosynthesis
 Consumers
(heterotrophs)
 Aerobic
respiration
 Decomposers
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Fig. 4-16 p. 75
Trophic Levels
Primary consumer (herbivore)
Secondary consumer (carnivore)
Tertiary consumer
Omnivore
Detritivores and scavengers
Decomposers
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Biodiversity
Genetic diversity
 Variety of genetic material within a population
 Why is this important?
Species diversity
 Number of species present in a habitat
Ecological diversity
 Variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
Functional diversity
 The energy flow and matter cycling
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Connections: Food Webs and Energy
Flow in Ecosystems
Food chains
Food webs
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Fig. 4-18 p. 77; Refer to Fig. 4-19 p. 78
Ecological Pyramids
 Pyramid of
energy flow
Fig. 4-20 p. 79
 Ecological
efficiency
 Pyramid of
biomass
 Pyramid of
numbers
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Primary Productivity of Ecosystems
Gross primary productivity (GPP)
 Rate at which primary producers convert solar to biomass
Net primary productivity (NPP)

Stored energy minus the rate at which they use
Fig. 4-25 p. 81
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Connections: Matter Cycling in
Ecosystems
Biogeochemical cycles
Hydrologic cycle (H2O)
Atmospheric cycles (C, N)
Sedimentary cycles (P, S)
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Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
Fig. 4-27 p. 83
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The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
Photosynthesis/ cellular Respiration
Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85
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The Carbon Cycle (Aquatic)
Fig. 4-28 p. 84-85
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The Nitrogen Cycle
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Fig. 4-29 p. 86
The Phosphorus Cycle Sulfate salts Oceans
Fig. 4-30 p. 88
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The Sulfur
Cycle
-Stored in salts buried under
ocean
-Enters Atmosphere
Hydrogen Sulfide “What
Smells?”
-Algae produce Dimethyl
Sulfide “Nuclei for Clouds”
-Sulfur Dioxide to Sulfur
Trioxide to Sulfuric Acid
- Bacteria Anaerobic Sulfate
to Sulfide and th cycle
continues
Fig. 4-31 p. 89
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How Do Ecologists Learn About
Ecosystems?
Field research
Remote sensing
Geographic information systems (GIS)
Laboratory research
Systems analysis
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GIS and Systems Analysis
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Fig. 4-32 p. 91
Fig. 4-33 p. 91
Ecosystem Services
and Sustainability
Fig. 4-34 p. 92
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