functions of ecosystem

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES: 

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Review Items Ecosystem Structure: 

Review Items Ecosystem Structure

PowerPoint Presentation: 

The Law of Conservation of Matter Matter cannot be created nor destroyed Matter only changes form There is no “away”

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Laws Governing Energy Changes Energy is neither created nor destroyed Energy only changes form You can’t get something for nothing First Law of Thermodynamics (Energy) ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Laws Governing Energy Changes Second Law of Thermodynamics In every transformation, some energy is converted to heat (lower quality) You cannot break even in terms of energy quality

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Connections: Matter and Energy Laws and Environmental Problems High-throughput (waste) economy Matter-recycling economy Low-throughput economy

ECOSYSTEM: 

ECOSYSTEM STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS FUNCTIONAL COMPONENTS

The Biotic Components of Ecosystems: 

The Biotic Components of Ecosystems Producers (autotrophs) - Photosynthesis Consumers (heterotrophs) - Aerobic respiration Decomposers

Consumers: 

Consumers Primary, secondary, tertiary, etc. Herbivore - plant eater Carnivore - meat eater Omnivore - mixed plant/animal diet

The Abiotic Components of Ecosystems: 

The Abiotic Components of Ecosystems 1) Outside energy source 2) Physical factors that determine weather, climate 3) Chemicals essential for life

Outside Energy Source: 

Outside Energy Source Powers photosynthesis Warms earth Powers water cycle

Physical factors that determine weather, climate: 

Physical factors that determine weather, climate Heat Wind Precipitation Topography

Heat: 

Heat Location Reflection Retention

Wind and Precipitation: 

Wind and Precipitation Uneven heating Ascending, descending air masses

Modifiers: 

Modifiers Rotation of the globe Geologic features

Rain Shadows: 

Rain Shadows

Lake-effect Precipitation: 

Lake-effect Precipitation

Chemicals Essential for Life: 

Chemicals Essential for Life Elements and compounds Recycled between biotic and abiotic parts

Limiting Factor Principle: 

Limiting Factor Principle Too much or too little of any biotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, even if all other factors are optimal for that population. Single factor most over-abundant or deficient in an ecosystem determines presence/absence of specific plants/animals.

Ecosystem Concepts and Components: 

Ecosystem Concepts and Components Biomes Role of climate Aquatic life zones

Biomes - terrestrial ecosystems: 

Biomes - terrestrial ecosystems

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral) Temperate grassland Temperate deciduous forest Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen coniferous forest (e.g., montane coniferous forest) Arctic tundra (polar grasslands) Tropical savanna, thorn forest Tropical scrub forest Tropical deciduous forest Tropical rain forest, tropical evergreen forest Desert Ice Mountains (complex zonation) Semidesert, arid grassland Tropic of Capricorn Equator Tropic of Cancer

Biomes: 

Biomes Determined primarily by precipitation Forests (> 75 cm rain per year) Grasslands (30-75 cm rain per year) Deserts (< 30 cm rain per year)

Biomes: 

Biomes Determined secondarily by temperature Type of forest, grassland, or desert determined by average annual temperature

Aquatic ecosystems: 

Aquatic ecosystems Determined by salinity Marine Estuary Freshwater Type determined by: depth, nearness to shore, size, water movement

Ecosystem Function: 

Ecosystem Function One-way flow of energy Cycling of matter

Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems: 

Matter and Energy Flow in Ecosystems Food chains Food webs Trophic levels

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Producer to primary consumer Primary to secondary consumer Secondary to higher-level consumer All producers and consumers to decomposers Fungi Gambel's quail Red-tailed hawk Collared lizard Jack rabbit Yucca Kangaroo rat Kangaroo rat Agave Agave Roadrunner Roadrunner Diamondback rattlesnake Diamondback rattlesnake Darkling beetle Darkling beetle Bacteria Bacteria Prickly pear cactus Prickly pear cactus

Ecological Pyramids: 

Ecological Pyramids Pyramid of energy flow Ecological efficiency (10%) Pyramid of biomass Pyramid of numbers

Energy Productivity of Ecosystems: 

Energy Productivity of Ecosystems Primary productivity Secondary productivity Energy stored/area/time

Matter Cycling in Ecosystems: 

Matter Cycling in Ecosystems Biogeochemical or nutrient cycles Hydrologic cycle (H 2 O) Atmospheric or gaseous cycles (C, N) Sedimentary cycles (P, S)

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle: 

Hydrologic (Water) Cycle Driven by physical forces

The Carbon Cycle: 

The Carbon Cycle Driven by biological forces: photosynthesis and respiration

The Nitrogen Cycle: 

The Nitrogen Cycle Driven by biological forces: bacteria Root nodules on legumes Cyanobacteria

The Phosphorus Cycle: 

The Phosphorus Cycle Driven by physical forces

Community Change: 

Community Change Ecological succession - gradual replacement of one kind of community of organisms by another over time Initiated by disturbance

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1: 

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1 Primary succession - begins with barren area, no soil

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1: 

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1 Slow soil development by weathering, activities of tolerant species - pioneer species

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1: 

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #1 Gradual changeover to less tolerant species over long periods of time - equilibrium or successional species

Primary Succession: 

Primary Succession

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2: 

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2 Secondary succession - begins with soil already in place

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2: 

Ecological Succession: Communities in Transition - Type #2 Rapid changeover to less tolerant species over shorter periods of time - rapid because soil already present

Secondary Succession: 

Secondary Succession

Succession and Wildlife: 

Succession and Wildlife

The End Product: 

The End Product If undisturbed, communities change toward a relatively stable stage - climax community - long-term presence if not disturbed - dominated by less-tolerant species - general equilibrium

THANK YOU: 

THANK YOU KARTEEK tnh