Ecology: Ecosystems
Energy Flow
Water and Nutrient Cycling
Ecosystem Resources
Energy: one way flow
from sun to organisms
and loss as heat
(yellow, red arrows)
Nutrients: move in cycles
involving organisms and
the environment
(purple arrows)
Producers Capture the Sun’s Energy
and Accumulate Inorganic Nutrients
Energy Transfer and Loss
Heat
Secondary
Consumer
Primary
Consumer
Producer
Heat
Chemicals
Heat
Detritus
Feeders
Consumers Gain Energy as Organic
Molecules from Producers
Herbivore
Eats
Producers
Food
Chains
Carnivore
Eats
Primary
Consumers
Carnivore
Eats
Secondary
Consumers
3
2
4
4
2
2
2
2
3
1
3
2
1
4
2
•Shows
interconnected
food chains
•Trophic Levels
3
3
Food Web
1) producer
2) primary consumer
2
3) secondary consumer
3
4) tertiary consumer
Efficiency of Energy Transfer
~10% of calories to next trophic level
Concentration of Contaminants at
Higher Levels of Food Chains
0.005 ppm DDT
0.00003 ppm DDT
0.01 ppm DDT
10 ppm DDT
Detritus Feeders and Decomposers
Release Nutrients for Reuse
detritus feeders
and decomposers
Animals and
Protists that feed
on plant and animal
remains
Fungi and Bacteria
that break down
decaying material
Applying Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Producer
Which level best represents:
A. a palm tree?
B. a bird eating seeds?
C. a student consuming a beefsteak?
Animal cells
produce
proteins and
nucleic acids
The Nitrogen Cycle
Plants and animals die
and begin to decay
Ammonification
Plants are eaten
by animals
Ammonium is
converted
to nucleic acids
and proteins
Soil bacteria release
nitrogen from
decaying matter
Nitrification
Assimilation
Nitrate is taken up by
plants and converted
to ammonium
Ammonia is
converted
to nitrites or
nitrates
Denitrification
Nitrogen
Fixation
N2 gas becomes
ammonia
or ammonium
Nitrate is broken
down to produce
N2 gas
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen
Nitrogen in
in
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Reservoir
Reservoir
Producers
Uptake
Dentitrifying
by
bacteria
plants
Electrical storms
produce nitrate
Consumers
Wastes,
Dead bodies
Nitrogen-fixing
Soil bacteria and
detritus feeders bacteria in
legume roots
Ammonia
and soil
& nitrate
Reservoirs
Processes/
Locations
Trophic
Levels/
Organisms
The Carbon Cycle
CO22 in
atmosphere
(reservoir)
Burning of
Fire
CO2 dissolved
fossil fuels
Respiration
in ocean
(reservoir)
Reservoirs
Processes/
Locations
Photosynthesis
Consumers
Producers
Wastes,
SoilDead
bacteria
&
bodies
detritus feeders
Trophic
Levels/
Organisms
Global Warming Parallels CO2 Increases
Greenhouse Gases
Contribute to Global Warming
CFCs Contribute to the Formation of
a Hole in the Protective Ozone Layer
South America
Antarctica
The “hole”
Water vapor
in atmosphere
The
Water
Cycle
Evaporation
from landEvaporation
&
from
transpiration ocean
Alternates
Precipitation
from plants
between
Precipitation
over ocean
over land
Evaporation
and
Precipitation
Water in
ocean
Surface
Reservoirs
(reservoir)
runoff
Processes/
Groundwater
Locations
seepage
Water Carrying Industrial Pollutants
Can Become Acid Rain
Applying Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ammonification
Assimilation
Denitrification
Nitrification
Nitrogen Fixation
Which term describes:
A. uptake of nitrogen-containing
compounds by plants?
B. conversion of nitrogen gas to nitrates?
C. release of nitrogen gas from nitrates?
Applying Your Knowledge
1.
2.
3.
4.
Water Cycle
Food Chain
Nitrogen Cycle
Carbon Cycle
Which process is related to:
A. concentration of toxic minerals in
animal tissues?
B. global warming?
C. acid rain?