48.1 The Nature of Ecosystems
Biosphere - the part of the atmosphere
that contains living things
Ecosystem - all the organisms in an environment (community) plus the nonliving
physical factors (temperature, soil.etc)
Biotic Components of an Ecoystem (living thing)
Autotrophs = Producers - the producers
of food, usually plants, they create organic nutrients using an outside energy
source (photosynthesis)
Heterotrophs = Consumers - gain their energy by feeding on other organisms
Carnivores
Omnivores
Herbivores
Detritivores (decomposers)
48.2 Energy Flow - energy flows through an ecosystem starting from the sun, then to the producers and consumers. At each level, some of the energy is lost as heat (Laws of Thermodynamics)
Food Webs (& Food Chains)
Plants --> Caterpillars --> Sparrows --> Hawks
Food Webs show more connections among members in a community
Trophic levels - the level of nourishment within a chain or a web, there should be fewer organisms as you go up each level
This leads to Ecological Pyramids
Pyramid of Numbers | Pyramid of Biomass
48.3 Biogeochemical Cycles
Graphic Carbon Cycle Carbon Cycle Phosphorous Cycle Phosphorous Cycle Water Cycle Water Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle
Environmental Issues
Greenhouse Effect ---> Global
Warming
Biological Magnification (DDT)
Acid Deposition (acid rain)
Eutrophication (algal blooms in lakes)
Ozone Depletion
