MILLER/SPOOLMAN 17 TH LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT. CHAPTER 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "MILLER/SPOOLMAN 17 TH LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT. CHAPTER 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?"

Sydney Short
6 years ago
Views:

1 MILLER/SPOOLMAN LIVING IN THE ENVIRONMENT 17 TH CHAPTER 3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

2 Core Case Study: Tropical Rain Forests Are Disappearing Cover about 2% of the earth s land surface Contain about 50% of the world s known plant and animal species Disruption will have three major harmful effects Reduce biodiversity Accelerate global warming Change regional weather patterns

3 Natural Capital Degradation: Satellite Image of the Loss of Tropical Rain Forest Fig. 3-1a, p. 54

4 3-1 What Keeps Us and Other Organisms Alive? Concept 3-1A The four major components of the earth s life-support system are the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), the geosphere (rock, soil, and sediment), and the biosphere (living things). Concept 3-1B Life is sustained by the flow of energy from the sun through the biosphere, the cycling of nutrients within the biosphere, and gravity.

5 The Earth s Life-Support System Has Four Major Components Atmosphere Troposphere: where weather happens Stratosphere: contains ozone layer Hydrosphere Geosphere Biosphere

6 Natural Capital: General Structure of the Earth Fig. 3-2, p. 56

7 Atmosphere Soil Rock Crust Biosphere (living organisms) Mantle Mantle Geosphere (crust, mantle, core) Core Atmosphere (air) Hydrosphere (water) Fig. 3-2, p. 56

8 The Diversity of Life Fig. 3-3a, p. 56

9 Three Factors Sustain Life on Earth One-way flow of high-quality energy: Sun plants living things environment as heat radiation to space Cycling of nutrients through parts of the biosphere Gravity holds earths atmosphere

10 Sun, Earth, Life, and Climate Sun: UV, visible, and IR energy Radiation Absorbed by ozone and other atmosphere gases Absorbed by the earth Reflected by the earth Radiated by the atmosphere as heat Natural greenhouse effect

11 Flow of Energy to and from the Earth Fig. 3-4, p. 57

12 Solar radiation UV radiation Most UV absorbed by ozone Absorbed by the earth Visible light Reflected by atmosphere Lower Stratosphere (ozone layer) Troposphere Heat added to troposphere Radiated by atmosphere as heat Heat radiated by the earth Greenhouse effect Fig. 3-4, p. 57

13 3-2 What Are the Major Components of an Ecosystem? Concept 3-2 Some organisms produce the nutrients they need, others get their nutrients by consuming other organisms, and some recycle nutrients back to producers by decomposing the wastes and remains of organisms.

14 Ecologists Study Interactions in Nature Ecology: how organisms interact with each other and their nonliving environment Organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere

15 Levels of Organization in Nature Fig. 3-5, p. 58

Biosphere Parts of the earth's air, water, and soil where life is found Ecosystem Community Population A community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving

16 Biosphere Parts of the earth's air, water, and soil where life is found Ecosystem Community Population A community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy Populations of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place Organism An individual living being Cell The fundamental structural and functional unit of life Molecule Atom Chemical combination of two or more atoms of the same or different elements Smallest unit of a chemical element that exhibits its chemical properties Fig. 3-5, p. 58

17 Ecosystems Have Living and Abiotic Water Air Nutrients Rocks Heat Solar energy Nonliving Components Biotic Living and once living

18 Ecosystem Fig. 3-6, p. 59

19 Precipitaton Oxygen (O 2 ) Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) Producer Secondary consumer (fox) Primary consumer (rabbit) Producers Water Decomposers Soluble mineral nutrients Fig. 3-6, p. 59

20 Producers and Consumers Are the Living Components of Ecosystems (1) Producers, autotrophs Photosynthesis: CO 2 + H 2 O + sunlight glucose + oxygen Chemosynthesis Consumers, heterotrophs Primary consumers = herbivores Secondary consumers Tertiary consumers Carnivores, Omnivores

21 Producers Fig. 3-7a, p. 59

22 Consumers Fig. 3-8a, p. 60

23 Producers and Consumers Are the Living Components of Ecosystems (2) Decomposers Consumers that release nutrients Bacteria Fungi Detritivores Feed on dead bodies of other organisms Earthworms Vultures

24 Decomposer Fig. 3-9a, p. 61

25 Detritivores and Decomposers Fig. 3-10, p. 61

26 Detritus feeders Decomposers Bark beetle Long-horned engraving beetle holes Carpenter Termite ant galleries and carpenter ant work Dry rot fungus Wood reduced to powder Fungi Time progression Powder broken down by decomposers into plant nutrients in soil Fig. 3-10, p. 61

27 Producers and Consumers Are the Living Components of Ecosystems (3) Aerobic respiration Using oxygen to turn glucose back to carbon dioxide and water Anaerobic respiration = fermentation End products are carbon compounds such as methane or acetic acid

28 Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling One-way energy flow from sun Nutrient cycling of key materials

29 Ecosystem Components Fig. 3-11, p. 62

30 Heat Chemical nutrients (carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, minerals) Solar energy Heat Heat Decomposers (bacteria, fungi) Producers (plants) Heat Consumers (plant eaters, meat eaters) Heat Fig. 3-11, p. 62

31 Science Focus: Many of the World s Most Important Species Are Invisible to Us Microorganisms Bacteria Protozoa Fungi

32 3-3 What Happens to Energy in an Ecosystem? Concept 3-3 As energy flows through ecosystems in food chains and webs, the amount of chemical energy available to organisms at each succeeding feeding level decreases.

33 Energy Flows Through Ecosystems in Food Chains and Food Webs Food chain Movement of energy and nutrients from one trophic level to the next Photosynthesis feeding decomposition Food web Network of interconnected food chains

34 A Food Chain Fig. 3-12, p. 63

First Trophic Level Second Trophic Level Third Trophic Level Fourth Trophic Level Producers (plants) Primary consumers (herbivores) Secondary

35 First Trophic Level Second Trophic Level Third Trophic Level Fourth Trophic Level Producers (plants) Primary consumers (herbivores) Secondary consumers (carnivores) Tertiary consumers (top carnivores) Heat Heat Heat Heat Solar energy Heat Heat Heat Decomposers and detritus feeders Fig. 3-12, p. 63

36 A Food Web Fig. 3-13, p. 64

37 Fig. 3-13, p. 64

38 Usable Energy Decreases with Each Link in a Food Chain or Web Biomass Dry weight of all organic matter of a given trophic level in a food chain or food web Decreases at each higher trophic level due to heat loss Pyramid of energy flow 90% of energy lost with each transfer Less chemical energy for higher trophic levels

39 Pyramid of Energy Flow Fig. 3-14, p. 65

40 Usable energy available at each trophic level (in kilocalories) Tertiary consumers (human) 10 Heat Heat Secondary consumers (perch) 100 Heat Decomposers Heat Primary consumers (zooplankton) 1,000 Heat Producers (phytoplankton) 10,000 Fig. 3-14, p. 65

41 Some Ecosystems Produce Plant Matter Faster Than Others Do Gross primary productivity (GPP) Rate at which an ecosystem s producers convert solar energy to chemical energy and biomass Kcal/m 2 /year Net primary productivity (NPP) Rate at which an ecosystem s producers convert solar energy to chemical energy, minus the rate at which producers use energy for aerobic respiration Ecosystems and life zones differ in their NPP

42 Estimated Annual Average NPP in Major Life Zones and Ecosystems Fig. 3-15, p. 66

Terrestrial Ecosystems Swamps and marshes Tropical rain forest Temperate forest Northern coniferous forest (taiga) Savanna Agricultural land Woodland and shrubland

43 Terrestrial Ecosystems Swamps and marshes Tropical rain forest Temperate forest Northern coniferous forest (taiga) Savanna Agricultural land Woodland and shrubland Temperate grassland Tundra (arctic and alpine) Desert scrub Extreme desert Aquatic Ecosystems Estuaries Lakes and streams Continental shelf Open ocean Fig. 3-15, p. 66

44 3-4 What Happens to Matter in an Ecosystem? Concept 3-4 Matter, in the form of nutrients, cycles within and among ecosystems and the biosphere, and human activities are altering these chemical cycles.

45 Nutrients Cycle in the Biosphere Biogeochemical cycles, nutrient cycles Hydrologic Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulfur Nutrients may remain in a reservoir for a period of time

46 Water Cycles through the Biosphere Natural renewal of water quality: three major processes Evaporation Precipitation Transpiration Alteration of the hydrologic cycle by humans Withdrawal of large amounts of freshwater at rates faster than nature can replace it Clearing vegetation Increased flooding when wetlands are drained

47 Hydrologic Cycle Including Harmful Impacts of Human Activities Fig. 3-16, p. 67

Condensation Condensation Ice and snow Precipitatio n to land Transpiration from plants Evaporation of surface water Evaporation from ocean Runoff Infiltration and percolation into aquifer Lakes and

48 Condensation Condensation Ice and snow Precipitatio n to land Transpiration from plants Evaporation of surface water Evaporation from ocean Runoff Infiltration and percolation into aquifer Lakes and reservoirs Increased runoff on land covered with crops, buildings and pavement Runoff Runoff Increased runoff from cutting forests and filling wetlands Precipitatio n to ocean Groundwater in aquifers Overpumping of aquifers Runoff Water pollution Ocean Natural process Natural reservoir Human impacts Natural pathway Pathway affected by human activities Fig. 3-16, p. 67

49 Glaciers Store Water Fig. 3-17, p. 68

50 Water Erodes Rock in Antelope Canyon Fig. 3-18, p. 69

51 Science Focus: Water s Unique Properties Properties of water due to hydrogen bonds between water molecules: Exists as a liquid over a large range of temperature Changes temperature slowly High boiling point: 100 C Adhesion and cohesion Expands as it freezes Solvent Filters out harmful UV

52 Hydrogen Bonds in Water Supplement 4, Fig 6

53 How Salt Dissolves in Water Supplement 4, Fig 3

54 Carbon Cycle Depends on Photosynthesis and Respiration Link between photosynthesis in producers and respiration in producers, consumers, and decomposers Additional CO 2 added to the atmosphere Tree clearing Burning of fossil fuels Warms the atmosphere

55 Natural Capital: Carbon Cycle with Major Harmful Impacts of Human Activities Fig. 3-19, p. 70

Carbon dioxide in atmosphere Respiration Photosynthesis Diffusion Forest fires Animals (consumers) Burning fossil fuels Deforestation Plants (producers) Carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean

56 Carbon dioxide in atmosphere Respiration Photosynthesis Diffusion Forest fires Animals (consumers) Burning fossil fuels Deforestation Plants (producers) Carbon dioxide dissolved in ocean Transportation Marine food webs Producers, consumers, decomposers Respiration Carbon in animals (consumers) Carbon in plants (producers) Decomposition Carbon in fossil fuels Process Reservoir Carbon in limestone or dolomite sediments Pathway affected by humans Natural pathway Compaction Fig. 3-19, p. 70

57 Increase in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, Supplement 9, Fig 14

58 Nitrogen Cycles through the Biosphere: Bacteria in Action (1) Nitrogen fixed by lightning Nitrogen fixed by bacteria and cyanobacteria Combine gaseous nitrogen with hydrogen to make ammonia (NH 3 ) and ammonium ions (NH 4+ ) Nitrification Soil bacteria change ammonia and ammonium ions to nitrate ions (NO 3- ) Denitrification Nitrate ions back to nitrogen gas

59 Nitrogen Cycles through the Biosphere: Bacteria in Action (2) Human intervention in the nitrogen cycle 1. Additional NO and N 2 O in atmosphere from burning fossil fuels; also causes acid rain 2. N 2 O to atmosphere from bacteria acting on fertilizers and manure 3. Destruction of forest, grasslands, and wetlands 4. Add excess nitrates to bodies of water 5. Remove nitrogen from topsoil

60 Nitrogen Cycle in a Terrestrial Ecosystem with Major Harmful Human Impacts Fig. 3-20, p. 71

61 Process Reservoir Pathway affected by humans Natural pathway Nitrogen oxides from burning fuel and using inorganic fertilizers Nitrogen in atmosphere Electrical storms Volcanic activity Denitrification by bacteria Nitrification by bacteria Nitrogen in animals (consumers) Nitrogen in plants (producers) Nitrates from fertilizer runoff and decomposition Decomposition Uptake by plants Nitrate in soil Nitrogen loss to deep ocean sediments Nitrogen in ocean sediments Ammonia in soil Bacteria Fig. 3-20, p. 71

62 Human Input of Nitrogen into the Environment Supplement 9, Fig 16

63 Phosphorus Cycles through the Biosphere Cycles through water, the earth s crust, and living organisms Limiting factor for plant growth Impact of human activities 1. Clearing forests 2. Removing large amounts of phosphate from the earth to make fertilizers 3. Erosion leaches phosphates into streams

64 Impacts Fig. 3-21, p. 73

Process Reservoir Pathway affected by humans Natural pathway Phosphates in mining waste Phosphates in sewage Runoff Phosphates in fertilizer Runoff Plate tectonics Animals (consumers) Plants

65 Process Reservoir Pathway affected by humans Natural pathway Phosphates in mining waste Phosphates in sewage Runoff Phosphates in fertilizer Runoff Plate tectonics Animals (consumers) Plants (producers) Runoff Phosphate dissolved in water Erosion Phosphate in rock (fossil bones, guano) Phosphate in shallow ocean sediments Sea birds Ocean food webs Phosphate in deep ocean sediments Bacteria Fig. 3-21, p. 73

66 Sulfur Cycles through the Biosphere Sulfur found in organisms, ocean sediments, soil, rocks, and fossil fuels SO 2 in the atmosphere H 2 SO 4 and SO 4 - Human activities affect the sulfur cycle Burn sulfur-containing coal and oil Refine sulfur-containing petroleum Convert sulfur-containing metallic mineral ores

67 Natural Capital: Sulfur Cycle with Major Harmful Impacts of Human Activities Fig. 3-22, p. 74

68 Sulfur dioxide in atmosphere Dimethyl sulfide a bacteria byproduct Smelting Burning coal Refining fossil fuels Sulfur in animals (consumers) Sulfuric acid and Sulfate deposited as acid rain Sulfur in ocean sediments Mining and extraction Decay Sulfur in plants (producers) Decay Uptake by plants Process Reservoir Pathway affected by humans Natural pathway Sulfur in soil, rock and fossil fuels Fig. 3-22, p. 74

69 3-5 How Do Scientists Study Ecosystems? Concept 3-5 Scientists use both field research and laboratory research, as well as mathematical and other models to learn about ecosystems.

70 Some Scientists Study Nature Directly Field research: muddy-boots biology New technologies available Remote sensors Geographic information system (GIS) software Digital satellite imaging 2005, Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS)

71 Science Focus: Satellites, Google Earth, and the Environment Satellites as remote sensing devices Google Earth software allows you to view anywhere on earth, including 3-D Satellites can collect data from anywhere in the world

72 Google Earth Images: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Fig. 3-A (3), p. 76

73 Jeddah Fig. 3-A (3), p. 76

74 Some Scientists Study Ecosystems in the Laboratory Simplified systems carried out in Culture tubes and bottles Aquaria tanks Greenhouses Indoor and outdoor chambers Supported by field research

75 Some Scientists Use Models to Simulate Ecosystems Mathematical and other models Computer simulations and projections Field and laboratory research needed for baseline data

76 We Need to Learn More about the Health of the World s Ecosystems Determine condition of the world s ecosystems More baseline data needed

77 Three Big Ideas 1. Life is sustained by the flow of energy from the sun through the biosphere, the cycling of nutrients within the biosphere, and gravity. 2. Some organisms produce the nutrients they need, others survive by consuming other organisms, and some recycle nutrients back to producer organisms. 3. Human activities are altering the flow of energy through food chains and webs and the cycling of nutrients within ecosystems and the biosphere.

Chapter 3 Ecosystem Ecology. Tuesday, September 19, 17

Chapter 3 Ecosystem Ecology. Tuesday, September 19, 17 Chapter 3 Ecosystem Ecology Reversing Deforestation in Haiti Answers the following: Why is deforestation in Haiti so common? What the negative impacts of deforestation? Name three actions intended counteract