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Interdependence of Life: Ecosystems By Deanne Erdmann, MS BioEd Online Ecological Terminology Environment Ecology Biotic vs. Abiotic Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Ecosystems All members of a community, along with their physical and chemical environments Vary greatly in size Diversity promotes stability and productivity Dynamic Coral Reefs are a rich, diverse and productive ecosystems energy flow chemical cycling Change over time (succession) BioEd Online A coastal wetland on Lake Superior, Wisconsin. www.BioEdOnline.org Aquatic Ecosystems Freshwater Flowing Water Lakes Wetlands Estuaries Oceans Intertidal or littoral Coastal or neritic Coral Reefs Open Ocean Benthic BioEd Online Snake River with Grand Tetons in background Mountain Lake in Grand Teton National Park www.BioEdOnline.org Primary Production The conversion of light energy to chemical energy is called “gross primary production.” (photosynthesis) Plants use the energy captured in photosynthesis for maintenance and growth. The energy that is accumulated in plant biomass is called “net primary production.” BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Energy Flow in Ecosystems Producers (Autotrophs) and Consumers (Heterotrophs) Trophic Levels Ecological Pyramids of Energy Ecological Pyramids of Biomass Ecological Pyramids of Numbers BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Ecological Pyramids of Energy BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Ecological Pyramids of Biomass BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Biogeochemical Cycles Cycling of materials between the environment and organisms Chemical and biological processes Examples Water cycle Nitrogen cycle Phosphorus cycle Carbon cycle BioEd Online Plants obtain nitrogen from nitrogen-fixing bacteria and pass it to other organisms through the food chain www.BioEdOnline.org Water Cycle BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Nitrogen Cycle BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org Carbon Cycle BioEd Online www.BioEdOnline.org