Ecosystems AP Bio
Observing Ecosystems
Ecosystems-The sums of all the organisms living within its boundaries and all the abiotic factors with which they interact.
Chemical Elements such as carbon and Nitrogen are cycled among abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem.
Photosynthetic organisms assimilate these elements in inorganic form from the air, soil, and water and incorporate them into their biomass, some of which is consumed by animals.
Both energy and matter are transformed in ecosystems throught photosynthesis.
Physical Laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems
First Law of Thermodynamics: States the energy can not be created or destroyed, but only transferred or transformed.
Second Law of Thermodynamics: States that every exchange of energy increases the entropy of the Universe, is that energy conversions cannot be completely efficient; some energy conversion cannot be completely efficient; some energy conversions cannot be completely efficient; some energy is always lost as heat
Law of Conservation of Mass: Matter, like energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Unlike energy chemical elements are continually recycled within ecosystems.
Inputs example: Most mineral nutrients- the essential elements that plants obtain from soil-enters as dust or as solutes dissolved in rainwater or leached from rock in the ground.
Output example: Gases return elements to the atmosphere, and the water carries materials away.
Energy, Mass, and Trophic Levels
The trophic level that ultimately supports all others consists of autotrophs, is also called the Primary Producers
Example of Primary Producer: Photosynthetic Organism
Herbivores which eat plants and other primary producers, are Primary Consumers
Example of Primary Consumers: Mice
Carnivores that eat herbivores are Secondary Consumers
Example of Secondary Consumers: Snakes
Carnivores that eat other carnivores are Tertiary Consumers
Example of Tertiary Consumers: Lions
Detritivores or
Ecosystems-The sums of all the organisms living within its boundaries and all the abiotic factors with which they interact.
Chemical Elements such as carbon and Nitrogen are cycled among abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem.
Photosynthetic organisms assimilate these elements in inorganic form from the air, soil, and water and incorporate them into their biomass, some of which is consumed by animals.
Both energy and matter are transformed in ecosystems throught photosynthesis.
Physical Laws govern energy flow and chemical cycling in ecosystems
First Law of Thermodynamics: States the energy can not be created or destroyed, but only transferred or transformed.
Second Law of Thermodynamics: States that every exchange of energy increases the entropy of the Universe, is that energy conversions cannot be completely efficient; some energy conversion cannot be completely efficient; some energy conversions cannot be completely efficient; some energy is always lost as heat
Law of Conservation of Mass: Matter, like energy cannot be created or destroyed.
Unlike energy chemical elements are continually recycled within ecosystems.
Inputs example: Most mineral nutrients- the essential elements that plants obtain from soil-enters as dust or as solutes dissolved in rainwater or leached from rock in the ground.
Output example: Gases return elements to the atmosphere, and the water carries materials away.
Energy, Mass, and Trophic Levels
The trophic level that ultimately supports all others consists of autotrophs, is also called the Primary Producers
Example of Primary Producer: Photosynthetic Organism
Herbivores which eat plants and other primary producers, are Primary Consumers
Example of Primary Consumers: Mice
Carnivores that eat herbivores are Secondary Consumers
Example of Secondary Consumers: Snakes
Carnivores that eat other carnivores are Tertiary Consumers
Example of Tertiary Consumers: Lions
Detritivores or