3-2 Major Components of an Ecosystem

Concept To Understand

Some organisms produce the nutrients they need, others get the nutrients they need by consuming other organisms, and some recycle nutrients back to producers by decomposing the wastes and remains of organisms.

Smallest unit of a chemical element that exhibits its chemical properties

Atom

Molecule Chemical combination of two or more atoms of the same or different elements

CellThe fundamental structural and functional unit of life

OrganismAn individual living being

Population A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

CommunityPopulations of different species living in a particular place, and potentially interacting with each other

Stepped Art

Ecosystem A community of different species interacting with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy

Biosphere Parts of the earth's air,water, and soil where life is found

Fig. 3-4, p. 42

Living and Nonliving Components

Abiotic › Water› Air› Nutrients› Solar energy› Rocks› Heat

Biotic› Plants› Animals› Microbes› Dead

organisms› Waste products

of dead organisms

Soluble mineralnutrients

Producers

Decomposers

Secondaryconsumer(fox)

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Primaryconsumer(rabbit)

Producer

Oxygen (O2)Precipitation

Water

Fig. 3-5, p. 43

Trophic Levels Producers – (autotrophs) - Make their own

food (photosynthesis) › Examples: plants, algae, phytoplankton

Trophic Levels Consumers – (heterotrophs)- Get food by

eating other organisms Primary – eats producer or plants only

› Called a Herbivore› Examples: deer, cow, caterpillar

Secondary – eats primary consumer, or other animals.› Called a Carnivore› Examples: spiders, robins, tuna

Tertiary – eats a 2nd consumer› Examples: tigers, hawks, killer whales

Types of Heterotrophs Already know Herbivore and

Carnivore. Omnivores – eat plants and animals

› Ex: people, pigs, bears

Types of Heterotrophs Detrivores -Feed on the waste or dead

bodies of organisms› Examples: earthworms, some insects, vultures

Decomposers - Consumers that release nutrients from the dead bodies of plants and animals› Examples: bacteria and fungi (mushrooms)› Help release nutrients so that they can be

recycled› Without them the planet would be overwhelmed

by dead bodies, waste and plant litter

Types of Heterotrophs Decomposers - Consumers that

release nutrients from the dead bodies of plants and animals› Examples: bacteria and fungi (mushrooms)

Benefits of Decomposers Help release nutrients so that they can be

recycled Without them the planet would be

overwhelmed by dead bodies, waste and plant litter

Time progression Powder broken down by

decomposers into plantnutrients in soil

MushroomWoodreducedto powder

Dry rotfungus

Termite andcarpenterant work

DecomposersDetritus feeders

Carpenterant galleriesBark beetle

engravingLong-hornedbeetle holes

Fig. 3-6, p. 44

Production and Consumption of Energy

Photosynthesis (done by producers only)

Carbon dioxide + water + solar energy glucose + oxygen

Aerobic respiration (done by producers and consumers)

Glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy

Animation: Linked Processes

Energy Flow and Nutrient Recycling

Ecosystems sustained through: 1. One-way energy flow from the

sun through producers to consumers 2. Nutrient recycling

Abiotic chemicals(carbon dioxide,

oxygen, nitrogen,minerals)

Decomposers(bacteria, fungi)

Consumers(herbivores,carnivores)

Producers(plants)

Solarenergy

Heat

Heat Heat

Heat Heat

Fig. 3-7, p. 45