Environmental Science: Ecosystems: How They Work in Cycles & Energy

Case Study: Tropical Rain Forests are disappearing How much land surface? Rate of destruction? What are the effects of destruction?

Effects of destruction of tropical forests:

1. Decrease biodiversity (how?)What does this lead to?

Effects of destruction of tropical forests:

2. Accelerate global climate change Decreasing carbon dioxide uptake (How?)

What can this cause?

Effects of destruction of tropical forests:

3. Change in regional weather patterns Heat absorbed by land

Organization of LifeOrganism – anything alive Cell – basic unit of life in organisms (Cell Theory)

Prokaryote – primitive cell with no membrane structures like nucleus, etc

Eukaryote – cell with distinctive nucleus and membrane bound organelles

Species – organisms that resemble each other in appearance, behavior, chemistry and genetic makeup which can breed and produce fertile off spring.

Organization Population a group of interacting individuals of the same

species in the same area. Community – a group of different populations living

together Ecosystem – a community of different species living

together and their environment. Biosphere – all the earth’s ecosystems together

Components in the Environment Biotic Factors – all living organisms Abiotic Factors – all nonliving factors that

impact or influence living organisms

Ecology Terms Genetic Diversity – all the differences

within a species Habitat – where different organisms live Distribution ( range) – the area over which

we can find a species Niche – what an organism does, its lifestyle

Earth’s Systems Atmosphere – The thin layer of air around

the earth. Hydrosphere – all of earth’s water Lithosphere – the earths crust and upper

mantle Biosphere – portion of earth in which living

organisms exist

Ecology Terms Genetic Diversity – all the differences

within a species Habitat – where different organisms live Distribution ( range) – the area over which

we can find a species Niche – what an organism does, its lifestyle

Earth’s Systems Atmosphere – The thin layer of air around

the earth. Hydrosphere – all of earth’s water Lithosphere – the earths crust and upper

mantle Biosphere – portion of earth in which living

organisms exist

This Lesson Is About How Ecosystems Function: Transfer Energy and Nutrients Capture of sun energy transfer through

different trophic levels. Capture of essential elements of life and

transfer through different trophic levels. Nutrient cycles. Human impacts on ecosystem function.

Sustaining Life on Earth One way flow of energy from the sun, that

passes through materials and living things in their feeding interactions

Cycling of matter Gravity which allows the earth to hold its

atmosphere

First Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability Ecosystems use

sunlight as their source of energy.

The Second Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability

Ecosystems dispose of wastes and replenish nutrients by recycling all elements.

The 4 Sphere’s of Earth’s Environment The Biosphere

depends on and reacts with the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere.

The sun provides the energy to make it all work.

Elements of Life

92 naturally occurring elements

Elements Found in Living OrganismsN CHOPS (macronutrients)C HOPKINS Ca Fe Mg B Mn Cu Cl Mo Zn

What elements would be harmful to living organisms?

78% Nitrogen78% Nitrogen

21% Oxygen21% Oxygen

<<0.04% Carbon Dioxide0.04% Carbon Dioxide

Atmospheric Gases

Air is composed of many types of atoms.The main gases are N2, O2 and CO2

Elements of Life

Organic = carbon based molecules

Example: C6H12O6, CH4

Inorganic = molecules without carbon-carbon nor carbon-hydrogen bonds

Example: NaCl, NH4, H2SO4

Match the Elements (Left) With Molecules (Right)

Nitrogen Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Sulfur

Glucose Proteins Starch Fats Nucleic acids All of the above

Organic Molecules: The Source of Life Sugar is

made of 3 elements in a specific molecular shape.

Arrangement of Matter in Ecology

Matter and Energy Matter: anything that occupies space and

has mass. Cannot be created or destroyed. Can be changed from one form into another. Can be recycled. Can be measured where gravity is present.

Matter and Energy Energy: anything that has the ability to

move matter, has no mass and does not occupy space. Cannot be created or destroyed. Can be changed from one form to another. Cannot be recycled. Can be measured.

Phase Changes of Water – The Water Cycle.

Mineral Crystals The cations

and anions join in a crystal to form a solid substance

Formation of Crystalsand Solubility of Gases Gases are soluble in

water and have an equilibrium.

Saturation of ions in solution leads to crystallization and mineral formation.

Forms of Energy in Life

Kinetic Energy is energy of motion.

Potential Energy is the stored energy or energy of state.

Potential Energy in Natural Systems

Conversion of Energy forms

Laws of Thermodynamics

First Law: (CHANGE) Energy is neither created nor destroyed but may be converted from one form to another. NO FREE LUNCHES!

Second Law: (LOSS) In any energy conversion, you will end up with less usable energy thanyou started with. YOU CAN ‘T BREAK EVEN!

Cellular Respiration and Entropy

Entropy

Systems will go spontaneously in one direction only which is toward increasing entropy.

Example of the Laws of Conservation of Matter and ThermodynamicsExample of the Laws of Conservation of Matter and Thermodynamics

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Acid RainAcid Rain SmogSmog

Burning Coal = CO2 + SO + H20 + Ash(CxHxSxOx) Light + Noise + Heat

First Principles of Ecosystem Sustainability Ecosystems use

sunlight as their source of energy.

Elements of Life

Photosynthesis

6 CO2 + 6 H20 C6H12O6 + 6 O2

Respiration

C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 CO2 + 6 H20

Which process uses and which produces energy?Which process occur in plants and which in animals?

The First Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability At WorkThe First Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability At Work

Consumers and Energy Cycles

Productivity by Biome

Match Outcomes (Left) With Process (Right)Match Outcomes (Left) With Process (Right)

Releases O2 Stores energy Releases CO2 Uses CO2 Releases energy Produces sugar Uses sugar Uses O2

Photosynthesis Cell respiration Both Neither

Match Outcomes (Left) With Organisms (Right)Match Outcomes (Left) With Organisms (Right)

Releases O2 Stores energy Releases CO2 Uses CO2 Releases energy Produces sugar Uses sugar Uses O2

Plants Animals Both Neither

The Second Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability

Ecosystems dispose of wastes and replenish nutrients by recycling all elements.

The Carbon Cycle How and in what form does carbon enter

and leave the cycle? How is the role of autotrophs and

heterotrophs different and the same? What are the human impacts on the cycle?

The Phosphorus Cycle How and in what form(s) does phosphorus

enter and leave the cycle? How is the role of autotrophs and

heterotrophs different and the same? What are the human impacts on the cycle?

The Nitrogen Cycle How and in what form(s) does nitrogen

enter and leave the cycle? How is the role of autotrophs and

heterotrophs different and the same? What are the human impacts on the cycle?

The Human SystemThe Human System

This graph shows how much grain it takes to make one pound of each kind of meat.

If we did not eat beef then we could feed 3 times as many people on Earth.

The Human SystemThe Human System

Violations of the First Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability Excessive use of fossil fuels. Feeding largely on the third trophic level. Use of coal or nuclear power. Use of agricultural land to produce meats.

Violations of the Second Principle of Ecosystem Sustainability Lack of recycling. Excessive use of fertilizers. Destruction of tropical rain forests. Nutrient overcharge into aquatic

ecosystems. Production and use of nonbiodegradable

compounds.

Ecosystem Services and Functions

Gas, climate and water regulationGas, climate and water regulationWater supplyWater supplyErosion controlErosion controlSoil formationSoil formationPollinationPollinationBiological controlBiological control

Ecosystem Services and Functions

Food productionFood productionRecreationRecreationRaw materialsRaw materialsNutrient cyclingNutrient cyclingWaste treatmentWaste treatment