Ecosystems and Biomes

Energy loss in trophic levels

Most energy is lost as heat when passed from one trophic level to the next.

Primary production

Measured by biomass, it indicates the mass of all living material in an ecosystem.

Rate of primary production

The speed at which solar energy is converted to biomass in an ecosystem.

Energy and chemical flow

Energy and chemical elements flow through ecosystems.

Biogeochemical cycle

The cycle of nutrients, including the carbon cycle.

Burning fossil fuels and carbon

Releases trapped carbon into the atmosphere as CO2.

Nitrogen cycle

A biogeochemical cycle where nitrogen acts as a limiting element.

Transpiration

The process when a plant loses water into the environment through open stomata.

Greenhouse gases

Airborne chemicals that capture and hold heat within the earth’s atmosphere.

Types of greenhouse gases

Includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.

Sources of carbon dioxide

Produced by cellular respiration and burning coal, oil.

Current atmospheric greenhouse gas levels

Higher now than at any time in the past 800,000 years.

Global temperature increase since 1880

Surface temperatures have increased since 1880.

Heat escape from Earth

Less heat is escaping the atmosphere now than before.

Impact of climate change on ecosystems

Polar habitats melting, warming oceans, coral deaths, and loss of reef ecosystems.

Surface albedo effect

Dark colors absorb more heat, affecting temperature and melting of ice.