Lesson 3 (Ecosystems and Energy Flow)

Energy

• the ability to do work, such as moving matter over a distance or causing a heat transfer between two objects at different temperatures

• Can take many different form

kinetic energy

The energy contained in moving objects

Potential energy

stored energy that is latent but available for use

Heat

the energy that can be transferred between objects due to their difference in temperature.

different phase

If enough heat is added, the substance may change to a _____

thermodynamics

• The study of_______ deals with the rates of flow and the transformation of energy from one form or quality to another.

• Regulate energy transfer

first law of thermodynamics

states that energy is conserved; that is, it is neither created nor destroyed under normal conditions

second law of thermodynamics

states that, with each successive energy transfer or transformation in a system, less energy is available to do work

Ecosystem

array of organisms and their physical environment, all interacting through a flow of energy and cycling of materials

HABITAT

The space that the organism inhabits or where it lives

NICHE

The obligatory role fulfilled by an organism within its defined habitat contributory to the total ecosystem function

HOMEOSTASIS

a living organisms steady state condition

TOLERANCE

The ability to withstand a certain environmental condition is termed

Abiotic Components & Biotic Components

Components of the ecosystem

NON-LIVING

ABIOTIC COMPONENTS

LIVING

BIOTIC COMPONENTS

SUNLIGHT

• Primary source of Energy

• Used for photosynthesis

WATER

• Essential for all known forms of life and is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and living organisms.

TEMPERATURE

• Measure of hotness or coldness of the body, substance, and the environment.

POIKILOTHERMS

Ectotherms - cold blooded

HOMEOTHERMS

Endotherms - warm blooded

WIND

Moving air

ROCKS AND SOIL

solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth

CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE

a form of matter with a specific, constant chemical composition and distinct properties

PERIODIC DISTURBANCES

Fires, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Volcanic Eruptions

trophic structure

Transfer of matter and energy occur between organisms or between organisms and the physical environment represented by a ________

food chains

Energy flow between organisms occurs in _______, in which energy from food passes from one organism to the next in a sequence

“nourishment”

The Greek tropho means

Food web

a complex of interconnected food chains in an ecosystem.

sun

All food chains and webs start with the ___, the ultimate source of energy here on Earth

Producers

organisms that can manufacture their own organic compounds that they use as sources of energy and nutrients.

Most are green plants that make organic nutrients by transforming energy from the sun into chemical energy through photosynthesis (photosynthetic organisms)

autotrophs (self-feeders)

Producers are also called

Chemosynthetic Organisms

these organisms, mostly bacteria, can extract inorganic compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, from their environment and convert them to organic nutrients in the absence of sunlight through the process called chemosynthesis

CONSUMERS

Organisms that get the nutrients and energy they require by feeding either directly or indirectly on producers.

heterotrophs (other-feeders)

CONSUMERS are also called

PRIMARY CONSUMER

herbivores (plant-eaters) which feed directly and only on all or part of living plants

SECONDARY CONSUMERS

primary carnivores (meat eaters),which feed only on plant- eating animals

Tertiary and higher-level consumers

large carnivores or omnivores (plant and meat-eaters) that feed on primary and secondary consumers and/or producer

DETRITIVORES

Heterotrophs that feed on detritus, or dead organic plant and animal matter.

• detritus feeders

• decomposers

two major classes of detritivores

Detritus feeders

ingest fragments of dead organisms and their cast-off parts and organic wastes. Examples are crabs, earthworms and clams.

Decomposers

absorb and endocytose the soluble nutrients at the cellular level. This saprophytic mode of nutrition is carried out by bacteria and fungi