Energy & Biomass in ecyosystem 2.2

first law of therodynamics

energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one to another

second law of therodynamics

energy transfers in ecosystems are inefficient

photosynthesis

primary producers convert light energy into chemical energy in the process of photosynthesis

co2 + water → glucose + oxygen

respiration

conversion of organic matter into co2 and water in all living organisms, releasing energy

aerobic respiration

glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water

• stored chemical energy is transformed into kinetic energy and heat energy

trophic level

position that an orgnism occupies in a food chain or food chain

food webs

network of interconnected food chains, more realistic for an ecosystem as consumers rarely feed on one type of food source

energy losses i food chains

the total organic matter transferred from one trophic level to the next is never 100%

gross productivity

the total gain in biomass by an organism or community in a given area or time period

net productivity

the amount of energy or biomass remaining after losses due to cellular respiration

ecological pyramids

quantitive models usually measured for a given time and area, includes pyramids of numbers, biomass and energy (productivity)

topic 2.3

bioaccumulation

build up of presistent or non biodegradable pollutants within an organisms or trophic level

biomagnification

increase in concentration of presistent or non biodegradable pollutants along a chain

biogeochemical cycles

natural processes that circulate the chemical elements necessary for life

stores

reservoirs where elements cure held, elements remains in equilibrium with environment (total input = total output)

sinks

where a particular element accumulates over time

sources

release elements into the cycle (total input < total output)

carbon sequestration

capturing atmospheric co2 and storing it in solid or liquid forms

2.4

weather

current state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, can change rapidly

climate

long term average of weather conditions in a particular region or location

biome

group of similar ecosystems that have developed similar climatic conditions

global atmospheric circulation

the worldwide system of winds that move solar heat energy from the equator to poles

tricellular model

heat energy transfer occurs where different atmospheric circulation cells meet

2.5

zonation

gradual change in the composition of species an communities across a landscape based on a gradient of environment factors

kite diagrams

show distribution and abundance along a transect

succession

ecosystems changing from very simple to relatively complex

primary succession

when newly formed or newly exposed band (with no species present) is gradually colonised by an increasing number of species

secondary succession

very similar but happens on bare soil where there has been a pre-existing community

resillience

a ecosystem capacity to tolerate disturbances and maintain equilibrium