Unit 5: Energy in Ecosystem

insolation

solar (shortwave) radiation reaching earth's surface

biomass

the total mass of living organisms in a specific area, excluding water

producers

organisms that can make their own food, usually through photosynthesis

biological productivity

the rate at which organisms produce biomass

gross productivity

the total amount of energy captured by an organism; producers through photosynthesis

net productivity

the energy left over after cellular respiration that can be used for growth

gross primary productivity (GPP)

total amount of energy acquired by producers (this is glucose production!)

net primary productivity (NPP)

How much energy is left after respiration for plant growth (the production of new biomass)

NPP = GPP - Respiration

consumers

acquire energy by eating (ingesting), and use that energy for respiration and for growth

gross secondary productivity (GSP)

Total amount of energy acquired by consumers (like animals); energy in food eaten, minus the energy in feces/waste

net secondary productivity (NSP)

Growth of the consumer; energy left for building biomass after cellular respiration (energy used to make biomass)NSP = Total energy consumed (- waste) - energy used for cellular respiration

trophic levels

the different feeding positions in a food chain

trophic pyramid

a diagram showing how energy decreases at each feeding level in an ecosystem

efficiency

how well energy is transferred between trophic levels, usually about 10%

herbivore

an animal that eats only plants

omnivore

an animal that eats both plants and animals

carnivore

an animal that eats only other animals

decomposer

an organism that breaks down dead organic matter

detritivore

an organism that feeds on decaying organic matter

food chain

a simple model showing how energy flows from one organism to another in an ecosystem

food web

a complex model showing all the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

biotic

living factors in an ecosystem

abiotic

non-living factors in an ecosystem

species

a group of organisms that can reproduce to create fertile offspring

population

a group of the same species living in the same area at the same time

community

all the different populations living together in an area

ecosystem

a community of living things in an area AND their interactions with the non-living environment

carrying capacity

the maximum population size an environment can support long-term

density-dependent factors

things that affect population growth based on how crowded the population is e.g. competition for food

biotic potential

the maximum rate at which a population could grow under ideal conditions

logistic growth

a model of population growth that slows as it approaches carrying capacity

biodiversity

the variety of life in an area, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity

genetic diversity

the variety of genes within a species or population

species diversity

the number of different species in an ecosystem. This includes the number of species present (richness) and their relative abundance (evenness).

habitat

the natural environment where an organism lives

habitat diversity

the variety of different habitats within an ecosystem or region

resilience

the ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances