ecosystem ecology Flashcards
example of a small ecosystem
tide-pool
how is “ecosystem” a flexible term?
may be large and complex OR may only have a few species
how is the earth energetically open?
- energy constantly added by sun
- energy radiated away into space
- more comes from sun
how is the earth materially closed?
- matter is not added or removed
- chemicals are not added or removed
- stuck with what we have
energy flow: conservation of energy
- comes from sun
- movement through ecosystem
- passed form organism to organism
- eventually all lost as heat
nutrients cycle: conservation of mass
- biochemical cycles
- chemicals required for life
- movement through ecosystems
- cycle: used and reused
gross primary production:
- amount of sun energy captured
- amount of sugar produced
- measure of photosynthesis
net primary production
- energy that goes into plant growth
- energy available to other organisms
net primary production forms the __ of the trophic pyramid
base: amount available affects everything in ecosystem
where is net primary production highest?
in tropical rain forests
energy is produced by the …
lowest trophic level
energy flows from …
low trophic to a higher one
much energy is used to run…
body systems: most of this is lost as heat
small fraction of energy is used for..
growth: energy available to higher trophic levels
energy and biomass ___ at higher trophic levels
decreases
most energy is lost as…
heat
-basal metabolic rate
-movement
energy used to grow is not…
lost
10% of energy is transferred to…
higher trophic levels
-the other 90% is lost
-limits the number of trophic levels (<5)
what has the most weight and energy?
plants
where are nutrients stored?
reservoirs
residence time:
length of time in reservoir
nutrient cycle:
- Organism gets nutrients from reservoir
- Nutrient moves through food web
- Decomposers return nutrient to reservoir
___ are important nutrient reservoirs
plants
__ leaves forest when trees are removed
nutrients: significant portion of the cycle gets disrupted