Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work?

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Ecosystems What Are They and How Do They Work?
G. Tyler Millers Living in the Environment 14th
Edition Chapter 4
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Key Concepts

• Basic ecological principles

• Major components of ecosystems

• Matter cycles and energy flow

• Ecosystem studies

• Principles of Sustainability

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The Nature of Ecology

• Ecosystem organization

• Organisms

• Populations

• Communities

• Ecosystems

• Biosphere

Fig. 4-2 p. 57
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The Earths Life-Support Systems

• Troposphere

• Stratosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Lithosphere

• Biosphere

Fig. 4-7 p. 60
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Natural Capital Sustaining Life of Earth

• One-way flowof energy from Sun

• Cycling ofCrucial Elements

• Gravity

Fig. 4-8 p. 60
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Solar Capital Flow of Energy to and from the
Earth
Fig. 4-9 p. 61
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Natural Capital Major Biomes

• Biomes

• Role of climate

• Aquatic life zones

Fig. 4-10 p. 62
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Ecosystem Factors

• Abiotic factors

• Range of tolerance

• Biotic factors

• Limiting factors

Fig. 4-13 p. 64
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Components of Ecosystems

• Abiotic chemicals

• Photosynthesis

• Producers(autotrophs)

• Consumers(heterotrophs)

• Aerobicrespiration

• Decomposers

Fig. 4-17 p. 67
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Biodiversity

• Genetic diversity

• Species diversity

• Ecological diversity

• Functional diversity

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Connections Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Food chains

• Trophic Levels

• Food webs

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Trophic Levels

• Primary consumer (herbivore)

• Secondary consumer (carnivore)

• Tertiary consumer

• Omnivore

• Detritivores and scavengers

• Decomposers

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Connections Food Chains and Energy Flow in
Ecosystems
Fig. 4-18 p. 68
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Ecological Pyramids

• Pyramid ofenergy flow

Fig. 4-21 p. 70

• Ecologicalefficiency

• Pyramid ofbiomass

• Pyramid ofnumbers

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Primary Productivity of Ecosystems

• Gross primary productivity (GPP)

• Net primary productivity (NPP)

Fig. 4-24 p. 72
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Soils

• Origins
• Importance
• Maturity and Horizons
• Variations with Climate and Biomes
• Variations in Texture and Porosity

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Soil Profiles in Different Biomes
Fig. 4-27, p. 75
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Connections Matter Cycling in Ecosystems

• Biogeochemical cycles

• Hydrologic cycle (H2O)

• Carbon cycle

• Nitrogen cycle

• Phosphorus cycle

• Sulfur cycle

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Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
Fig. 4-28 p. 76
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The Carbon Cycle (Marine)
Fig. 4-29, p. 78
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The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
Fig. 4-29, p. 79
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The Nitrogen Cycle
Fig. 4-31 p. 80
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The Phosphorus Cycle
Fig. 4-33 p. 82
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The Sulfur Cycle
Fig. 4-34 p. 83
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How Do Ecologists Learn About Ecosystems?

• Field research

• Remote sensing

• Geographic information systems (GIS)

• Laboratory research

• Systems analysis

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Geographic Information System (GIS)
Fig. 4-35 p. 84
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Systems Analysis
Fig. 4-36 p. 85