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Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecology

The document discusses the systems concept in ecology, focusing on energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems. It explains how energy is transformed and transferred through food chains and food webs, highlighting the roles of producers and consumers. Additionally, it outlines the importance of biogeochemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components in the cycling of essential materials like carbon, nitrogen, and water.

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10 views14 pages

Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling in Ecology

The document discusses the systems concept in ecology, focusing on energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems. It explains how energy is transformed and transferred through food chains and food webs, highlighting the roles of producers and consumers. Additionally, it outlines the importance of biogeochemical cycles, which involve both biotic and abiotic components in the cycling of essential materials like carbon, nitrogen, and water.

Uploaded by

mattyruess58
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Systems Concept in

Ecology

Mr. Karl Patrick D. Taguberi


Instructor 1
Ecology
“Oikos” (House)
Energy
Energy flow is governed by the laws
of thermodynamics
In every energy transformation,
potential energy is reduced
because heat energy is lost to the
system in the process
Energy Flow in Ecosystem

Energy flows while nutrients cycle

For most organisms, life boils down to converting energy and nutrients into
descendants.

Nutrients are the raw materials an organism must acquire from the environment
to live.

The energy used by different organisms to power life’s processes comes in the
form of light, organic molecules, or inorganic molecules.
ENERGY CONCEPTS
The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms
that cannot make their own energy.

Some of the energy is lost as heat, but some energy is stored and can
passed on to another consumer.

Most of the energy the primary consumer gets from the producer is used
by the consumer.
Photosynthesis

1 2 3
CHEMICAL REACTION ENERGY IS STORED IN GLUCOSE IS STORED AS
WHERE GREEN PLANTS GLUCOSE STARCH IN PLANTS
USE WATER & CARBON
DIOXIDE TO STORE THE
SUN’S ENERGY IN
GLUCOSE
TYPES OF CONSUMERS

HERBIVORE CARNIVORE OMNIVORE


Food
Chain

The transfer of energy from the sun to producer to primary consumer then to higher order
consumers can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN.
Energy
supply limits
the length of
food chains

ØTop-level consumers require so much geographic territory


ØFood chains are limited to three to five levels
Food Web
Shows the
feeding relationships in
an ecosystem
Energy
Pyramid
• Amount of available energy
decreases for higher
consumers
• Amount of available energy
decreases down the food
chain
• It takes many producers to
support a small number of
primary consumers
• It takes many primary
consumers to support a
small number of secondary
consumers
Because chemical cycles in an
ecosystem include both biotic and
abiotic (geologic and atmospheric)
components, they are called
biogeochemical cycles

Chemicals are Cycled Between


Organic Matter And Abiotic
Reservoirs
Global Materials and their Cycles

• The Carbon Cycle • The Oxygen Cycle • • The Nitrogen Cycle • The Phosphorus
The Water Cycle • The Sulfur Cycle Cycle

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