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1. Interdependence of
Life:
Ecosystems
By Deanne Erdmann, MS
BioEd Online

2. Ecological Terminology
 Environment
 Ecology
 Biotic vs. Abiotic
 Population
 Community
 Ecosystem
 Biosphere
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3. Ecosystems
 All members of a community, along with
their physical and chemical environments
 Vary greatly in size
 Diversity promotes stability and
productivity
 Dynamic
 energy flow
 chemical cycling
 Change over time (succession)
Coral Reefs are a rich,
diverse and productive
ecosystems
A coastal wetland on
Lake Superior,
Wisconsin.
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4. Biomes
 Tropical Rainforests
 Savannas
 Deserts
 Temperate Grasslands
 Temperate Deciduous Forests
 Coniferous Forests
 Arctic Tundra
Grasslands in the Great
Sand Dunes National
Monument and Preserve
Prairie Creek Redwoods
Sate Park
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5. Aquatic Ecosystems
 Freshwater
 Flowing Water
 Lakes
 Wetlands
 Estuaries
 Oceans
 Intertidal or littoral
 Coastal or neritic
 Coral Reefs
 Open Ocean
 Benthic
Snake River with Grand
Tetons in background
Mountain Lake in
Grand Teton
National Park
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6. Zonation in Lakes
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7. Thermal Stratification in Lakes
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8. Zonation in a Marine Environment
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9. Primary Production
 The conversion of light energy
to chemical energy is called
“gross primary production.”
(photosynthesis)
 Plants use the energy captured
in photosynthesis for
maintenance and growth.
 The energy that is accumulated
in plant biomass is called “net
primary production.”
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10. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
 Producers (Autotrophs) and Consumers (Heterotrophs)
 Trophic Levels
 Ecological Pyramids of Energy
 Ecological Pyramids of Biomass
 Ecological Pyramids of Numbers
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11. Ecological Pyramids of Energy
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12. Ecological Pyramids of Biomass
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13. Biogeochemical Cycles
 Cycling of materials between the
environment and organisms
 Chemical and biological processes
 Examples
 Water cycle
 Nitrogen cycle
 Phosphorus cycle
 Carbon cycle
Plants obtain nitrogen
from nitrogen-fixing
bacteria and pass it to
other organisms through
the food chain
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14. Water Cycle
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15. Nitrogen Cycle
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16. Carbon Cycle
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17. Biogeochemical Cycle Activity
 Pass out untitled diagrams of the water cycle, nitrogen
cycle, and carbon cycle.
 Have students title each cycle and explain why they
chose these titles.
 Provide a list of labeling terms and have students create
labels for each stage or process on all three diagrams.
 Applications/suggestions
 Use as an introductory or post-discussion
assessment.
 Laminate group sets and use erasable markers to
save paper and prep time.
BioEd Online