AP Biology energy and matter transfer through ecosystems
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
4 likes•643 views
Energy enters ecosystems through photosynthesis, where autotrophs like plants convert sunlight into chemical energy stored in organic compounds. Approximately 10% of this primary productivity is passed to primary consumers at the next trophic level, with smaller percentages passed between higher trophic levels, forming an energy pyramid. Matter cycles through ecosystems as well, with carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements moving between abiotic and biotic components through natural processes. Human activities like burning fossil fuels and using fertilizers have altered these natural biogeochemical cycles.
More Related Content
What's hot
What's hot (20)
Viewers also liked
Similar to AP Biology energy and matter transfer through ecosystems
Similar to AP Biology energy and matter transfer through ecosystems (20)
More from Stephanie Beck
More from Stephanie Beck (20)
Recently uploaded
Recently uploaded (20)
AP Biology energy and matter transfer through ecosystems
- 1. Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
- 2. Main Ideas 1. What happens to matter in an ecosystem? 2. What happens to energy in an ecosystem? 3. Where do living things get their energy and matter?
- 3. Interdependence All living things are connected to other living things, both directly and indirectly. Living things eat and/or get eaten Living things obtain chemicals that came from other living things The actions of living things affect other organisms
- 4. So… Ecosystems require MATTER and ENERGY Matter is stuff – atoms that are used to make molecules Energy is… Not created or destroyed, only converted from 1 form to another
- 5. Essential for all life Energy Matter Can be symbolized by Sunlight Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer
- 6. An energy Pyramid Gets smaller as it goes up since there is less and less energy as you go up
- 7. Pyramid of numbers How many organisms are at each level Usually mostly producers, then primary consumers, then secondary and so on 100,000 plants 1000 voles 1 owl
- 8. Pyramid of numbers Could look like this: 1 oak tree supports lots of primary consumers, which support fewer secondary consumers, then even fewer tertiary, etc. 1 oak tree 1000 caterpillars 50 bluetits 1 sparrow hawk
- 9. Pyramid of biomass How much everything weighs at each level Always pyramid shaped
- 10. Light energy to chemical energy (photosynthesis) Gross Primary Productivity – all the light energy that is converted to chemical energy in an ecosystem Not all of this is available to consumers though, because the plants need some for themselves Net Primary Productivity – the chemical energy available to consumers
- 11. Ecosystems with high NPP Tropical rain forests Estuaries Coral reefs Open ocean (just because so much of the planet is covered in it)
- 12. What happens to energy in an ecosystem? First – write your response Use these terms % Trophic levels Autotrophs Heterotrophs Primary productivity What to do Younger person goes first Must use at least 3 terms in their answer Older person must write their answer Switch – same rules
- 13. Giraffes eat the grass Lions eat the giraffes And when they die, they become part of the soil and feed the grass
- 14. Biogeochemical Cycles -or- What happens to matter in an ecosystem? Water Carbon Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulfur
- 15. Some basics In all cases (except water) – plants get the C, N, P, and S first, then animals get it from their food Decomposers are vital to recycling these nutrients and returning them to the earth so plants can get them again. C,N,P,S
- 17. Human Impacts 1. We use fresh water faster than it is replenished naturally 2. Water pollution
- 18. Quick Think What do you know for sure about the water cycle? “I know for sure that…”
- 20. Where is the Carbon? – CO² gas in the atmosphere (air) – dissolved CO2 in the oceans (water) – Carbon in organic molecules in every living thing – Carbon is in fossil fuels and sedimentary rocks
- 21. Review - Photosynthesis Plants take CO2 + water + energy from the sun And make Glucose (sugar) and oxygen CO2 + H2O C6H12O6 + O2
- 22. Carbon diffuses into water Carbon in the atmosphere diffuses into the oceans Forms carbonic acid – CO2 + H20 H2CO3 Too much CO2 in oceans leads to ocean acidification
- 24. Human Impacts Removal of trees Excess CO2 in the atm from fossil fuel use Alaska Brazil
- 25. Quick Think What do you know for sure about the carbon cycle? “I know for sure that…”
- 26. Warm up 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
- 29. Where is the nitrogen? Most of the nitrogen (the main reservoir) is in the air. – 78% of our air is nitrogen gas – It is not usable in this form – It must be “fixed” first
- 30. How does the nitrogen get fixed? –By lightning ~10%
- 31. Fixing Nitrogen Nitrogen fixing bacteria ~90% Live in symbiosis with legumes (in their roots)
- 32. Human Impacts Add excess N to water in animal waste, fertilizer Add excess N to air by burning fossil fuels NOx + H2O HNO3 - acid rain
- 34. Algae bloom resulting from excess nitrates from farm runoff (manures).
- 37. Phosphorus cycle there is no atmospheric component. slow and local in nature.
- 38. Where is the phosphorus? stored in rocks and sediment. released through weathering and erosion Plants can then take it up through the soil
- 39. Human Impacts phosphorus from fertilizers pollute waterways and lead to euthrophication (dead zones).
- 42. The Sulfur Cycle
- 43. Most is stored underground in rocks and minerals (sulfate ions - SO4 2-)
- 44. Human Impacts Burning coal and oil puts sulfur into the atmosphere SO2 + H20 H2SO4 acid deposition
- 47. Human Impact on Ecosystems 1. Nutrient enrichment – adding excess nutrients to aquatic ecosystems 2. Acid precipitation – pH less than 5.6, harms trees, aquatic ecosystems, 3. Biological magnification – toxins accumulate in the tissues of organisms, PCBs and DDT 4. Rising atmospheric CO2 – global warming 5. Depletion of the ozone layer – CFCs, burns leaves and skin