Ecology and Ecosystems

Study of ‘Home’ Study of interactions: - organisms with each other (biotic) - organisms with their physical environment (abiotic)

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed Energy is conserved

With each energy transfer or transformation in a system, less energy issues available to do work Entropy or disorder tends to increase in natural systems

Series of light-dependent interactions 6H2O + 6CO2 + solar energy —chlorophyll—> C6H12O6 + 6O2 produces oxygen gas and glucose Energy conversion: Energy captured light energy —> chemical energy

Process of releasing chemical energy C6H12O6 _ 6O2 —> 6H2O + 6CO2 + released energy (heat) Involves splitting C and H atoms from glucose Energy Conversion: Energy released chemical energy —> released energy (heat)

open system with dynamic equilibrium constant input and output of energy composed of: biological community + physical environment

autotrophs: organisms that produce organic material and feed themselves through photosynthesis

heterotrophs: eat other animals or plants for energy and mutrients

clean up dead carcasses

consume litter, debris, dung

Breakdown and recycling

Amount of biomass produced in a given area during a given period of time one of the most important properties of an ecosystem Photosynthesis = primary productivity - basis for almost all other growth in an ecosystem

An organism’s feeding status in an ecosystem Greek trophe: food

Only 10% of the energy in one trophic level is passed on to the next