APB Unit 8.3 - Ecology

APB Unit 8.3 - Ecology

Ecosystems & Restoration Ecology

Chapter 55

Ecosystems

The sum of all of the organisms living in a given area and the abiotic factors with which they interact.

Conservation of Energy, Mass, and Matter

definitely still applies.

Know these terms

• Primary producer v. Primary consumer v. Secondary consumer v. Tertiary consumer

• Detritivores = Decomposers of Detritus

• Carnivores v. Herbivores v. Omnivores

Similarities to Economics (Macro- or Micro-)

• Primary production (of energy)

• Gross primary production or GPP = total energy available

• Net primary production or NPP = energy left after energy used by primary producers

• Net ecosystem production or NEP = total biomass accumulation

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ biology/ecology/intro-to-ecosystems/a/energy-flow-primary-productivity

https://globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/ current/lectures/kling/energyflow/energyflow.html

Limitations to Energy Production

• Different for Terrestrial v. Aquatic

• Limitations: Light and Nutrients

• Eutrophication ~ algal bloom

Aquatic Ecosystems have to contend with

Eutrophication, Algal Blooms, and Dead Zones.

What about Terrestrial Ecosystems?

Fertilizers from lawns and agricultural crops

v.

mycorrhizae (fungi), rhizobia (bacteria), and changing crop land management techniques.

The Energy/Trophic/Biomass Pyramid is not very Energy Efficient

• From one trophic level to the next, we only gain 10% of the energy.

• 90% of the energy is lost as heat.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Water

Carbon

Phosphorus

Nitrogen

The rush now is to restore habitat.

But how?

Abiotic factors, plants, & soil must be part of the story.

Bioremediation & Biological Augmentation

Techniques that can be used in ecological restoration.

More animal videos

because, why not????

The Great Elephant Census

https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/great-elephant-census

More Spy in the Wild

https://www.youtube.com/show/SCJMBHPHK67rBfLyEwuk7mMw?season=1

Review

• We defined ecosystems and how you can measure the energy use of an ecosystem.

• We discussed several limitations to ecological energy efficiency and its impact on the biotic factors living within that ecosystem.

Review

• We discussed energy/trophic/biomass pyramids.

• We discussed biogeochemical cycles (water, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen).

• We discussed ecological restoration techniques.