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Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics: Sun, Energy, Consumption, and Change

Explore the vital role of the sun's energy in ecosystems, how energy is transferred through food chains, trophic levels, and material cycles, and the processes of ecological succession. Engage in hands-on activities and case studies to deepen your understanding.

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Understanding Ecosystem Dynamics: Sun, Energy, Consumption, and Change

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  1. How Ecosystems Work Environmental Science Ms. Moore 10/10/13

  2. Life Depends on the SUN • Energy from the sun enters an ecosystem when a plant uses sunlight to make sugar molecules in a process called photosynthesis. • 6CO2 + 6H2O + solar energy  C6H12O6 + 6O2 • CARBON DIOXIDE + WATER + SUN YIELDS CARBOHYDRATES + OXYGEN

  3. So, What eats What?

  4. Types of Consumers

  5. Energy Transfer • A food chain is a sequence where energy is transferred from one organism to the next as each organism eats another. • A food web shows many feeding relationships that are possible in an ecosystem.

  6. Tropic Levels • Each step where energy is transferred in a food chain is known as a trophic level. • Energy pyramid: • Producers: 1,000x energy • Primary Consumers: 100x energy • Secondary Consumers: 10x energy • Tertiary Consumers: 1x energy

  7. Mini Lab • In groups of 3-4: • Create a food chain: each person will act as an organism of your choice • Create a food web poster including 10 organisms: draw and label each organism (example on page 130) • Create a trophic pyramid: each person will create their own pyramid in the groups • Answer questions along with pyramid project

  8. The Cycling of Materials • The CARBON CYCLE cycles carbon between the atmosphere, land, water, and organisms.

  9. The NITROGEN CYCLE is a process where nitrogen is cycled between the atmosphere, bacteria, and other organisms. • All organisms need nitrogen to build proteins (cells) • Nitrogen fixing bacteria: alter nitrogen so we can use it

  10. The PHOSPHORUS CYCLE is the movement of phosphorus from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment • Needed to form bones and teeth in animals

  11. How Ecosystems Change • Ecological Succession is a gradual change of all or some of the species in a community • Primary Succession occurs on a surface where no ecosystem existed before (rocks, sand dunes) • Secondary Succession occurs on a surface where an ecosystem has previously existed

  12. Secondary Succession • Pioneer species: the first orgfanisms to colonize any newly available area • Climax community: a final and stable community • Example: Volcanic eruption • See page 138

  13. Fire and Secondary Succession • Natural fires caused by lightning is a natural cause of secondary succession. • Example: Yellowstone’s fires • Case Study on page 138-139

  14. Old-Field Succession • Old-Field Succession: occurs when farmland is abandoned • pioneer grasses and weeds grow rapidly and produce many seeds to cover abandoned land • Figure 19 on page 140

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