Ecosystems Basics

Ecosystems

Definition

An ecosystem is a community of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components interacting with each other in a specific environment.

Components

• Biotic components:
  • Producers (plants, algae)
  • Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers)
• Abiotic components:
  • Light
  • Temperature
  • Water
  • Soil
  • Air
  • Nutrients

Energy Flow

• Producers convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis
• Consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms
• Decomposers break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem

Trophic Levels

• Producers (1st trophic level)
• Herbivores (2nd trophic level)
• Carnivores (3rd trophic level)
• Omnivores (can occupy multiple trophic levels)

Ecosystem Services

• Provisioning services: food, water, timber, etc.
• Regulating services: climate regulation, pollination, pest control, etc.
• Cultural services: recreation, tourism, education, etc.
• Supporting services: nutrient cycling, soil formation, etc.

Ecosystem Types

• Terrestrial ecosystems: forests, grasslands, deserts, etc.
• Freshwater ecosystems: rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.
• Marine ecosystems: coral reefs, estuaries, open ocean, etc.

Ecosystem Disturbances

• Natural disturbances: wildfires, floods, hurricanes, etc.
• Human-induced disturbances: deforestation, pollution, climate change, etc.

Ecological Succession

• Primary succession: colonization of new or barren land
• Secondary succession: recolonization of disturbed land

Ecosystems Definition

• An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living components interacting with each other in a specific environment.

Components

• Biotic components include:
  • Producers (plants, algae)
  • Consumers (herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, decomposers)
• Abiotic components include:
  • Light
  • Temperature
  • Water
  • Soil
  • Air
  • Nutrients

Energy Flow

• Producers convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.
• Consumers obtain energy by consuming other organisms.
• Decomposers break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

• Producers occupy the 1st trophic level.
• Herbivores occupy the 2nd trophic level.
• Carnivores occupy the 3rd trophic level.
• Omnivores can occupy multiple trophic levels.

Ecosystem Services

• Provisioning services include: food, water, timber, etc.
• Regulating services include: climate regulation, pollination, pest control, etc.
• Cultural services include: recreation, tourism, education, etc.
• Supporting services include: nutrient cycling, soil formation, etc.

Ecosystem Types

• Terrestrial ecosystems include: forests, grasslands, deserts, etc.
• Freshwater ecosystems include: rivers, lakes, wetlands, etc.
• Marine ecosystems include: coral reefs, estuaries, open ocean, etc.

Ecosystem Disturbances

• Natural disturbances include: wildfires, floods, hurricanes, etc.
• Human-induced disturbances include: deforestation, pollution, climate change, etc.

Ecological Succession

• Primary succession involves the colonization of new or barren land.
• Secondary succession involves the recolonization of disturbed land.