Envi. Sci. Unit 3 - Matter and Energy PDF

Matter and Energy in the Ecosystem Unit 3 Roles of Living Things Producers - organisms that make their own food. Same as autotrophs Plants are the most common producers Plants undergo photosynthesis Nearly all of the energy in the biosphere comes from the sun through photosynthesis. Reactan...

Matter and Energy in the Ecosystem Unit 3 Roles of Living Things Producers - organisms that make their own food. Same as autotrophs Plants are the most common producers Plants undergo photosynthesis Nearly all of the energy in the biosphere comes from the sun through photosynthesis. Reactants - Carbon dioxide (CO2) + Water (H2O) Products - Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen (O2) Photosynthesis Reaction Other producers In aquatic ecosystems, protists and bacteria are the most important organisms Bacteria - Cyanobacteria Protists - Algae and Diatoms Cyanobacteria Diatoms Algae Chemoautotrophs Chemoautotrophs - bacteria that get energy from chemicals Live in hot springs and thermal ocean vents Consumers Consumers - organisms that cannot make their own food (heterotrophs) All animals Fungi Many protists Many bacteria Types of Consumers Herbivores - organisms that eat only plants - primary consumers Many insects Many birds Grazing animals - cows, buffalo, and antelope Herbivores Types of Consumers Carnivores - organisms that eat herbivores or other carnivores and are adapted to hunting, capturing and eating prey Lion, snakes, hawks, spiders Omnivores - organisms that eat both producers and other consumers Humans, bear, chimpanzees Carnivores Omnivores Types of Consumers Scavengers - eat dead plants or feed on the dead bodies of animals. Hyenas and vultures Many insects Decomposers Decomposers - bacteria and fungi that consume the bodies of dead organisms and other organic wastes They feed on dead and decaying plants and animals Scavengers and decomposers are essential to the environment because they recycle nutrients from organisms back into the soil. Plants use these nutrients to grow and begin the food chain once again Cellular Respiration Consumers take in food (glucose) and oxygen and make carbon dioxide and energy through a process called cellular respiration Cellular respiration is the opposite of photosynthesis Trophic Levels Trophic level - is a layer in the structure of feeding relationships in an ecosystem Food Chains and Food Webs Food Chain - a series of organisms that transfer food between the trophic levels of an ecosystem. Food Webs Food Webs - a network of food chains representing the feeding relationships in an ecosystem Diversity and Stability An older, more mature ecosystem will have more species - it will be more stable and less vulnerable to disturbance Ex. Tropical Rainforest A younger, immature species will have fewer species - it is less stable and more vulnerable and changes often Ex. Tundra (few species with that range of tolerance)  Biological Magnification Biological Magnification - the increasing concentration of a pollutant in organisms at higher trophic levels Ex. DDT DDT is a pesticide that was sprayed on crops to kill insects. It washed into the river because of rain (runoff) It also washed into lakes and ponds and was taken in by producers It is concentrated in each level of the food chain and was ingested by bald eagles It caused reproductive issues with the bald eagle The Eagle population suffered as a result of DDT.