Biology 242: Lecture 14Spring 2001

Ecosystem Ecology

  1. Abiotic factors
    1. Sun/solar energy
    2. Water
    3. Temperature
    4. Soil structure/pH/nutrient content
    5. Oxygen
    6. Natural catastrophes
    7. Wind

  2. Biomes

  3. Energy flow through ecosystems is NON-CYCLIC
    1. In what form is the energy?
    2. Food chains/food webs
      1. Autotrophs vs. heterotrophs
      2. Trophic levels = functional levels
        1. Producers
        2. Consumers
        3. Decomposers/detritivores
      3. Examples
    3. Energy flow
    4. Primary productivity (PP)
      1. Gross primary productivity (GPP)
      2. Net primary productivity (NPP)
    5. Pyramids

  4. Nutrient/chemical flow through ecosystems is CYCLIC
    1. Molecules of life
    2. Biogeochemical cycles
      1. Hydrologic (water) cycle
      2. Carbon cycle
      3. Nitrogen cycle
      4. Phosphorous cycle


"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
Winston Churchill