Biology 100/101
Lecture 2:
Ecosystems: Energy and Matter

(I reserve the right to add links to this outline, but I will not change the content significantly. Ed)

Text Readings
in Lewis
Review questions "To think about"
Pages 862-870 Page 870
Questions 6, 7, 9, 11, & 12
Page 870
Questions 1, 3, & 4

Objectives:
After studying this material you should be able to:

  1. Explain how the concepts listed below play an integral part in the energy flow and nutrient cycling of an ecosystem.

    Photosynthesis Respiration
    Biosynthesis Biomass
    Net Primary
    Production
    Decomposition

  2. Describe the relationship of each of the concepts above to the others in the list.

  3. Describe the role of each of the concepts listed in objective #1 in the global carbon cycle.

  4. Describe the roles of primary producers, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers, parasites, and symbiotic organisms in the energy flow and nutrient cycling of an ecosystem.

Web Resources:

NEW!
Global Trends in Environment and Development from World Resources Institute

Glossary Web Pages from Life, By Lewis

Biological Productivity in the Oceans

Web Links for Lewis, Chapter 42


Food Webs: Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycling


Factors affecting the amount of
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

NEW!
How the Greenhouse Effect Works from World Resources Institute
This link was found by Tish Ramirez

Lewis text figures 44.5 (greenhouse effect) and 42.13 (carbon cycle)


Community Trophic Level Relationships

The Rule of Tens (90% of energy is lost as heat
at each trophic level)

Text figure 42.9 (10% rule of energy transfer)
Text figure 42.10 (Energy flow through an ecosystem)