1	Ecosystems
2	Natural Systems Why Start Here?
3	ECOLOGY The study of the relationship of organisms with one another and their environment Attempts to explain things like… What causes certain organisms to be found in certain places but not others? What controls the number of organisms living in a given area? How can we predict what will happen to a population if certain events occur?
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5	Energy 1. Energy can not be created or destroyed (You can move it around the system but in the end you have to account for total amount) 2. Energy can be transferred 3. No transfer system is perfect (Some energy is lost, usually as heat) (Useable forms to less usable forms)
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7	Ecosystem
8	Groups of Organisms
9	Autotrophs
10	Consumers
11	Decomposers Feed on dead organism or byproducts of organisms Includes Detritivores These organisms are the key components in nutrient cycling
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13	Ecosystem
14	Physical Environment (Abiotic)
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16	Ecosystem
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20	Energy Processes Photosynthesis Converting Radiant (light) energy and nutrients into Highly usable energy (sugars/carbohydrates) That can be stored!
21	Ecosystems Size is variable Tropical Rainforests Small Islands Lichen Communities Determined by organism size Has a temporal component
22	Ecosystem
23	Ecosystem Activity The Box Model
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27	Ecological Pyramids
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29	3 Types of Pyramids 1 Pyramid of Numbers Strictly numerical counts of organisms Not Very useful ecologically 2 Pyramid of Biomass Based on mass (weight) of organisms used in wildlife management 3 Pyramid of Energy Based on energy flow Most useful ecologically
30	Pyramid of Biomass
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32	Pyramid of Energy
33	Productivity (ENERGY) Rate a which energy is stored over time Energy unit/unit area /time Kcal/hectare/year Variable measurements of Productivity GPP NPP NCP
34	GPP (total) GROSS PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY The primary production of an ecosystem (rate at which the producers can capture and store energy) this is generally measured in biomass (MATTER)
35	NPP NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY Primary productivity of a ecosystem minus the total respiration rate for an ecosystem
36	What effects System Productivity Climate- long-term trends Temperature As temperature increases so does productivity Precipitation As precipitation increases so does productivity
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39	NCP NET COMMUNITY PRODUCTIVITY NPP- heterotrophic consumption Accumulation of biomass NCP + TIME = Fossil Fuels