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Definition
| Humans have such a huge influence on global processes that the earth is rapidly becoming the most relevant unit of study by ecologists. |
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Definition
| the biotic community integrated with its abiotic environment |
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| Primary production determines |
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Definition
| The total amount of energy available in the ecosystem |
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| What determines the amount of Primary production in ecosystems (bottom-up effects)? |
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Definition
Sunlight,
Water
Nutrients
Terrestrial primary production |
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| The 4 different Trophic Levels |
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Definition
Primary Producers
Primary Consumers/herbivores
Secondary Consumers/Predators
Tertiary consumers/Top Predators |
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Definition
| Have no natural enemy, eat predators. (e.g. Lions) |
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| Raymond Lindeman's trophic dynamic aspect |
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Definition
Primary produciton determines total amount of energy available in the ecosystem.
Energy is lost from the ecosystem with each trophic transfer. |
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| The percentage of energy in the biomass at a lower trophic level that is transferred to the biomass at the next higher higher trophic level. |
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Definition
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Determining Primary Production
Sunlight |
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Definition
Sunlight shines down on the canopy of a forest - some is reflected, some is converted to heat energy and some is absorbed by chlorphyll.
Infrared radiation is absorbed by molecules in organims, soil and water raising the temp. of the forest. |
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Term
Determining Primary Production
Nutrients |
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Definition
Depends on how much nutrients are available.
Can have a doubling effect in some areas of primary production.
Better effect in the dry meadow then in the wet meadow.
Main factor in aquatic ecosystems.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus |
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| What drives Terrestrial Primary Production |
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Definition
Sunlight, water and nutrients. The more fertile the soil the better the primary production.
Variation in soil fertility can significantly affect rates of terrestrial primary production. |
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| What drives Aquatic primary production |
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Definition
The positive relationship between nutrient availability and rate of primary production.
nutrient phosphorus control primary production.
Highest on continental margins, because of the renewal of energy from runoffs. |
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Aquatic primary production
Difference between fresh and salt water production? |
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Definition
Fresh water driven by nutrient phosphorus
Salt water driven by nutrient nitrogen. |
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Definition
Influence of consumers on ecosystems
Regulate community structure. |
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Definition
Effects of predators on prey that alter abundance, biomass, or productivity of a population.
When a predator indirectly effects primary production. |
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| Grazing Mammals on the Serengeti effect primary production how? |
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Definition
Primary production peaks at intermediate grazing levels.
Too much grazing reduces the plants ability to recover and too little has little effect on the plant. |
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Term
| 13C (carbon) Effects plants how? |
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Definition
| Abundance of 13C can be used to determine what types of plants animals eat. |
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Term
| The ratio of 15N to 14N (nitrogen) indicates? |
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Definition
| The trophic position of an organism. |
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