BESC 201 1st Edition Lecture 4 Outline of Last Lecture I Earth s Systems and Chemistry Outline of Current Lecture II Energy Fundamentals III Ecosystems Current Lecture Chapter 2 Energy Fundamentals Energy is always conserved but it changes in quality Organisms resist entropy through inputs of energy from food sources Light energy from the sun powers most living systems 6CO2 6H2O sun s energy C2H12O6 6O2 Cellular respiration releases chemical energy C6H12O6 6O2 6CO2 6H2O energy Ecosystems Energy flows and matter cycles through ecosystems Estuary a water body where rivers flow into the ocean mixing fresh water with salt water Energy flows in one direction and exits ecosystems heat and respiration Matter is recycled within ecosystem dead organisms nutrients absorbed Energy is converted to biomass Gross primary production total amount of chemical energy produced by autotrophs These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Net primary production gross primary production minus cellular respiration Net primary productivity the rate autotrophs convert energy to biomass Differences in net primary productivity result in distinct geographical patterns wetlands deserts forests Ecosystems interact across landscapes Ecotones areas where ecosystems meet and may have transitional zones Landscape ecology scientists study how landscape structure affects the abundance distribution and interactions of organisms Useful for migration and planning sustainable cities
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