Topic 4 – Energy Flow in Ecosystems

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1 Topic 4 – Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Day 2

2 DO NOW A team of ecologists observed feeding patterns of several populations in the desert. The energy pyramid shown depicts the feeding patterns the ecologist observed Identify the trophic level with the most available energy & the one with the LEAST available energy. Explain why there is a difference in the amount of available energy in the trophic levels of this desert ecosystem or any other ecosystem.

3 Biogeochemical Cycles

4 What are we learning today?
Benchmark Objectives SC.912.E.7.1 – Analyze the movement of matter and energy through the different biogeochemical cycles, including water and carbon. Students will analyze the movement of matter through different biogeochemical cycles. Water (hydrological) cycle Carbon cycle

5 What is the essential question?
What is the similarity between nutrient cycling by nature and waste recycling by humans?

6 What are biogeochemical cycles?
Biogeochemical comes from the Greek Bio- meaning life Geo- meaning earth Biogeochemical cycles trace the movement of organic and inorganic chemicals through Earth’s systems. Scientists study these cycle to better understand the connections between biotic and abiotic factors.

7 What is the water cycle? Also known as hydrological cycle.
The water cycle is the continuous movement of water through earth’s systems. It purifies water It provides fresh water Water is the most important abiotic factor in an ecosystem. 97% of earth’s water is stored in the oceans 70% of your body is water All living things require water in order to survive Maintains a comfortable environment that allows organisms to live Precipitation

8 How does the water cycle work?
The sun evaporates water from lakes and oceans. (transpiration from plants) As the air rises, it cools. The water vapor condenses into tiny droplets of water that crowd together and form a cloud. Wind blows the cloud towards the land The tiny droplets join together and fall as precipitation (rain, snow, hail, sleet) to the ground. 3 4 4 Cycle Energy 2 Energy 1 5 Cycle 5 The water soaks into the ground and collects in rivers, lakes, and oceans. (Some will remain stored as groundwater.) The cycle that never ends has started again!

9 How are organisms involved in the water cycle?
Plants soak up water from the soil through their roots Consumers drink water and also acquire water from their food. Water goes through the food chain, all the way to the decomposers. Water is returned to the atmosphere when it evaporates from plant leaves (transpiration). Consumers release some water through their wastes. Decomposers finish releasing all stored water found in dead organisms and wastes, back into the environment.

10 How does the water cycle work?
Main processes are ___ evaporation ___ condensation ___ precipitation ___ runoff ___ percolation ___ storage (above and below ground) ___ transpiration What is the role of plants in the water cycle? Plants absorb water and then allow it to evaporate through their leaves. How does deforestation affect the water cycle? Deforestation reduces evaporation from plans, so less water is returned to the air. Without plants, runoff increases, often carrying away soil and nutrient and disturbing cycles that depend on the presence of trees.

11 What is the carbon cycle?
The carbon cycle is the continuous movement of carbon through earth’s systems The atmosphere is the earth’s major reservoir of carbon, in the form of CO2 Carbon is found in all organic macromolecules (these molecules make up all living things: proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and lipids) Human activities have definitely had a huge impact on the carbon cycle with consequences to be observed

12 How does the carbon cycle work?
The atmosphere contains carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). Photosynthetic producers) use carbon dioxide to build organic compounds during photosynthesis Consumers obtain energy-rich molecules by eating other organisms. (Decomposers absorb those molecules into their cells). Cellular respiration by all organisms return CO2 to the atmosphere. The oceans are the main carbon sink (absorbs more than it releases). Carbon cycles in aquatic ecosystems too!! Burning of fossil fuels release the carbon originally trapped in plants millions of years ago. Burning any biotic factor releases CO2 to the atmosphere. CO2 Out Out Out CO2 Photosynthesis CO2 in In CO2 CO2 In In Decomposers In In Carbon trapped in dead plant and animal matter deep in Earth…

13 How does the carbon cycle work?
Main processes are ___ photosynthesis ___ cellular respiration ___ decay ___ fossil fuel use ___ carbon sink (ocean) 1. How does human interference in the carbon cycle may be causing an increase in global temperature? By burning fossil fuels, human are increasing the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Since there is more CO2 in the atmosphere than plants can use, the carcon cycle is no longer balance. CO2 traps the sun’s heat, increasing temperatures .

14 In Review: Interdependence…
Where Abiotic Meets Biotic! Nutrients cycle through ecosystems, but energy flows and eventually leaves. Energy must be continually supplied to the ecosystem by the Sun. Nutrients do not leave the ecosystem …they cycle between biotic and abiotic forms (circle of life) Energy enters and leaves the ecosystem (it flows through)

15 Sample Item A team of ecologists observed feeding patterns of several populations in the desert. The energy pyramid shown below depicts the feeding patterns the ecologists observed. Which of the following best explains the difference in the amount of available energy in the trophic levels of the desert or any ecosystem? There is less energy available in the producers because their tissues are less dense than those at higher trophic levels. There is more energy available in the second trophic level because less energy is needed for hunting compared to the higher trophic levels. There is more available energy in the birds of prey because they have greater muscle mass for storing energy than organisms in lower trophic levels have. There is less available energy in the fourth trophic level because of the loss of energy through metabolism in each of the lower trophic levels.

16 Home Learning “If I was a water Molecule” written by YOU
“If I was Carbon flowing through an ecosystem, I would do …..” written by YOU

17 Biogeochemical Cycle Journal Project
You will write your paper as a series of journal entries from a water molecule OR a carbon atom on vacation. As a water molecule/carbon atom, you take a vacation (travelling through the water/carbon cycle) and write home to friends and family about your trip. Things you should include in your writing: Describe the path you take, sites you see along the way, the changes of state you experience. The words and processes you need to be familiar with and included in your writing activity must include: Water Cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, percolation, transpiration, and food chains. Carbon Cycle: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, burning of organic matter, and food chains. ***For the food chains, the water molecule/carbon atom must go through at least 1 plant, 1 consumer, and 1 decomposer***

18 Journal Entry Expectations
Each journal entries can only discuss ONE process. Journal entries must be written from the correct point-of-view. (The water molecule/carbon atom in the first-person!) Journal entries must be a combination of narrative (story telling) and informative (factual information) writing. Vocabulary must be highlighted in some way. All written work must be your own writing and thoughts. No Plagiarism!!!!! Each entry must have a date including a year. Be Creative! Make it feel like I am reading a true journal about your journey. The presentation of your project is up to you. It may be hand-written or typed, may be made into an actual book or journal, etc. Extra credit points will be awarded for creativity.

19 Usted escribirá su papel como una serie de entradas de diario de una gota de agua o un átomo de carbono de vacaciones. Como una gota de átomo de carbono o agua, te vas de vacaciones (recorriendo el ciclo del agua/carbono) y escribes a casa a sus amigos y familiares sobre tu viaje. Usted puede comenzar en cualquier lugar en el ciclo. Cosas que usted debe incluir en su escritura: describir la ruta que usted toma, sitios que ves en el camino, los cambios de estado que tienes. Las palabras y los procesos con que necesita estar familiarizado y que debe ser incluido en su actividad de escritura son: Ciclo del agua: evaporación, condensación, precipitación, escorrentía, percolación, almacenamiento, transpiración y cadenas alimenticias. Ciclo del carbono: fotosíntesis, respiración celular, descomposición, quema de materia orgánica y las cadenas alimenticias.

20 Mínimo de 6 entradas en el diario y cada entrada debe ser por lo menos 2 párrafos.
Entradas de diario deben estar escritas desde el punto de vista correcto. (La molecula de agua o el atomo de carbon!) Entradas de diario deben ser una combinación de la narrativa (cuentos) e información objetiva. Todo trabajo escrito debe ser revisado y debe estar libre de errores, incluyendo ortografía, gramática, puntuación y capitalización. Todo trabajo escrito debe ser sus propios escritos y pensamientos. No hay plagio!!!!!! Cada entrada debe tener una fecha incluyendo un año. ¡ Sea creativo! Hazlo sentir que estoy leyendo un diario verdadero sobre su viaje. La presentación de su proyecto depende de usted. Puede ser escrita a mano o en la computador, puede ser hecho en un libro real o diario, etc.. Se otorgarán puntos de crédito adicional para la creatividad.