Ecosystems Ecosystems definition A community of organisms plants

Ecosystems • Ecosystems definition- A community of organisms (plants, animals, and microbes) coexisting with the non living or inorganic things in their environment.

Ecosystem Components • Four Components 1. Abiotic- inorganic (non living) and organic (living) substances found in the habitat. 2. Producers- Autotrophic organisms (grow on their own i. e. algea, plants) 3. Consumers- Heterotrophic organisms (depend on autotrophic producers i. e. animals) 4. Reducers or Decomposers- Break down waste and dead tissues (i. e. fungi, bacteria)

Waterways are easy to see how an Ecosystem Works. Credit: www. earthenergylandscaping. com

Ecosystem Processes • Four Processes 1. 2. 3. 4. Water Cycle Mineral/Nutrient Cycle Energy Levels Community Dynamics or Succession If any one of the four processes change…the entire ecosystem changes!!

Water Cycle • Also known as the hydrologic cycle • Water is always moving • Water is always changing between liquid, vapor, and ice. • Availability of water affects ecosystems

Nutrient Cycle • Nutrients made available by the decomposers. • Consumed by the producers and consumers. • Then returns to the decomposers in the form of manure, deadfall, carcass decay, etc.

Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Energy (heat) is required for the water and nutrient cycles to effectively function. • Must be constant • Fluctuations cause major changes • This is why “Global Warming” is so worrisome…or is it? the ecosystem to have

Community Dynamics or Succession. • Community Dynamics- How ecological community evolves over time. • Succession- What happens after a series of events. • Bare Ground =>grass => shrubs => trees => mature forest => fire => bare ground…the cycle continues.