Energy Flow in Ecosystems

1
Table of Contents

• Energy Flow in Ecosystems
• Cycles of Matter
• Biogeography
• Biomes
• Aquatic Ecosystems

2
Food Chains and Food Webs
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• The movement of energy though an ecosystem can be
  shown in diagrams called food chains and food
  webs.

3
Building Vocabulary
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• A definition states the meaning of a word or
  phrase by telling about its most important
  feature or function. After you read the section,
  reread the paragraphs that contain definitions of
  Key Terms. Use all the information you have
  learned to write a definition of each Key Term in
  your own words.

Key Terms
Examples
food chain consumer herbivore omnivore carnivore s
cavenger
In a food chain, a consumer could be an
herbivore, an omnivore, or a carnivore, including
a scavenger.
An energy pyramid shows how much energy moves
from one level to another in a food web,
beginning with the producers.
decomposer
Decomposers are natures recyclers.
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Consumers
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Click the Video button to watch a movie about
  consumers.

5
Links on Food Chains and Food Webs
- Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Click the SciLinks button for links onfood
  chains and food webs.

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End of SectionEnergy Flow in Ecosystems
7
The Water Cycle
- Cycles of Matter

• The processes of evaporation, condensation, and
  precipitation make up the water cycle.

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Water Cycle Activity
- Cycles of Matter

• Click the Active Art button to open a browser
  window and access Active Art about the water
  cycle.

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The Carbon and Oxygen Cycles
- Cycles of Matter

• In ecosystems, the processes by which carbon and
  oxygen are recycled are linked. Producers,
  consumers, and decomposers play roles in
  recycling carbon and oxygen.

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The Nitrogen Cycle
- Cycles of Matter

• In the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen moves from the
  air to the soil, into living things, and back
  into the air.

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Sequencing
- Cycles of Matter

• Sequence is the order in which a series of events
  occurs. As you read, make a cycle diagram that
  shows the water cycle. Write each event of the
  water cycle in a separate oval.

The Water Cycle
Water evaporates.
Precipitation runs off or becomes groundwater.
Clouds form.
Precipitation falls.
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End of SectionCycles of Matter
13
Continental Drift
- Biogeography

• One factor that has affected how species are
  distributed is the motion of Earths continents.

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Continental Drift Activity
- Biogeography

• Click the Active Art button to open a browser
  window and access Active Art about continental
  drift.

15
Limits to Dispersal
- Biogeography

• The typical weather pattern in an area over a
  long period of time is the areas climate.

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Relating Cause and Effect
- Biogeography

• As you read, identify three causes of dispersal.
  Write the information in a graphic organizer like
  the one below.

Causes
Wind
Effect
Dispersal of species
Water
Living things, including humans
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End of SectionBiogeography
18
Rain Forest Biomes
- Biomes

• Temperate rain forests receive a great deal of
  rain and have moderate temperatures.

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Rain Forest Biomes
- Biomes

• Tropical rain forests are wet, warm biomes that
  contain an amazing variety of plants and other
  organisms.

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Desert Biomes
- Biomes

• A desert is an area that receives less than 25
  centimeters of rain per year.

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Grassland Biomes
- Biomes

• A grassland is an area that is populated mostly
  by grasses and other nonwoody plants.

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Deciduous Forest Biomes
- Biomes

• Many of the trees in the deciduous forest are
  deciduous trees, which shed their leaves and grow
  new ones each year. A deciduous forest receives
  at least 50 centimeters of precipitation each
  year. Temperatures vary greatly through the year.

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Boreal Forest Biomes
- Biomes

• Most of the trees in the boreal forest are
  coniferous trees, trees that produce their seeds
  in cones and have leaves shaped like needles.
  Winters in the boreal forest are cold and very
  snowy, but summers are warm and rainy enough to
  melt all the snow.

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Tundra
- Biomes

• The tundra is an extremely cold and dry biome.
  Most of the soil in the tundra is permafrost,
  which is frozen all year.

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Mountains and Ice
- Biomes

• Some areas of land are not part of any major
  biome. These areas include mountain ranges and
  land that is covered with thick sheets of ice.

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Earths Biomes Activity
- Biomes

• Click the Active Art button to open a browser
  window and access Active Art about Earths biomes.

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Biome Climates
- Biomes

• An ecologist collected climate data from two
  locations. The graph shows the monthly average
  temperatures in the two locations. The total
  yearly precipitation in Location A is 250 cm. In
  Location B, the total yearly precipitation is 14
  cm.

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Biome Climates
- Biomes

• Reading Graphs
• What variable is plotted on the horizontal axis?
  On the vertical axis?

• Month is plotted on the horizontal axis
  temperature is plotted on the vertical axis.

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Biome Climates
- Biomes

• Interpreting Data
• Look over the graph. How would you describe the
  temperature over the course of a year in Location
  A? In Location B?

• Location A temperatures are steady Location B
  temperatures fluctuate.

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Biome Climates
- Biomes

• Drawing Conclusions
• Given the precipitation and temperature data for
  these locations, in which biome would you expect
  each to be located? Explain your answers.

• Location A tropical rain forest
• Location B desert

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Biome Climates
- Biomes

• Predicting
• What would you expect a temperature graph for
  your biome to look like? Draw a temperature graph
  for the biome in which you live.

• Answers will vary but should reflect whether
  local climate is hot or cold, seasonal or steady.

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Comparing and Contrasting
- Biomes

• As you read, compare and contrast the different
  biomes by completing a table like the one below.

Tropical Rain Forest
Temperate Rain Forest
Character-istic
Deciduous Forest
Boreal Forest
Desert
Tundra
Grassland
Usually hot with great daily extremes
Temps vary throughout the year
Warm in summer, cold in winter
Warm to cool in summer, cold in winter
Cool winters, warm in summer
Warm all year
Tempera-ture
Cold all year
Mostly dry with a wet season
Abundant rain and snow
Precipit-ation
Rather wet all year
Moderate rainfall
Wet all year
Dry all year
Dry all year
Typical organisms
Gambles quail
Orangutan
Mosses
Mule deer
Grasses
Red fox
Lynx
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Deciduous Forests
- Biomes

• Click the Video button to watch a movieabout
  deciduous forests.

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End of SectionBiomes
35
Marine Ecosystems
- Aquatic Ecosystems

• The ocean is home to a number of different
  ecosystems. Factors such as water temperature and
  the amount of sunlight determine what types of
  organisms can live in each zone.

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Marine Ecosystems
- Aquatic Ecosystems

• The ocean is home to a number of different
  ecosystems. Factors such as water temperature and
  the amount of sunlight determine what types of
  organisms can live in each zone.

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Outlining
- Aquatic Ecosystems
Aquatic Ecosystems

• Freshwater Ecosystems
• Streams and Rivers
• Ponds and Lakes
• Marine Ecosystems
• Intertidal Zone
• Neritic Zone
• Open Ocean

• As you read, make an outline about the different
  types of aquatic ecosystems. Use the red headings
  for the main ideas and the blue headings for the
  supporting ideas.

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Links on Aquatic Ecosystems
- Aquatic Ecosystems

• Click the SciLinks button for links on aquatic
  ecosystems.

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End of SectionAquatic Ecosystems
40
Graphic Organizer
Free nitrogen is present in air.
Bacteria in root nodules fix free nitrogen into
compounds.
Bacteria release some free nitrogen back into the
air.
Nitrogen Cycle
Decomposers break down wastes and remains of
organisms.
Consumers obtain nitrogen by eating plants.
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End of SectionGraphic Organizer