BIOLOGY 197FH Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Chemosynthesis, Thermodynamics, Water Cycle
27 Apr 2016
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7 major ecosystems: desert, ocean, tundra, grasslands, tropical rain forests (optimal growth conditions consistent rain and warmth, temperate forests, taiga (swampy forests - formerly glaciated - just below the tundra - boreal forest) Soil underneath is the most fertile soil on the planet. Sun -> primary producers -> primary consumers -> secondary -> tertiary consumers. Disturbances affect flow of energy or distribution of matter. 1st law of thermodynamics: energy cannot be created or destroyed. 2nd law of thermo: every exchange of energy increases the entropy in the universe. Some energy is always lost as heat only ~ 10% is conserved. Less than 2% of energy from the sun is used in photosynthesis. Ecosystems are open systems, absorbing energy and mass, releasing heat and waste. Autotrophs: build molecules through photo or chemosynthesis as an energy source. Detritivores decomposers derive energy from detritus. The amount of this production determines the ecosystem"s energy budget. Gross production how much energy there is (gpp)
