Ecosystem Ecology

Video Transcription

Hi, I'm Jensen Morgan. We're going to talk about some great concepts in environmental science. Today's topic is ecosystems ecology. So let's get started.

We're going to talk about ecosystems ecology, ecosystem phenomena, and the flow of energy through ecosystems. Ecosystem ecology is the study of physical and biological structures and processes of living and nonliving components of an ecosystem. As a review ecosystems are the living and nonliving components that interact in a given area.

The difference between ecosystem ecology and population or community ecology is that ecosystem ecology includes the study of the abiotic or nonliving elements. Ecosystem ecology considers the interactions between the following-- our atmosphere, such as the gases in the air like carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen; our lithosphere, such as rocks like phosphate, potassium, and calcium; our hydrosphere, such as the water in our oceans, surface land water, and groundwater; and finally, living organisms. In general, remember that ecosystems do not have clear boundaries, and their edges can change over time.

Ecosystem ecologists often study large-scale issues and phenomenon that include things like the factors that affect the production of energy from sunlight, the flow of energy through an ecosystem, the flow of nutrients through an ecosystem, the role that decomposition plays, as well as the production of biomass, and the effects of weather and climate on ecosystems. All energy in an ecosystem originates from sunlight converted into sugars through photosynthesis by primary producers, also known as autotrophs because they produce their own food. Most plants and plankton are autotrophs.

Heterotrophs fill out the rest of the pyramid because they get their sustenance by consuming other organisms. The energy then flows upward in an ecosystem through various levels-- primary producer to primary consumer, such as a rabbit that eats vegetables. Then secondary consumers, like a snake, eat an organism from the group below it. And finally, tertiary consumers, like an eagle or a hawk, eat an organism from the group below, completing the pyramid.

The energy is transferred as one level feeds on the one below it and metabolizes that energy. Eventually, all energy ends up back at the bottom when organisms die. They are then broken down and consumed by the decomposer group. This group is filled with things like worms and mushrooms.

Now let's have a recap. We talked about ecosystem ecology, ecosystem phenomena, and the flow of energy through ecosystems. Well, that's all for this tutorial. I look forward to next time. Bye.