Food chains and Tropic levels

V Going from one tropic level to the next, an estimated 90% of the
energy that was present at the lower level is lost

VSecond tropic level (herbivores) is only 10% of the energy at the first
tropic level (producers)

VThird tropic level (carnivores) is only 1% of the energy at the first

tropie level (producers)

VDue tothese mass requirements, food chains rarely go beyond tropic

levels

17
Nutrient cycles
VTissues of living organism shows more than 95% of the mass of the
tissues is made from just6 of Earth's 92 naturally occurring elements
o Carbon
oHydrogen Also Building blocks for the manufacture of
Carbohydrates, Proteins and Fats
o Oxygen
o Nitrogen Plants composed of Carbohydrates &
o Sulfur Animals composed of Proteins primarily
o Phosphorous
VOthert main elements for rest 5% are
o Iron (Fe) Mostly in Hemoglobin
o Magnesium (Mg) Mostly Chlorophyll
o Calcium (Ca) Bones and Cartilage
VOther elements (trace quantities): 16 clements, like Cu, Zn, Na, K
VAllthese elements are flowed through Trophic levels
19
Carbon Cycle
Fast and slow processes in the carbon cycle

A m s p h o r| c C 2

Flro
Vogetatlon
Fossil fuol

Soll
Surfaco wator

Doop wator

Speed of oxchango procossos

Very fast (Less Ihan 1 year) Sedimont
Fast (1 to 10 yoars)
Slow (10 to 100 years) Fossilfuels are not naturally a part of the fast cycle: every ton emitted
Very slow (moro Uhan 100 yoars) changes the carbon cycle for thousands of years

22
Carbon Cycle
(Co, in the atmosphere)

Solubilization and chemical processes

Biodegradation
Photosynthesis Soluble inorganic carbon
predominantly HCO
Fixed organic carbon,
|{CH,0} and xenobiotic
carbon Chemical precipitation
Dissolution with
and incorporation of
mineral carbon into
Xenobiotics manu dissolved CO, microbial shells
facture with petroleum Biogeochemical
processes
feedstock

Fixed organic Insoluble ingorganiccarbon)

hydrocarbon, C,H,y predominantly CaCO, and
and kerogen CacO,.MgcO,
25
Carbon Cycle
VPhotosynthesis in which algae, higher plants, and photosynthetic
bacteria use light energy to fix inorganic carbon in a high-energy
organic form
Solar energy + 6C0, + 6 H,0 chlorophyll ’ CgH0, + 60,
carbon dioxide water glucose oxygen

Respiration in which organicmatter is oxidized in the presence of

molecular O, (aerobic respiration) or anaerobic respiration, which uses
oxidants other than O, Such as NO, or SO
CH0, +0, ’6 C0, +6 H,0+ energy
Degradation of biomass by bacteria and fungi.
oBiodegradation of dead organic matter leads in the accumulation of excess waste
residue and converts organic carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus to simple
organic forms that can be utilizcd by plants as fertilizer.
26
Carbon Cycle
Biodegradation of organic matter occurs in treatment of municipal
wastewater by rcactions represented in a general sense by,

{CH,0}+ O,(g) > CO, +H,0+ biomass

V Methaneproduction by methane-forming bacteria, such as
Methanobacterium, in anoxic (oxygen-less) sediments, plays a key
role in local and global carbon cycles as the final step in the anaerobic
decomposition of organic matter.
v Sourceof about 80% of the methane entering the atmosphere.
2{CH,0} > CH, + CO,
Microbial methane production is a fermentation reaction, defined as an
oxidation-reduction process in which both the oxidizing agent and
reducing agent ate organic substances.

27
Carbon Cycle
ATMOSPHERE

CH CO2

Surface

Methane Carbon Dioxide (dissolved)

photo
Water
synthesis respiration respiration
aerobic Plants Animals
anaerobic
respiration respiration
(microorganisms)
aerobic Detritus /Organic Matter
respiration
(microorganisms)

Detritus /Organic Matter

FIGURE 13.9 Transformations of carbon in aquatic systems.

29
Nitrogen Cycle
NO,
(nitrate dissolved in water)

Nirification

Oxidation NO,
(nirite
dissolved in water) Denitrification

N2. N,0
(atmosphere)

Nittogen Fixation
NH, (NH,OH)
(ammonia dissolved in water)

Photosynthesis amino acids

study yourse]f imp for

Respiration

exam dont(copyit Protcins

(animals &plants)

FIGURE 13.10 Transformation of nitrogen in an aquatic system.

30