SYSTEMS ECOLOGY  Steady state of ecosystems

 System o When total input = total output

o Any part of the universe that can be o Dynamic equilibrium
isolated for the purposes of o Homeostasis = when environment is
observation and study kept constant

Ecosystem vvv closed system

 any unit that includes all organisms that
function together (the biotic community) in
a given area interacting with the physical
environment so that the flow of energy
leads to clearly defined biotic structures and
cycling of materials between living and non-
living parts (Odum 1983).
 Basic functional unit of ecology
 Components and processes of an ecosystem:
o Biotic community
 Group of populations that
interact with one another
o Flow of energy
o Cycling of materials
o Feedback control loops

 Autotrophs – produce their own food

 Heterotrophs – eat autotrophs for energy
needs

 Ecosystems are living systems difficult to

isolate without affecting its properties
o BOUNDARIES are best defined in
terms of flows
 There should be less of these
crossing boundaries than
staying with them.
o Open vs. Closed system
 IMBALANCES IN NATURAL CYCLES Important Notes to Supplement the Slides.
SUMMARY OF LESSONS:

Regarding flow of energy:

 Flow of energy tends to be one-way and is
eventually lost (most times as heat). We see
this in the trophic level concept.
 As energy moves from one trophic level to
the next, most of the useful energy is given
off as heat
 In land, there are 3-5 trophic levels.
 In seas, there are 6-9 trophic levels.

Regarding open and closed systems:

 Open system
o Energy flows outside of the defined
boundaries.
o Because energy cross boundaries,
some energy is lost from the system.
 Closed system
o No material/energy crossing the
boundary of the system.
o The system is in a steady state.

Regarding Nutrient Cycling (Yung pail-water-

The associated urbanization is cutting (?) and
pump illustration):
releasing heat, manifested as convection current,
 Changes associated with bifurcation will
which is the turbulence you feel when a plane
lead to changes that will affect other
crosses over a city.
compartments.
o Whether the input is decreased or
-------
increased, there will be a cascade of
changes in all compartments.
 If no bifurcation:
o If flow rate in is increased
 Water level rises in one
compartment, decreases in
the other, but there are no
visible changes on the water
level of other compartments.
o If flow rate in is decreased
 Water level drops in one
compartment, which will
lower its flow rate to the next
compartment, and so on,
until one compartment has
most of the water and all
other compartments nearly
empty.
  However, the pail will never o Phosphorus is usually the limiting
run dry, as this is a closed nutrient in life processes (remember
system. the Redfield ratio of 106 C: 16 N: 1
 Higher content = Export will remain the P), so the increase in P distribution
same usually leads to cultural
o No change is observed in other eutrophication
compartments.
 Lower content = Export will decrease after  Nitrogen cycle
the content nearly empties o Predominantly a gaseous cycle, so it
o Other compartments will change is predominantly stored in the
 Is the water stagnant? atmosphere
o NO. The water level is stable, but o The pipes and pumps assumption
they don’t have permanent applies in this cycle, as the amount
residence in one compartment, as of N in the atmosphere does not
they are still flowing from one affect the rate of nitrification done
compartment to another. by bacteria and lightning.

Regarding Biogeochemical cycles: Regarding biodiversity ecosystem function:

 Turnover rate  Interaction strengths vary in every
o # of times the contents of a ecosystem, and the bigger the system is, the
compartment is replaced less important the role every little
 Residence time interaction plays.
o The amount of time before the o More species with similar
contents are completely replaced abundances  more stable network
 Carbon cycle of interactions.
o Amount of carbon in Ocean > C in  Ex. a predator will not go
soil > C in atmosphere extinct if a prey of theirs go
o Has the fastest turnover rate and extinct, as it can prey on
shortest residence time other organisms. Compare it
o The pipes and pumps assumption to when a predator only has
does NOT apply here because the one species as a prey, then its
amount of C in the atmosphere survival is solely dependent
affects how much C flows to the on the existence of that prey.
ocean (a simple dissolution o A species that has a big role in the
process), and such, the rate of ecosystem (e.g. whales in aquatic
import to one container affects the ecosystems) can cause a collapse if
rate of its export, which should not its role is disturbed.
be the case in the illustrated
example of a system using the pails
and water and pumps.

 Phosphorus cycle
o Sedimentary cycle (so predominantly
stored in sediments under the
ocean) and tied to the rock cycle,
hence, it has the longest residence
time of a thousand years and the
slowest turnover rate