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Chapter 54, Part 1 RG

The document outlines key concepts related to ecosystems, including definitions, energy dynamics, trophic relationships, and decomposition processes. It discusses the energy budget of ecosystems, primary production in various environments, and factors affecting productivity. Additionally, it covers production efficiency and the implications of trophic efficiency and ecological pyramids.

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2 views

Chapter 54, Part 1 RG

The document outlines key concepts related to ecosystems, including definitions, energy dynamics, trophic relationships, and decomposition processes. It discusses the energy budget of ecosystems, primary production in various environments, and factors affecting productivity. Additionally, it covers production efficiency and the implications of trophic efficiency and ecological pyramids.

Uploaded by

But Nobody Came
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name ________________________________________________________________ Period.

________

Ch. 54 – Ecosystems
Overview:

1. Definition of ecosystem:

2. Describe 2 important processes that affect the dynamics of an ecosystem.

What is Concept 54.1?________________________________________________________________

1. Ecosystems and Physical Laws

a. Label the energy and nutrient dynamics diagram.

b. Explain how the principle of conservation of energy


relates to this diagram.

c. How does the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics apply to


this diagram?

2. Trophic Relationships

a. How do scientists determine which trophic level an organism belongs to?

b. Which trophic level supports all others?

3. Decomposition

a. Why are decomposers considered the major link between producers and consumers in an ecosystem?

What is Concept 54.2? ____________________________________________________________

1. Ecosystem Energy Budget

a. What is primary production?

b. Why do ecologists use the rate of photosynthesis as the basis for the energy budget in an ecosystem?

c. Why is only a small portion of the solar energy that strikes the Earth’s surface stored by primary producers?

d. Why is an ecosystem’s net primary production lower than its gross primary production?
e. How can measuring biomass be used to determine net primary productivity?

f. Using the graph:

 Which 2 types of ecosystems have the highest NPP PER UNIT AREA?

 Why does the ocean the open ocean account for almost 25% Earth’s primary production despites its
relatively low rate of primary production?

2. Primary Production in Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems

a. Describe the 2 main limiting factors in aquatic environments and their effects on primary production.

b. How does upwellings relate to high primary productivity?

c. What is eutrophication?

d. What impacts might eutrophication have on aquatic environments?

3. Primary Production Terrestrial and Wetland Ecosystems

a. Describe the 2 key factors that control primary productivity in terrestrial and wetland environments.

b. Using the graph, list the biomes with the:


 Highest productivity:

 Lowest productivity:

c. Explain how evapotranspiration relates to primary productivity.

d. What kind of soil nutrients are limiting factors to primary


productivity?
What is Concept 54.3? _____________________________________________________________________
1. Production Efficiency

a. What is secondary production?

b. Label the diagram.

c. Circle the amount of secondary production for this diagram.

d. Write the equation for production efficiency.

e. Practice: If an insect that eats plant seeds containing 100J of energy


uses 30J of that energy for respiration and excretes 50J in its feces,
what is the insect’s net secondary production? What is its production
efficiency?

2. Trophic Efficiency and Ecological Pyramids

a. What is trophic efficiency?

b. Approximately how much energy is lost when moving up each


trophic level?

c. Label the energy pyramid diagram. 

d. How do biomass pyramids differ from production pyramids?

e. Why is eating meat a relatively inefficient way of trapping


photosynthetic production?

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