Ecosystem, GPP, NPP

Energy Flow through Ecosystems

Class Notes

Producer: autotroph, self sufficient/feeding

Organic: contain carbon (except for CO2)

Autotroph: organisms that can synthesise the organic materials needed from inorganic sources. Includes all green plants.

Heterotroph: Organisms that take in 'ready made' organic materials made by other organisms.

Food chain: a pathway of energy from one organism to another.

Producer (1^st trophic level)

Primary consumer (2^nd trophic level)

Secondary consumer (3^rd trophic level)

Tertiary consumer (4^th trophic level)

Quaternary consumer (5^th trophic level)

Chemosynthetic autotrophy: they use chemical energy to produce the organic molecules that they need. Usually live deep in the oceans.

Primary productivity: the rate at which energy is incorporated into organic molecules in an organism.

Biosphere: the inhabited areas of the planet.

Habitat: area which an organism lives, with distinct conditions.

Population: the number of individuals of a species living in an area at a given time.

Community: the various populations sharing a habitat/ecosystem makes up the community (includes plants).

Niche: the conceptual position a species has in the…