2.2 Energy Flow and Matter Cycling in Ecosystems
2 min read•july 25, 2024
Ecosystems thrive on energy flow, starting with solar radiation captured by primary producers. This energy moves through trophic levels, powering life processes and nutrient cycles. However, energy dissipates as heat at each transfer, following the .
Trophic levels form a hierarchy, from producers to , with each level receiving about 10% of the previous level's energy. This creates an , where decreases at higher levels. Meanwhile, matter cycles continuously, unlike the linear flow of energy.
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Energy flow in ecosystems
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- Solar radiation captured by primary producers through drives ecosystem energy flow
- Energy transfers through trophic levels, dissipating as heat at each transfer (Second Law of Thermodynamics)
- Photosynthesis converts solar energy to , initiating
- releases energy and returns carbon to atmosphere
- Energy flow supports and transformation in various cycles (nitrogen, phosphorus)
Trophic levels and energy transfer
- Feeding positions in food chain: primary producers (), (herbivores), (carnivores), (top predators),
- Each level receives ~10% of energy from previous level
- calculated as
- Biomass decreases at higher trophic levels
- Energy pyramids illustrate decrease in available energy (apex predators have least energy)
Matter cycling vs energy flow
- Matter cycles in circular process, elements recycled within and between ecosystems (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, water)
- Energy flows linearly, enters as solar radiation and exits as heat
- Matter recycled within ecosystem, energy requires constant input
- Both essential for ecosystem functioning and influenced by biotic and
Primary producers in biogeochemical cycles
- Autotrophic organisms (plants, algae, cyanobacteria) form base of most food webs
- Carbon cycle: fix atmospheric CO2 through photosynthesis, incorporate into organic compounds
- : some fix atmospheric nitrogen (legumes), absorb and assimilate from soil
- : uptake and incorporate phosphorus from soil, contribute to organic phosphorus pool
- : transpiration returns water to atmosphere, root systems influence soil water retention
- Provide : oxygen production, soil formation and stabilization, habitat creation
Key Terms to Review (23)
Abiotic factors: Abiotic factors refer to the non-living physical and chemical components of an ecosystem that influence living organisms and the environment. These include elements like sunlight, temperature, water, soil, and nutrients, which play critical roles in shaping the structure and function of ecosystems. Understanding abiotic factors is essential for comprehending energy flow and matter cycling, as they determine the availability of resources and conditions that affect living organisms and their interactions within ecosystems.
Autotrophs: Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing their own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy. This ability allows them to be foundational players in energy flow and matter cycling within ecosystems, as they convert sunlight or chemical compounds into organic matter that supports a wide range of life forms.
Biomass: Biomass refers to the total mass of living organisms in a given area or volume, typically measured in terms of carbon content. It plays a critical role in ecological systems, as it serves as a primary source of energy and nutrients for various organisms, and is a key component in understanding energy flow and matter cycling. The transformation and storage of biomass directly impact carbon cycling and influence the composition and quality of organic matter within ecosystems.
Biotic Factors: Biotic factors refer to the living components of an ecosystem that affect the growth, survival, and reproduction of organisms. These factors include interactions among organisms, such as predation, competition, and symbiosis, which play a crucial role in shaping the structure and function of ecosystems. Biotic factors are interconnected with abiotic factors, as they both contribute to energy flow and matter cycling within ecosystems.
Carbon cycle: The carbon cycle is the series of processes through which carbon atoms circulate in the Earth's systems, including the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. This cycle plays a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, supporting life, and maintaining ecological balance by involving various reservoirs and fluxes of carbon across different spheres.
Chemical Energy: Chemical energy is the potential energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds, such as molecules and atoms. It is a vital form of energy in biological processes, as it fuels cellular activities and drives the flow of energy through ecosystems by being released during chemical reactions, especially during metabolism and photosynthesis.
Decomposers: Decomposers are organisms, primarily fungi and bacteria, that break down dead organic matter and waste products, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. This process is crucial for maintaining the health of ecosystems by facilitating energy flow and matter cycling, as they transform complex organic materials into simpler substances that can be utilized by primary producers.
Ecological Efficiency: Ecological efficiency refers to the percentage of energy that is transferred from one trophic level to the next in a food chain. This concept highlights how energy diminishes as it moves through different levels of an ecosystem, influencing the structure and dynamics of food webs. Understanding ecological efficiency helps explain the productivity of ecosystems and the relationships between producers, consumers, and decomposers, shedding light on the flow of energy and matter within these systems.
Ecosystem Services: Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from natural ecosystems, which include provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services. These services play a vital role in maintaining the balance of our environment and supporting human life. Understanding these services is crucial as they connect to historical ecological interactions, energy dynamics in systems, and the impacts of urbanization on natural processes.
Energy Pyramid: An energy pyramid is a graphical representation that illustrates the flow of energy through different trophic levels in an ecosystem. It shows how energy decreases as you move up from producers at the base, through primary consumers, and into higher trophic levels like secondary and tertiary consumers, highlighting the inefficiencies in energy transfer and the interconnectedness of organisms within ecosystems.
Heat dissipation: Heat dissipation refers to the process by which excess heat is released from a system into its surroundings, typically in the form of thermal energy. This concept is crucial for understanding how energy flows through ecosystems, as it highlights how energy is lost from living organisms and environmental processes, influencing temperature regulation and the overall efficiency of energy use within ecosystems.
Nitrogen cycle: The nitrogen cycle is the biogeochemical process through which nitrogen is converted between its various chemical forms, enabling it to be used by living organisms. This cycle involves several key processes including nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and ammonification, connecting various Earth's spheres and influencing ecosystem dynamics.
Nutrient Cycling: Nutrient cycling refers to the movement and exchange of organic and inorganic matter back into the production of living matter. This process is vital as it connects various biological, geological, and chemical components of the Earth, ensuring that essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are continuously recycled within ecosystems.
Nutrient Uptake: Nutrient uptake refers to the process by which organisms, particularly plants, absorb essential nutrients from their environment, primarily through their roots or other specialized structures. This process is crucial for the growth and development of organisms, as it facilitates the transfer of vital elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into biological systems, thereby linking the cycling of matter with energy flow within ecosystems. Effective nutrient uptake is influenced by factors such as soil composition, microbial activity, and environmental conditions.
Phosphorus Cycle: The phosphorus cycle is the biogeochemical process through which phosphorus moves through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. This cycle is vital for living organisms as phosphorus is a key component of DNA, RNA, and ATP, playing a critical role in energy transfer and genetic information.
Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis is the biological process through which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy, usually from the sun, into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process is essential for producing oxygen and organic compounds that serve as food for various organisms, linking it to vital ecological and biogeochemical cycles.
Primary Consumers: Primary consumers are organisms that eat primary producers, typically herbivores that obtain their energy by consuming plants and algae. They play a vital role in energy flow within ecosystems by transferring energy from producers to higher trophic levels, such as secondary consumers. This interaction is essential for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and contributes to the cycling of matter, as primary consumers help decompose organic material when they die and release nutrients back into the environment.
Respiration: Respiration is a biochemical process in which organisms convert nutrients, primarily glucose, into energy in the form of ATP, while releasing waste products such as carbon dioxide and water. This process is crucial for the survival of living organisms and connects to various cycles and interactions within Earth's systems, affecting everything from energy flow to carbon storage.
Second Law of Thermodynamics: The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that in any energy transfer or transformation, the total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time. This law emphasizes that energy conversions are not 100% efficient and that some energy is always lost as waste heat, affecting how energy flows through ecosystems and how matter cycles within them.
Secondary Consumers: Secondary consumers are organisms that obtain their energy by consuming primary consumers, which are typically herbivores that feed on producers like plants. These consumers play a critical role in energy flow and matter cycling within ecosystems, as they help transfer energy from lower trophic levels to higher ones. By feeding on primary consumers, secondary consumers regulate populations and maintain balance within food webs, contributing to the overall health of ecosystems.
Tertiary consumers: Tertiary consumers are organisms that occupy the highest trophic level in a food chain, feeding primarily on secondary consumers. They play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems by controlling populations of lower trophic levels and contributing to energy flow and matter cycling. These organisms are typically carnivorous predators, such as large cats or birds of prey, that rely on other animals for sustenance, thereby demonstrating the interconnectedness of food webs.
Top Predators: Top predators are species that sit at the highest level of the food chain, exerting significant influence over their ecosystem by controlling populations of prey species and maintaining balance within the community. These predators often have few or no natural enemies and can affect both the structure and function of their habitats through their predation behaviors, which play a crucial role in energy flow and matter cycling in ecosystems.
Water Cycle: The water cycle is the continuous process by which water moves through the Earth's atmosphere, land, and bodies of water, involving various phases such as evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. This cycle is crucial for maintaining ecosystem health and regulating climate patterns, as it connects the movement of water with energy flow and nutrient cycling.