Biology 20

Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere

Outcomes:
20–A1.1k explain, in general terms, the one-way flow of energy
through the biosphere and how stored energy in the biosphere, as a
system, is eventually “lost” as heat
20–A1.2k explain how energy in the biosphere can be perceived as a
balance between both photosynthetic and chemosynthetic
activities and cellular respiratory activities
20–A1.3k explain the structure of ecosystem trophic levels, using
models such as food chains and food webs
20–A1.4k explain, quantitatively, the flow of energy and the exchange
of matter in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, using models such
as pyramids of numbers, biomass and energy.

03/24/2021
Review
Producer, Consumer, Decomposer
Review
Biotic
vs
Abiotic
Food Chains
 Review
• What is the role of producers?
• Describe how water in cycled.
• Distinguish between and open system and a
closed system
Review: Greenhouse Effect
Global Warming
Biology 20 Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere
Chapter 1
pg. 6
 Chapter 1
The Biosphere as a Closed System
• “An ecosystem is constantly changing, yet remains
the same”. What does this quote mean?

• Dynamic (_______________________________)
equilibrium (_______________________________)
means constantly changing, but adjustments are
made so the entire system is not disturbed.
 The Biosphere
• The Earth has 3 basic structural zones:
– Lithosphere (__________)
– Hydrosphere (_________)
– Atmosphere (_________)

• These 3 zones together

make up the biosphere.
 Interactions
• The biotic (_________) and abiotic
(_________) components make up an
ecosystem.
• A group of the same species is a population,
which generally shares the same area with
another populations, which makes up a
community.
 Importance of Abiotic Factors
• Are vital to any ecosystem because they affect
the type and number of organisms that can
live there.
• May cause gradual, cyclical (_________), and
also drastic changes (_________,_________)
• There are 3 general categories:
– Climatic factors – light, temperature, moisture,
wind, and fire.
– Physiographic factors – latitude, altitude, and
topography.
– Edaphic factors – texture and chemical
composition of the soil.
 Dependence
• Biological diversity depends
upon the number of species
in an ecosystem.
• A food chain is a step by step
sequence linking organisms that
feed on others.
• A food chain is not realistic as an ecosystem is much
more diverse. Most consumers do not rely on just
one producer.
 Levels of the food pyramid
• Producers – autotrophs, make their own food
• Consumers – heterotrophs, eat producers or other
consumers
• Decomposers – eat detritus, waste from plants and
animals and remains
• ___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
_____________________
• Indicator species are sensitive to changes in an
ecosystem and therefore give warning that
organisms are likely to be effected. They live often
as amphibians- as they live in both water and
land.
• ________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
_______________________________
Factors contributing to Loss of Species
• Loss of Habitat – no where to live
• Air and Water Quality – air and water
pollution may change the pH of the organism’s
habitat, offspring may not survive
• Climate Change – hot, cold, dry, wet
• Ultraviolet Radiation – increased amounts of
UV rays reaching the Earth destroys skin cells
 What is the value of wolves?
• Turn to page 15
Biology 20 Unit A: Energy and Matter Exchange in the Biosphere
Chapter 2
pg. 20
 Chapter 2
Energy Flow in the Biosphere
• Autotrophs are organisms that can make their
own food.
• Ex. __________________________________________
• Consumers feed on autotrophs and are called
heterotrophs.
• __________________________________________
__________________________________________
 Trophic Levels
• Autotrophs (_________________________)
are the first trophic level.
• Organisms that eat producers are primary
consumers and in the second trophic level.
• Organisms that eat primary consumers are
called secondary consumers and are in the
third trophic level.
TROPHIC LEVELS

Level 5: Apex
predators which
have no predators
are at the top of
the food chain.

 Level 4: Carnivores which eat

other carnivores are called
tertiary consumers.

 Level 3: Carnivores
which eat herbivores
are called secondary
consumers.

 Level 2:
Herbivores eat
plants and are
called primary
consumers.

 Level 1: Plants and

algae make their own
food and are called
primary producers.
 Photosynthesis
• Green plants make their own food by
converting CO2 and H2O, with energy from the
sun to glucose and oxygen.
• Shows the relationship between abiotic (sun)
and biotic (plants).
Reaction Summary:
 Cellular Respiration
• All organisms undergo cellular respiration to
release energy from food.
• Cellular respiration is the breakdown of
glucose which releases the energy stored in
it’s bonds.
Reaction Summary:
 Chemosynthesis
• Producers can convert simple molecules into
more complex ones to make nutrients.
• These bacteria are called chemoautotrophs.
Chemo (__________________), auto
(________________), trophs
(________________). Usually are bacteria
that live in thermal vents and feed on
hydrogen sulfide or carbon dioxide.
 Recycling
• To maintain the biosphere, matter must be recycled.
• The elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and
nitrogen are the main constituents of the 4 basic
organic compounds found in living organisms –
carbohydrates (________________), lipids
(________________), proteins
(________________), and nucleic acids (heredity
material).
 Limits on Energy Transfer
• Producers use most of the energy they create to
grow and sustain itself. Some is passed on to
consumers.
• Primary consumers eat producers but often can not
completely digest the plants, so not all of the energy
can be obtained from the plant. Energy is used to
grow, move, maintain body temperature, etc.
• Secondary consumers benefit from only about 10%
of the energy from it’s meals.
 Laws of Thermodynamics
First:
______________________________________
______________________________________
___________________________________.
Second:
______________________________________
______________________________________
___________________________________.
 Pyramids of
• Energy – measure amount of energy at each
trophic level
• Numbers – number of organism at each
trophic level in an ecosystem
• Biomass – the dry mass of organisms at each
trophic level
 Chapter 3
The Cycling of Matter in the Biosphere
• The movement of water through the biosphere is called
the __________________.
The importance of water:
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• ____________________________________.
• Is the medium in which metabolic reactions takes place.
• ____________________________________
(ie.cytoplasm).
 Acid deposition
• Acid deposition and the water cycle –
________________________________
________________________________
___________________________, and return
to the surface of the earth in the form of rain
or snow.
• Acid precipitation destroys structures, and kills
organisms.
 The Carbon Cycle
• Carbon cycle – is the cycling of carbon between
organisms and the environment.
• Carbon is the key element ___________
______________________.
• Carbon enters the _________________
________________, volcanic eruptions, burning of
fossil fuels (combustion), weathering, ocean
sediments, and
_______________________________.
• Carbon enters the cycle through
_______________________________.
 The Oxygen Cycle
• Oxygen cycle - makes up _____ of the Earth’s atmosphere
• ___________________ as organic molecules, like
glucose, C6H12O6, synthesized by producers.
• Two major inorganic sources of oxygen include carbon
dioxide, CO2, and water, H2O.
• All organisms require oxygen, except anaerobic bacteria,
to __________________ contained in the organic
molecules such as glucose – through cellular respiration.
• Photosynthesis contributes to the _________
_______________ and cellular respiration depletes it as
well as the formation of inorganic mineral oxides
(rusting).
 Albedo
• Albedo – the fraction or percent of radiation
striking a surface that is
________________________. Surfaces that
have a __________ (reflect a large percentage
of incident solar radiation)
_________________ and surfaces with a
_____________ are perceived as
____________________.
 Nitrogen Cycle
• Nitrogen cycle – is the cycling of nitrogen between
organisms and the environment.
• Nitrogen makes up about ______ of the atmospheric
gases and is a key component in
__________________________.
• Nitrate ions (NO3-) and ammonia ions (NH4+) are the
__________________________ that organisms can use.
• The process of converting nitrogen gas into nitrates and
ammonia ions, which can then be used by plants, is
called ___________________.
 Nitrogen Cycle Con’t
• Nitrogen can enter the environment from
nitrates found in_____, animal proteins by
______________and _______________, and
____________ __________________.
• Nitrogen can re-enter the atmosphere by
__________________ – soil bacteria that
reduce nitrates or nitrites to gaseous nitrogen
and some nitrous oxides in the presence of
little oxygen (aerobic).
 Phosphorus Cycle
• Phosphorus is a key element found in
________________, the ____________
molecules (ATP and ADP), and the calcium
phosphate of ______________.
• Phosphorus is usually found in the form of
phosphate ions and is recycled in two ways –
__________________________
___________________.