APB Unit 8.3 - Ecology

Primary producer v. Primary consumer v. Secondary consumer v. Tertiary consumer

Detritivores = Decomposers of Detritus

Carnivores v. Herbivores v. Omnivores

Primary production (of energy)

Gross primary production or GPP = total energy available

Net primary production or NPP = energy left after energy used by primary producers

Net ecosystem production or NEP = total biomass accumulation

Different for Terrestrial v. Aquatic

Limitations: Light and Nutrients

Eutrophication ~ algal bloom

From one trophic level to the next, we only gain 10% of the energy.

90% of the energy is lost as heat.

We defined ecosystems and how you can measure the energy use of an ecosystem.

We discussed several limitations to ecological energy efficiency and its impact on the biotic factors living within that ecosystem.

We discussed energy/trophic/biomass pyramids.

We discussed biogeochemical cycles (water, carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen).

We discussed ecological restoration techniques.