Science, Matter, Energy and Ecosystems

Chapter 2
Pages 16-45
 Matter and Energy
Read section 2-2 on Matter and Energy
Background to many ES issues and future
chapters
We will discuss some but not all
Science and Critical Thinking
 Constructing the Hypothesis
The goal of science is to discover facts about the
natural world and the principles that explain
these facts.
How does one measure the natural world?
Use senses, see, hear, feel, taste smell, as well as tools
to extend these senses
Observations
Can quantify, through statistics can validate
Scientific Knowledge is ultimately traced to
Observations
 Constructing the Hypothesis
The scientific method can be best described
as procedures used to learn about our
world.

Science cannot prove or disprove non-

quantifiable factors, such as ESP.
 Constructing the Hypothesis
Must be stated in a way that allows them
to be tested.
A testable hypothesis is one that at least
potentially can be proved false.
 Constructing the Hypothesis
For example:
There are no mermaids in the sea
This is testable and can be proven false by finding
a mermaid

There are mermaids in the sea

This cannot be proven false, as the true believer
would say They are there, you just didnt find
them
 Constructing the Hypothesis
Variables are factors that might affect
observations
Models with variables one can alter Laboratory
Ecological models difficult to alter the
variables. Often only observations to determine
differences based on variability.
In science, no absolute truths. No hypothesis
can be absolutely proved true.
Make best decisions with available evidence.
Scientific hypotheses an unconfirmed explanation of an
observation that can be tested
Scientific method used to test hypotheses ways scientists
gather data, formulate and test hypotheses.
Peer review and publication widely accepted leads the
scientific theories and laws.
Scientific theories description of what we find happening
through repeated observations verified and credible hypothesis
Scientific (natural) laws description of what we find happening,
and is proven over and over
Frontier science preliminary results often subject to news
stories
Junk Science no peer review
Levels of organization in nature.
The shaded portion is the five
levels that ecology is based upon.
 What is Matter?

Atoms, ions and molecules

Anything that has mass and takes up
space.
Two forms:
Element distinctive building blocks of matter
that make up every material substance
Compound two or more different elements
held together by chemical bonds
 What is Matter?
Organic compounds
Compounds containing carbon atoms
combined with each other and with atoms of
one or more other elements such as
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur,
phosphorus, chlorine, and fluorine.
Inorganic compounds
All compounds not classified as organic
compounds.
 The Law of Conservation of Matter

Matter is not destroyed

It only changes form
There is no away atoms are not
destroyed, just rearranged.

What are some examples of matter

changing form?
 First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is neither created nor destroyed
Energy only changes form
You cant get something for nothing
Or There is no such thing as a free lunch!
ENERGY IN = ENERGY OUT
 Energy
Kinetic Potential
Wind Water behind a dam
Electicity Gasoline in your car
Flowing water Unlit match
 Second Law of Thermodynamics
In every transformation, some energy is
converted to heat
You cannot break even in terms of energy
quality

Waste energy is
low quality and
cannot be reused
 Second Law of Thermodynamics
What are some other examples of the
Second Law of Thermodynamics?
Water is heated due to energy loss from the flowing water and turbines
20-25% of the chemical energy in gasoline is converted to mechanical energy.
The rest is lost into the environment as low quality heat energy.
5% of electricity is changed into useful light. 95% is lost as low-quality heat.
 Photosynthesis
is the process of
converting solar
energy into
chemical energy
stored in food
CO2 + H20 --->
C6H12O6 + O2
 Respiration is the process of releasing
chemical energy stored in food to be used by
living things.
C6H12O6 + O2 ---> CO2 + H20
 Ecological Concepts

Ecology: Study of how organisms

interact with each other and with their
non-living surroundings.
Eco - is from the Greek word Oikos for
house
The Nature of Ecology
Levels of study in Ecology:
Organisms single animal
Populations same species
Communities popns living
together
Ecosystems community +
physical environment
Biosphere all the earths
ecosystems
 The Earths Life-Support Systems
Atmosphere
Thin membrane of air
Troposphere
11 miles
Stratosphere
12-30 miles
Lower portion (ozone)
filters out harmful sun rays
Allows life to exist on earth
Lithosphere
Earths crust
Hydrosphere
water
Biosphere
Living and dead
organisms
Natural Capital: Sustaining Life of Earth

One-way flow
of energy from
Sun
Cycling of
crucial elements
Gravity
 Solar Capital: Flow of Energy to and
from the Earth

Greenhouse gasses
water vapor
CO2
Methane
Ozone

Increases kinetic energy,

Helps warm troposphere.
Allows life to exist
(as we know it) on earth.

As greenhouse gasses
increase, temperature of
troposphere increases.
 Ecosystem Components
Abiotic factors
Biotic factors
Range of tolerance for each species
what factors are important for
 Ecosystem Components
Limiting factors determines distributions
 Law of Tolerance
The existence, abundance and distribution
of a species is determined by levels of one
or more physical or chemical factors.
 Common limiting factors
Limiting factors more important in regulating
population growth than other factors.
Terrestrial ecosystems (on land)
precipitation
temperature
soil nutrients
Aquatic ecosystems
temperature
sunlight
nutrients
dissolved oxygen
salinity
 Biological Components of Ecosystems

Producers (autotrophs)
Consumers
(heterotrophs)
Herbivores, carnivores,
omnivores
Decomposers and
detritivores
detritus = dead organic
material
 Biodiversity
Genetic diversity variety of genetic material
within a species or a population
Species diversity the number of species
present in different habitats
Ecological diversity the variety of terrestrial
and aquatic ecosystems found in an area or on
earth
Functional diversity biological and chemical
processes needed for the survival of species,
communities and ecosystems
 Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Food chains sequence of organisms

which is a source of food for the next.
Food webs most species participate in
several food chains (they dont just eat
one thing!).
Trophic levels
each step in the flow of energy through an
ecosystem (feeding level)
Food Chains and Energy Flow in
Ecosystems
 Ecological Pyramids
Pyramid of
energy flow
Ecological
efficiency
Pyramid of
biomass
Pyramid of
numbers
Food webs

reality tends
to be more
complex
than a linear
food chain
 Primary Productivity of Ecosystems
Gross primary productivity (GPP)
The rate at which an ecosystem's producers capture
and store a given amount of chemical energy as
biomass in a given length of time.
Net primary productivity (NPP)
Rate at which all the plants in an ecosystem produce
net useful chemical energy; equal to the difference
between the rate at which the plants in an ecosystem
produce useful chemical energy (gross primary
productivity) and the rate at which they use some of
that energy through cellular respiration.

(NPP = GPP Respiration)

Net Primary Productivity comparison
 Soils
Importance
Provides most of the nutrients for plant life
Cleans water
Decompose and recycle biodegradable wastes
Maturity and Horizons
Surface litter layer
Top soil layer (humus)
Sub soil
Parent material
Variations with Climate and Biomes
Variations in Texture and Porosity
Soil Profiles in Different Biomes
 Matter Cycling in Ecosystems

Biogeochemical cycles global cycles

recycle nutrients through the air, land and
water
Cycles are driven directly or indirectly by
solar energy and gravity
Hydrologic cycle (H2O)
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Phosphorus cycle
Hydrologic (Water) Cycle
 Human Influence on the Water
Cycle
Water withdraw from lakes and streams
Clear vegetation
Construct impervious surfaces
Fill wetlands
Modify water quality by adding nutrients
 The Carbon Cycle (Marine)
Based on Carbon Dioxide

Terrestrial producers remove

CO2 from the air; aquatic
producers remove it from the
water.

Through photosynthesis,
Converts to carbohydrates.

O2 consuming producers
respire,breaking carbo-
hydrates back to CO2.

CO2 not released until burned.

The Carbon Cycle (Terrestrial)
Human Influence on the Carbon
Cycle
Clear trees and other plants, often times
permanently
Burning fossil fuels and wood
Increased CO2 in the troposphere
enhance natural greenhouse effect
Results in global warming
 The Nitrogen Cycle
Atmospheres most abundant
element.

Bacteria help recycle nitrogen.

Nitrogen cannot be used by plants
and animals without bacterias help.

Waterlogged
soil
Ammonia not taken up by plants

Toxic to plants

Usable by plants
 Human Influence on the
Nitrogen Cycle
Add large amounts of nitric oxide by burning fuel
Gas converted to nitrogen dioxide gas and nitric
acid (acid rain)
Add nitrous oxide through anaerobic bacteria
breaking down livestock wastes (global warming).
Release nitrogen stored in soils and plants by
destroying forests, grasslands and wetlands.
Add excess nitrates for agriculture
Remove nitrogen from topsoils through harvesting
various crops
 The Phosphorus Cycle
Slow

Bacteria not a major player

Washes from the land into

streams, then the sea.

Can be deposited as sediment

and remain for millions of
years.

Often a limiting factor for

plant growth on land.

Also limits growth in lakes

And streams because
phosphate salts are only
slightly soluble in water.
Fig. 4-33 p. 82
 Human Influence on the
Phosphorus Cycle
We mine large quantities of phosphate
rock to make inorganic fertilizers.
We reduce the available phosphate in
tropical soils by clearing tropical forests.
We disrupt aquatic systems with
phosphates from runoff of animal wastes
and fertilizers, and sewage systems.