ESC 301 ECOLOGY-Part C Ferhan een

Climate and Major Biomes

Abiotic Effects of Latitude and Altitude

Succession and Disturbance

Ecological succession: transition between biotic communities
Primary: no previous biotic community Secondary: previously occupied by a community Aquatic: transition from pond or lake to terrestrial community

Material Cycles

Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle)

Most of earths water is stored in the oceans, but solar energy continually evaporates this water, and winds distribute water vapor around the globe. Water that condenses over land surfaces, in the form of rain, snow or fog supports all terrestrial ecosystems.

Water Cycle
Living organisms emit the moisture to the atmosphere through respiration and perspiration. Eventually, this moisture re-enters the atmosphere or enters lakes and streams and ultimately the oceans.

WATER CYCLE

Carbon Cycle
Carbon serves a dual purpose for organisms:
Carbon is a structural component of organic molecules (C6H12O6, sugar) Chemical bonds provide metabolic energy. The carbon cycle begins with photosynthetic organisms that take up (CO2, carbon dioxide) to form starch. Starch is taken up by several organisms, digested in stomach and simple sugars get broken down to simpler ones (CO2 , H20 & energy).

Carbon cycle (contd.)

Sugar molecules either undergo respiration and release carbon in the form of C02. From simple sugar also large organic molecules can be formed. When organisms decay carbon returns to nature.

Carbon cycle (contd.)

Combustion of fossil fuel (e.g coal and oil) releases carbon atoms into the atmosphere. Aquatic biomass leads to formation of limestone deposits.

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen cycle
Several organic molecules contain nitrogen Amino acids, peptides and proteins are large organic molecules that living organisms need for their existence. Nitrogen is a very important nutrient for living things. Nitrogen is a primary component of many household products (Ammonia and others) and agriculture fertilizers.

Nitrogen Cycle (cont.)

Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the air, but plants cannot use N2, the stable diatomic molecule in air. Plants acquire nitrogen through the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria (live in roots of legumes) and blue-green algae) are highly organised to fix nitrogen of the atmosphere to ammonia ( N2 to NH3) They combine hydrogen of atmosphere with nitrogen and form ammonia (NH3)

Nitrogen cycle (contd.)

Ammonia in plants is used to make amino acids which is used as building blocks to form protein (a polypeptide chain made up of several amino acids).Thus, inorganic nitrogen is converted into an organic form. After plants cells absorb nitrates, these nitrates are reduced to ammonia (NH3) and then used by the plant. There are aerobic bacteria oxidizing ammonia to nitrite (NO2-). There are aerobic bacteria oxidizing nitrite further to nitrate (NO3-),which green plants can absorb and use. This conversion of ammonia to nitrate is called nitrification.

Nitrogen cycle (cont.)

Fungi and bacteria decay dead organisms, converting organically bound nitrogen into ammonia. This process is known as ammonification. Animals produce urine which contains nitrogenous compounds such as urea, which is also converted to ammonia by ammonification. Denitrifying bacteria reduce nitrates in soil or water to nitrogen gas (N2), which is released into the atmosphere. This is called denitrification.

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen cycle

Modified from D. T. Krohne, General Ecology

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen cycle
Critical Thinking Issue How are Human Activities Affecting the Nitrogen Cycle?

Effects of increased use of nitrogen fertilizers:

Eutrophication of water bodies Nitrates in drinking water