ENERGY FLOW AND

NUTRIENT CYCLING
UNIT 2
BIOMES OF THE EARTH
a biome is a large region that has distinct plants and animals, determined largely by climate
 REVIEW OF ECOLOGICAL TERMS
ECOLOGY – The study of the relationship of living organisms with each other and with their non-living environment

HABITAT- A place where an organism lives –usually isolated in some way from other areas

POPULATION – a group of organisms of a single species occupying a particular habitat

COMMUNITY – all organisms of different species that occupy the same habitat and interact with each other

NICHE – the biological role of an organism , which describes the unique way in which the organism relates to its biotic
and abiotic environment – no two organisms can occupy the same niche.

ENVIRONMENT –the factors that surround an affect an organism:

• Biotic –relating to other living organisms
• Abiotic – the non-living or physical factors

ECOSYSTEM- a self sustaining system made up of the living organisms interacting with each other and with the
physical environment
FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS AND TROPHIC LEVELS
The sun is the source of energy for all
organisms except Archaea (how do they
feed?).
Only autotrophs can capture the suns
energy through photosynthesis, they are
therefore producers and occupy the first
trophic level in a feeding relationship.

Trophic level Type of Organism

First –Producer Plants and other
autotrophs
Second –primary Herbivores
consumer
Third –secondary Carnivores (predators)
consumer
Fourth –Tertiary Carnivores/predators
consumer
Fifth –quaternary Carnivores/top
consumer predators
FOOD WEBS

In nature, feeding relationships occur in

webs rather than simple chains – this is
advantageous as any significant change at
any trophic level will not cause as much
of a disturbance, as there are more than
one organism at each level.
Several food chains can be identified
within this food web.
Please note that although it is a web, the
trophic levels are clearly identifiable and
the transfer of energy is clearly indicated
by arrows.
EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY TRANSFER IN PLANTS

Of the 1000 units of solar energy reaching the surface of the leaf, only
100 is actually available to the plant and 55 available to be passed on to
the first consumer.

GROSS PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY (GPP) is the amount of chemical

energy created by producers in a given period of time. Some of this is
used for Respiration – to make ATP for use in cells.

NET PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY (NPP) is the difference between the

GPP and the energy used for respiration by the producers – it is
therefore what is available to the primary consumers.

It can therefore be seen that this transfer of energy is very inefficient,

(about 1-2%) however as the sun is an inexhaustible source of energy,
this is generally not a problem.
EFFICIENCY OF ENERGY TRANSFER BETWEEN TROPHIC LEVELS

Energy transfer between trophic levels is approximately 10%

due to the following factors:
• Energy is used by organisms for body maintenance and
movement
• A large percentage of energy is given off as heat due to
respiration and in urine and faeces, and so is unavailable
to organisms
• Energy is transferred to detritus and decomposers at all
levels

This inefficient energy transfer means that trophic levels

are limited to 4 or 5, as there is no more energy left.

ENERGY FLOWS IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY WHILE

NUTRIENTS ARE RECYCLED
 AN EGYPTIAN PYRAMID
Considered one of the seven wonders of the world, these pyramids were built over
4,500 years ago and could be 230 m at the base and 147m high.
Do you know what their purpose was?
 ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
These represent the amount of energy at each trophic levels and are shaped like
the Egyptian pyramids as energy always decreases going up trophic levels

PYRAMIDS OF NUMBERS

A pyramid of numbers is the simplest way to construct an ecological pyramid, as usually organisms at the lower
trophic levels are smaller and more numerous, as seen in the pyramid on the left.
However the pyramid on the right is not a pyramid at al, as the producer is a single tree, and though large, it only
counts as one, also each ladybird can have several parasites feeding on it.
If the mass of organisms were to be taken instead of just counting, a pyramid shape would be seen.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS SHOULD BE DRAWN LIKE THESE AND NOT THE
EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS
 OTHER ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS

A PYRAMID OF BIOMASS is constructed by finding the dry mass at each trophic level and is usually the correct
shape, however there are also limitations.
A PYRAMID OF ENERGY is always accurate, as it measures the actual amount of energy at each level by first
removing water, then combusting to find the energy value, and is usually done over a period of time.

In the grass/rabbit/fox pyramid, all three pyramid types give the correct shape, however in the other one, only the
energy pyramid gave the correct shape.
 APPARATUS /EQUIPMENT THAT MAY BE USED TO COLLECT DATA FOR ECOLOGICAL
PYRAMIDS
NUMBERS
Sampling methods such as quadrats, mark
release recapture used to estimate
numbers at each trophic level
BIOMASS
Samples collected and heated in ovens for
several hours at less than 100 degrees
Celsius – to constant mass, to remove all
water but not burn the organic matter.
ENERGY
After removing water, organisms are
burnt in a closed container, where
the heat given off will be used to
heat water and the energy
determined as the rise in temperature
per unit mass, then the amount of
energy at each trophic level
calculated
 COMPARISON OF ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS
Type of Pyramid Advantage
Pyramid of numbers Simplest, least destructive to organisms,
requires the least skill and specialized
equipment
Pyramid of Biomass Takes into account the actual amount of
matter, so less likely to show inversions
Pyramid of Energy Is the most accurate as it measures the actual
amount of energy and is usually done over the
period of a year, so would take into account
different rates of productivity at different times
Disadvantage
Does not take into account the actual amount of
matter in organisms, so may not reflect the
amount of energy and show inversion.
Time consuming and destructive as organisms are
killed, requires special skills, training and
equipment.
All organisms don’t yield the same energy and
some parts e.g. teeth, horns, feathers are not used
for energy.
Biomass is usually taken at a particular time and
does not allow for seasonal fluctuations
Time consuming, destructive, requires even more
skill and apparatus.
There may be difficulty in identifying trophic
levels
RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS – THE NITROGEN CYCLE
Nitrogen, like all elements exist in a
finite quantity and is continually
being changed from one form to
another, including organic and
inorganic forms.
Bacteria play an important role in
the Nitrogen Cycle
The three main forms in which
Nitrogen exist are:

• Nitrogen gas in air –abundant

(79%) but mostly useless to living
organisms

• Nitrates in the soil- this is the

form in which plants can absorb
Nitrogen and use it to make
proteins

• Proteins and nucleic acids in the

bodies of living organisms –this
is the organic form
 MAIN PROCESSES INVOLVED IN THE NITROGEN CYCLE
• NITROGEN FIXATION –Nitrogen fixing bacteria e.g. Azotobacter which are free living and Rhizobium,
which live in root nodules of legumes, are able to convert atmospheric nitrogen to nitrates in the soil.
Fixation is also done by lightning, which causes Oxygen and Nitrogen to chemically combine –forming
oxides of nitrogen, which form acids and then nitrates in soil.

• ABSORBTION. FEEDING and ASSIMILATION- plants absorb nitrates from the soil and animals obtain
Nitrogen by feeding on plants and other animals – they then use the nitrogen to build up organic matter –
proteins and nucleic acids

• DECOMPOSITION –Bacteria and fungi break down organic matter

• AMMONIFICATION- bacteria convert decayed organic matter to ammonia

• NITRIFICATION 1 – Bacteria e.g. Nitosomonas, convert ammonium ions to nitrites

• NITRIFICATION 2 – Bacteria e.g. Nitrobacter, convert nitrites to nitrates

• DENITRIFICATION- Bacteria e.g. Pseudomonas, convert nitrates to nitrogen gas, making soil less fertile –
they are anaerobes and are active in waterlogged soil

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THE NAMES OF ALL BACTERIA MENTIONED