Rangeland Ecology

Rangeland Ecology

Hierarchy of Ecological Levels Figure from: www.goldiesroom.org On-line biology class

Basic Energy Flow Heat ConsumersHerbivores, Carnivores & Omnivores Heat • DecomposersFungi & Bacteria ProducersPlants Heat Heat • Inorganic NutrientsH2O, O2 CO2, N, Minerals Heat

Trophic Levels Heat HeterotrophsConsumers • HeterotrophsDecomposers AutotrophsProducers This pattern of energy flow among different organisms is the TROPHIC STRUCTURE of an ecosystem. • Inorganic NutrientsH2O, O2 CO2, N, Minerals

Fate of Solar Energy • Fuels Photosynthesis • Warms Earth • Powers Water Cycle

Producers Convert Solar Energy into Chemical Energy through Photosynthesis Producers = Autotrophs = Plants & Algae 6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight & chlorophyll  C6H12O6+ 6O2

Producers • Convert Solar Energy into Chemical Energy through Photosynthesis • Energy is stored in glucose bonds • Glucose is converted and stored as simple sugars and starch in plants

Consumers • Eat other living plants, animals or microbes • Get energy from preformed organic molecules  heterotrophs • Herbivore - plant eaters • Carnivore - meat eaters • Omnivore - mixed plant/animal diet

Consumers • Primary Consumers • Eat Plants • Herbivores • Secondary Consumers • Eat Primary Consumers • Carnivores • Tertiary Consumers • Eat Secondary Consumer • Carnivores

Detrivores • Organisms that eat detritus • Detritus  Dead plants, animals, & microbes & fecal wastes of animals • Get energy from preformed organic molecules • Decomposers  Live on detritus in such a way that it decays • Subgroup of detrivores

Food chains & webs • Foodchain pathways of feeding relationships • Producer-consumer relationships • Parasite-host relationships • Foodweb  Complex pattern of interconnected food chains

A food chain Nutrients

A food web Nutrients

Trophic levels Nutrients 1stTrophic Level Producers 2ndTrophic Level Primary Consumers 3rdTrophic Level Secondary Consumers 4thTrophic Level Tertiary Consumers

Rangeland Ecology