A 34 page summary of all information covered in the lectures of Ecosystems, BDE 214. This summary contains the given work from the power points and extra definitions, explanations and diagrams from online resources. Tables and bullet points are used to aid memorisation.
Lecture One: Systems Ecology Energetics
Definitions Angiosperms: Plants that produce flowers and fruit. The seeds
develop in the flower and are protected in the fruit.
Gymnosperms: Plants that only produce seeds.
Autotroph: Organisms which make their own organic compounds.
Standing Crop (SCB): The total biomass of a system.
Transportation in Photosynthesis
● Water enters the leaf via the xylem.
● CO2 enters via the stomata (diffusion).
● Light is absorbed by chlorophyll.
Note: The unit to measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is
parts per million.
There is a lot of oxygen in the atmosphere and plants use rubisco
to fix oxygen for their use. As CO 2 increases in the atmosphere,
plants become more productive.
Rainfall, light and temperature has an effect on the productivity of
plants and photosynthesis. See examples of effects below.
1
, Rainfall
Adjusted root depth, soil types, competing plants and types of
xylems that evolved. Angiosperms have vessels and
gymnosperms have tracheas (thin and narrow). The thinner and
narrower trachea is less efficient. But this is sufficient in dry areas.
Light
Cloud cover effects, day lengths, time of day.
Measuring NPP Measuring NPP is done by analyzing change in biomass (standing
crop).
SCB: Standing Crop Biomass (This takes account of the losses
due to autotrophic respiration).
t: Time
ΔSCB = SCBt2 ‐ SCBt1
But the losses due to death (D) and consumption (C) must be
included to calculate NPP.
NPP = ΔSCB + D + C
Belowground Biomass
● This is the biomass present below ground (roots).
● Errors in the calculations occur due to belowground
biomass.
● This is fixed by using ANPP, the Above-ground Net Primary
Production.
Measuring ANPP
Litterfall traps are used to measure above ground net primary
production. This method is not foolproof.
Ecosystem Flux
Measurement
3D Sonic Anemometer Gas Analyzer
Measures vertical wind speed Measures CO2 density and
and temperature. H2O density.
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