NATURAL

SYSTEMS AND
RESOURCES
environmental science and
engineering
january 15, 2025
 Key Natural Systems
Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle):
Definition: The continuous movement of
water on, above, and below the surface of
the Earth.

Stages of the Cycle:

Evaporation and Transpiration: Water from
oceans, rivers, lakes, and plants evaporates
into the atmosphere.
Condensation: Water vapor cools and forms
clouds.
Precipitation: Water falls back to Earth as
rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Runoff and Infiltration: Water flows over
the surface or infiltrates the soil,
replenishing groundwater.
 Importance:

Regulates Earth's temperature.

Supplies freshwater for ecosystems.
Maintains habitats for aquatic and terrestrial
organisms.
 Nutrient Cycles

Carbon Cycle:
Moves carbon through the
atmosphere, biosphere, oceans,
and geosphere.
Key processes: Photosynthesis,
respiration, decomposition, and
fossil fuel combustion.
Nitrogen Cycle:
Involves nitrogen fixation,
nitrification, assimilation,
and denitrification.
Converts atmospheric
nitrogen into usable forms
for plants and animals.
Phosphorus Cycle:
Transfers phosphorus
through rocks, soil, water,
and organisms.
Essential for DNA, RNA,
and ATP in living
organisms.
 Importance:

These cycles recycle essential elements.

Ensure nutrient availability for growth and
reproduction in ecosystems.
Role of Energy Flow
in Ecosystems
Energy flow is the process by
which energy enters, moves
through, and exits an
ecosystem. It is a one-way flow,
as energy cannot be recycled
like matter in nutrient cycles.
The dynamics of energy flow are
vital for maintaining the
structure, function, and
sustainability of ecosystems.
1. Primary Energy Source: The Sun
Solar Energy as the Driving
Force:
Nearly all life on Earth
depends on solar energy.
The sun provides energy for
photosynthesis, a process in
which producers (plants,
algae, and some bacteria)
convert light energy into
chemical energy stored in
glucose molecules.
2. Trophic Levels in Ecosystems
Energy is transferred through trophic
levels, representing different groups of
organisms in the ecosystem.
Trophic Level Structure:
1. Producers (Autotrophs):
1.
Examples: Plants,
algae, cyanobacteria.
They convert solar
energy into chemical
energy (glucose)
through
photosynthesis.
Producers are the
primary source of
energy for all other
organisms.
Primary Consumers (Herbivores):
Examples: Grasshoppers, deer,
zooplankton.
Feed directly on producers to obtain
energy.
Secondary Consumers (Carnivores and
Omnivores):
Examples: Frogs, small fish, snakes.
Feed on primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumers (Top Carnivores):
Examples: Hawks, sharks, lions.
Feed on secondary consumers and occupy
the top of the food chain.
Decomposers and Detritivores:
Examples: Fungi, bacteria, earthworms.
Break down organic matter from dead
organisms and waste products.
Recycle nutrients back into the
ecosystem, completing the energy flow
loop.
3. Energy Transfer Efficiency
Energy transfer across trophic
levels is inefficient, as much of
the energy is lost at each stage.
10% Rule:
Only about 10% of the energy at one
trophic level is transferred to the next.
Example: If producers capture 10,000 kcal
of solar energy, only about 1,000 kcal is
available to primary consumers, 100 kcal
to secondary consumers, and so on.
Energy Loss:
Heat: A significant portion of energy is
lost as heat through metabolic processes.
Respiration: Organisms use energy for
survival functions such as movement,
reproduction, and maintenance.
Waste: Not all parts of the food consumed
are digestible or used.
4. Importance of Energy Flow
The flow of energy underpins
all ecosystem functions,
shaping the following
dynamics:
A. Food Web Stability
Energy flow connects all organisms in an
ecosystem through a complex web of
feeding relationships.
Disruptions in one part of the energy flow
(e.g., a decline in producers) can ripple
across trophic levels, destabilizing the
ecosystem.
B. Limits to Ecosystem Size
The inefficiency of energy transfer limits
the number of trophic levels in an
ecosystem.
Most ecosystems have 4-5 trophic levels
because insufficient energy remains to
support higher levels.
C. Primary Productivity:
Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): Total
energy captured by producers.
Net Primary Productivity (NPP): Energy
remaining after producers use some for
respiration; available to consumers.
NPP determines the energy available to
support higher trophic levels.
D. Biogeochemical Cycles:
Energy flow interacts with nutrient
cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus),
enabling the synthesis and breakdown of
organic compounds.
For example, decomposers facilitate
nutrient recycling by breaking down
organic matter, which indirectly
influences energy flow.
5. Case Study: Energy Flow in a Forest Ecosystem
Producers: Trees, shrubs, and grass capture solar
energy via photosynthesis.
Primary Consumers: Deer, rabbits, and insects
feed on plant matter.
Secondary Consumers: Foxes, snakes, and birds
prey on herbivores.
Tertiary Consumers: Owls and large predators
feed on smaller carnivores.
Decomposers: Fungi and bacteria decompose
fallen leaves and dead organisms, recycling
nutrients for producers.
Conclusion
Energy flow is the lifeblood of ecosystems, linking
organisms across trophic levels and driving
ecosystem functions. By understanding energy
dynamics, we can appreciate the interdependence
of life and the importance of conserving ecosystems
to ensure their sustainability.