Energy pyramid Bioaccumulation/Biomagnification • Definitions Bioaccumulation/Biomagnification Biogeochemical cycles • Water, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorous, etc… • Involve geological (atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere) and biological (trophic levels) components 1 2 Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen cycle Cycling in ecosystem- nitrogen and phosphorous Energy Biotic Heat/Motion Abiotic Mineralization Uptake by producers (decomposition) 3 Carbon Cycling in ecosystem: carbon Energy Biotic Heat/Motion Abiotic Respiration Uptake by producers Water cycle Direct values • Private goods or commodity values • Harvested –Meat – Fuelwood/timber – Edible/medicinal plants • Consumptive and productive use 4 Overexploitation Overexploitation • Direct commercial • Direct commercial exploitation exploitation • The environmental side effects of collecting nonliving resources Overexploitation • Direct commercial exploitation • The environmental side effects of collecting nonliving resources • Unintentional mortality of nontarget organisms 5 Overexploitation • Direct commercial exploitation • The environmental side effects of collecting nonliving resources • Unintentional mortality of nontarget organisms • Overhunting Overexploitation • Direct commercial exploitation • The environmental side effects of collecting nonliving resources • Unintentional mortality of nontarget organisms • Overhunting • Global trade of wildlife 6 2-3 million 7-8 million Overexploitation • Population size • Technology • Birds: 2-5 million 500-600 million • Self imposed ~30,000 restrictions 9-10 million • Typical pattern • Difficulty in regulation • Remember MSY?? Indirect values Example: River vegetation • Public goods, non-consumptive use value • Benefits from biodiversity not involving harvesting or destroying – Ecosystem productivity – Water quality – Soil protection –Climate – Flood control – Waste treatment and nutrient retention 7 Ecosystem productivity Soil and water resources • Primary productivity- • Buffering ecosystems energy – Flood • Terrestrial and – Drought aquatic – Water quality • Diversity-productivity • Logging, farming, development affect soil relationship erosion – Useless for farming – Kill aquatic life – Water undrinkable – Loss of electrical output Climate regulation Waste treatment/nutrient retention • Local: shade, water • Aquatic communities transpiration, (fungi and bacteria) windbreaks • Break down/immobilize pollutants (2.4 trill) • Regional: • Store sewage and deforestation -> lower nutrient runoff for rainfall, lower uptake photosynthetic organisms of CO2 (global & nitrogen fixing warming) •New York Bight 8 Species relationships Recreation and ecotourism • Predation (bottom-up • Enjoyment! and top-down) • Hiking, fishing, camping, rock climbing, • Pollination bird watching • Microorganisms • Ecotourism- to experience unusual communities 9.