Chapter 50 Outline

Ecosystems: The Flow of Energy and the Cycling of Materials

Energy flow as it pertains to food chains and food webs and also chemical cycling as it pertains to the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water cycles are examined. The human food chain versus a natural food web are also included in this chapter.

Chapter Outline

In this chapter outline, the learning objectives and the selected key terms are given for each major head in the chapter.

Ecosystems Are Organized (p. 860)

1. Give examples of biotic components within an ecosystem.

2. Describe the process of primary and secondary succession on land; contrast

the productivity of the early stages of succession with the climax stage of

succession.

Selected Key Terms: ecosystem, producer, consumer, herbivore, carnivore,

omnivore, detritus, decomposer, succession, ecology

Energy Flows in an Ecosystem (p. 863)

3. Name two types of food chains, and give an example of each type.

4. Give an example of a food web, and define trophic level.

5. Give examples to show how environmental disturbances can affect a food web.

6. Construct a generalized pyramid of energy and use it as a basis to explain why

energy flows through an ecosystem.

food chain, food web, trophic level, ecological pyramid

Chemicals Cycle in an Ecosystem (p. 866)

7. Name and give a function for each part of a generalized biochemical cycle.

8. Describe the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and water cycles.

9. Describe the human influence on each of these cycles.

biogeochemical cycle, nitrogen fixation

Human Food Chain Versus Natural Food Web (p. 871)

10. Contrast the human food chain with a natural food web.

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