Chapter 19 Outline
Case Study: Life in the Deep Blue Sea, How Can It Be?
Primary Production
CONCEPT 19.1 Energy in ecosystems originates with primary production by autotrophs.
- Gross primary production is total ecosystem photo-synthesis
- Net primary production is the energy remaining after respiratory losses
- NPP changes during ecosystem development
- NPP can be estimated by a number of methods
Environmental Controls on NPP
CONCEPT 19.2 Net primary productivity is constrained by both physical and biotic environmental factors.
- NPP in terrestrial ecosystems is controlled by climatic factors
- NPP in aquatic ecosystems is controlled by nutrient availability
Global Patterns of NPP
CONCEPT 19.3 Global patterns of net primary production reflect climatic controls and biome types.
- Total terrestrial and oceanic NPP are nearly equal
- Differences among biomes in NPP reflect climatic and biotic variation
Secondary Production
CONCEPT 19.4 Secondary production is generated through the consumption of organic matter by heterotrophs.
- Heterotrophs are categorized by their diet
- Heterotroph diets can be determined from the isotopic composition of food sources
- Net secondary production is equal to heterotroph growth
Case Study Revisited: Life in the Deep Blue Sea, How Can It Be?
Connections in Nature: Energy-Driven Succession and Evolution in Hydrothermal Vent Communities
