DDT accumulation on the Seafloor
Ecological Pyramids
# individuals
Biomass
(g dry weight m-2)
Energy
(Kilocalories m-2 yr-1)
Relationship between Biomass and Energy uptake
Energy uptake & Expenditure:
m = cM0.75
m = Basal metabolic rate (cal/hr)
c = constant (Taxonomic groups)
M = biomass
0.75 = scaling exponent
Global Hydrologic Cycle
Key processes: condensation, precipitation, infiltration, runoff, and evapotranspiration
Global hydrological cycle
Global Carbon cycle
Key processes; Respiration (carbohydrates + oxygen = carbon dioxide + water + energy)
Photosynthesis (carbon dioxide + water = carbohydrates + oxygen)
Carbon cycle
Source: IPCC (1995) WG 1
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Productivity Estimates: NPP
Climate and NPP
TEMPERATURE
PRECIPITATION
Regions that are warm and wet are generally more productive, but
nutirent availability is also important
Biomes
• Climate and climate limitations for plant
growth
• Structure of plant communities
• Other vegetation characteristics (productivity,
diversity, habitat, leaf characteristics)
• Spatial variation
• Major soil types and processes
• Human impacts
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Arctic Tundra
Boreal
Rocky Mt Conifer
Temperate rainforest
Mixed deciduous/conifer forest
Eastern Deciduous
Coastal Plain conifer
Mexicon Mountane
Rain Forest/Selva
Prairie/grassland
Tropical savanna
Cool desert
Hot desert
Mediterranean scrub
Ice
Deciduous
forest
Coniferous
forest
Tundra
Arctic
Rainforest
Tropics
Latitude
Diversity
Snow
Diversity decreases with increasing
elevation and increasing latitude
Alpine Tundra
1 km vertically = 1000 km north
D iv
e rs
Deciduous forest
NPP g/m2/yr
Equator
it y
Elevation
Coniferous forest
Rainforest
3500g/m2/yr
vs
Poles
<150g/m2/yr