What are the principal
components of an Aquatic
Ecosystem Model?
Mr. M. Gonzalez
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Do Now
• Review graded germination lab report.
– Read my comments.
– Share comments with other group members.
– Return reports for wall hanging.
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Objectives
• I can describe the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model.
• I can contrast abiotic from biotic
components.
• I can explain the nature of an aquatic
ecosystem food web.
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Aquatic Ecosystem Model
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
AEM Principal Components
• Abiotic
• Biotic
– Substrate – Gravel, Flourite,
CaCO3
– Water – Filtered
– Macro Nutrients – N, P, K, Mg
– Chemicals – pH
– Light – Sun or Artificial
– Heat – Sun, Room T°, ?
– Air – O2 and CO2
– Plant Supports
– Lid – Evaporation Control
– Detritus + Waste –
Decomposing Matter
– Organic Meal
– Decomposers
• Nitrifying Bacteria
• Heterotrophic Bacteria
– Primary Producers
• Algae + Plants
– Primary Consumers
• Arthropods – Shrimp, Crabs,
Snails, Fish
– Other Consumers
• Assassin Snails, Fish
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Abiotic Components
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Benthic Ecosystem
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Bottom Filter + Tank
• The bottom filter
allows organic
matter to fall below
the substrate to
decompose.
•The substrate goes
over the bottom
filter.
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Substrate
• Depends on grain size:
– Boulder, Rock, Gravel,
Clay
• Flourite mineral rock
• Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) mineral rock
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Substrate
• Importance:
– habitat for organisms
– Can have micronutrients and minerals
– Increase decomposing
rate of bacteria
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Filtered Water
• To control all the
elements in the AEM,
use filtered water.
• Has a very low
percentage of
unwanted dissolved
salts (i.e. Chlorine,
Amines) and
contaminants (i.e.
unwanted metals)
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Macro Nutrients
• Primary Producers
need elements called
Nutrients to live:
–
–
–
–
–
CHNOPS
Mg
Ca
K
Na
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Chemicals
• pH will alter the rate
of nutrient absorption
and chemical
reactions within
organisms
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Light, Heat, Air
• Light for
photosynthesis
• Heat for chemical
reactions
• Air for
Photosynthesis,
Respiration, and other
chemical reactions
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Plant Supports + Lid
• Plant supports
replace need for soil
to hold plant upright
so it can get plenty of
sun.
• Lid will prevent
excessive
evaporation of water
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Biotic
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
AEM Organisms
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Marine Food Web
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Detritus + Waste
• Detritus formed when
organisms die and
decompose
– body falls apart through
chemical reactions induced by
environment + decomposers
– Its reduced elements spread
into the environment
• Body waste also has
nutrients for decomposers to
obtain energy and recycle
back to environment
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Organic Meal
• Organic meal or “fish
food” is made of fish
meal among other
things.
– Fish meal is made of
parts of fish
tissue/meat
– It will quickly become
detritus once it hits
water - why?
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Decomposers
• Decomposers are
organisms that
consume mostly dead
organisms or detritus.
– Bacteria
• Nitrifying
• Heterotrophic
• Anaerobic
– Protozoans
– Invertebrates
• Annelids
• Arthropods
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Primary Producers
• Primary producers
use inorganic
nutrients broken down
by decomposers to
create organic tissue
(aka – their bodies)
• Algae and Basil
plants will the primary
producers
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Primary Consumers
• Primary consumers
will consume
producers.
• Invertebrates
–
–
–
–
Snails
Crabs
Shrimp
Crayfish
• Vertebrates
– Fish
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Other Consumers
• Secondary
consumers consume
other consumers.
• Scavengers will also
consume other
consumers.
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
The Circle of Life
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?
Log Entry
• List the principal components of an
Aquatic Ecosystem Model.
• Contrast the abiotic from biotic
components.
• Explain what an aquatic ecosystem food
web is.
What are the principal components of
an Aquatic Ecosystem Model?