Post on 10-Feb-2016
description
Productivity and the Carbon Cycle
1st Law of Thermodynamics: Energy is neither created or destroyed
2nd Law of Thermodynamics: Energy transfers result in a net loss of energy to entropy (disorder increases)
- Life (and ecosystem) directly contradict the 2nd law- Thus, require a constant inflow of energy
…and the process responsible for life (as we know it) on Earth
Photosynthesis is the starting point of the Carbon Cycle…
C3 photosynthesis, is the most common mode overall, and is especially important in temperate regions.
C3 photosynthesis, cont.
Two other modes, C4 photosynthesis and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) have mechanisms that allow for photosynthesis without the risk of of water loss due to open stomates…
C4 photosynthesis, is a more (evolutionarily) advanced mode. Found (mostly) in grasses of arid environments.
C4 photosynthesis, utilizes a morphological adaptation (bundle sheath), and some unique compounds (eg. PEP carboxylase).
CAM photosynthesis, is found in mostly succulent plants (cacti; euphorbia; crassulacea)
CAM photosynthesis, uses similar chemical mechanisms as C4, but does not have the same morphological adaptation. Key is timing. Stomates open at night, CO2 is stored as malic acid…stomates close in the day- malic acid reconverted to CO2.
How does this
Relate to this
What happens after carbon is captured by plants is called “carbon allocation.” Basically, it is accounting for energy transfers in the 1st trophic level of the food web. How does the plant use the energy?
Scaling back…
Respiration and photosynthesis are oppositional processes in the carbon cycle- photosynthesis captures carbon, respiration uses the energy and releases carbon in the atmosphere. But humans have gotten involved, too, by burning long-stored carbon to power our Powerpoint projectors and I-Pad Touch 4 Gs, and other things
We track carbon flow using these ideas:GPP; NPP; NEP
One important question for ecology is-
what regulates carbon storage?
Ecosystems are not equally productive. There is clear variation. That variation is related to things that drive the the carbon cycle at a broader scale- across ecosystems what are the regulatory processes/factors?
Precip and Temp!
Fore
st P
rodu
ctiv
ity
Evapotranspiration is a general measure of energy flow into the system- water being evaporated and transpired by plants.
As evapotranspiration increases, generally, there is more productivity in the ecosystem
Global patterns of (terrestrial) productivity
- Ecosystem productivity is variable across broad geographic scales… related to precipitation and temperature.
- What are the most important drivers of productivity at more local scales?
Soil fertility...
Why “aboveground”?
Soil fertility...
In the ocean, depth is important...
Productivity response to particular nutrients is variable….
And for a single nutrient, response depends on existing levels in the ecosystem. Adding phosphorus makes the productivity in bays go down?! Why?
Global patterns of ocean productivity
Productivity is related to variability in the climate
Allocation changes through time in trees
Allocation changes through time in trees
General rule: only 10% of energy stored in any trophic level is passed on to the next level during consumption
I am an ecologist…
Productivity and the Carbon Cycle