Ecosystems: Lesson 4, Activity 1
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Ecosystems: Lesson 4, Activity 1 Why are carbon pools different sizes?
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Ecosystems: Lesson 4, Activity 1. Why are carbon pools different sizes?. Why are carbon pools different sizes?. Sunny Meadows and the Carbon Dice Game showed the same pattern of carbon pool sizes in the ecosystem: Producers larger than Herbivores larger than Carnivores. Why?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Ecosystems: Lesson 4, Activity 1
Ecosystems: Lesson 4, Activity 1
Why are carbon pools different sizes?
Why are carbon pools different sizes?Sunny Meadows and the Carbon Dice Game showed the same pattern of carbon pool sizes in the ecosystem:
Producers larger thanHerbivores larger than Carnivores.
Why?
Each square is 100 carbon atoms
Tracking Carbon Atoms
You will keep track of two types of numbers:1) The number of
carbon atoms that moved
2) The number of carbon atoms that stayed
For example:
50
100 -50
= 50 left
50
1) The number of carbon atoms that moved
2) The number of carbon atoms that stayed
Also, write the process that occurred near each arrow. 50
100 -50
= 50 left
50
eating
Plant photosynthesis occurred, so there are 500 carbon atoms are in the producer pool.
500
Plant cellular respiration occurs.
200 carbon atoms move from the producers to the atmosphere.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
Some plants die.
100 carbon atoms move from the producers to the soil.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed. 100
-100
100
Plants get eaten by rabbits!
100 carbon atoms move from the producers to the herbivore pool.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100100-100
100
One of three things can happen to food (grass) in a rabbit’s stomach:
1) Rabbits digest the food & do cellular respiration.50 carbon atoms move from the herbivores to the atmosphere.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
One of three things can happen to food (grass) in a rabbit’s stomach:
2) Rabbits defecate indigestible food.
Also, sometimes rabbits die.
25 carbon atoms move from the herbivores to soil.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
One of three things can happen to food (grass) in a rabbit’s stomach:
3) Rabbits digest & biosynthesizeLarge molecules in grass are broken down into small molecules.Small molecules are made into rabbit biomass.
500
200
200
-200
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
Rabbits got eaten by foxes!
15 carbon atoms move from the herbivores to carnivores.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
One of three things can happen to food (rabbits) in a fox’s stomach:
1) Foxes digest the food & do cellular respiration.
6 carbon atoms move from the carnivores to the atmosphere.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6
One of three things can happen to food (rabbits) in a fox’s stomach:
2) Foxes defecate indigestible food.Also, sometimes foxes die.
6 carbon atoms move from the carnivores to the soil.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6 6
+6
-6
One of three things can happen to food (rabbits) in a fox’s stomach:
3) Foxes digest the food & biosynthesize
Large molecules in rabbits are broken down into small molecules.
Small molecules are made into fox biomass. 500
200
200
-200
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6
+6
-6
6
Decomposers that live in the soil digest organic carbon and respire.64 carbon atoms move from the soil to the atmosphere.
500
200
200
-200
Write down the number of carbon atoms that moved.Keep track of the number of carbon atoms that stayed.
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6 6
+6
-6
64
-64
+64
Do the math!!
What is the total amount of carbon atoms in each pool?
500
200
200
-200
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6 6
+6
-6
64
-64
+64
Do the math!!
What is the total amount of carbon atoms in each pool?
500
200
200
-200
100
100
-100
50 -50
+50
100 -100
100
-25
+25
25
-15
15
15
6
-6
+6 6
+6
-6
64
-64
+64=320
=67 =100
=10
=3
Do the math!!
What is the total amount of carbon atoms in each pool?
200
100
50
100
25
15
6
6
64
320
67
100
10
3
For all the carbon atoms in the producers that become organic matter through photosynthesis, where do most of the carbon atoms go? Why?
200
100
50
100
25
15
6
6
64
320
67
100
10
3
For all the carbon atoms in the organic matter (grass) that are digested by rabbits in the herbivore pool, where do most of the carbon atoms go? Why?
200
100
50
100
25
15
6
6
64
320
67
100
10
3
Why does this pattern of relative pools sizes exist in ecosystems?
Does it have anything to do with energy? 200
100
50
100
25
15
6
6
64
320
67
100
10
3
