Rich Parker Energy Flow Through An Ecosystem SCIE131 Q4WW F14

Freshwater Ecosystem
Richard Parker
SCIE131-Q4WW-F14
Professor Susann Brown
10/5/14

Freshwater Ecosystem An ecosystem is an environment filled with living plants, organisms, and animals. There are for main components in an ecosystem. The relationship of these four components makes it possible for each component to pass energy and use the food chain to survive and flourish. Elements and compounds are basically a required food source for plants. Plants utilize the sun and photosynthesis to harness energy and are the primary producers of new energy into an ecosystem. Consumers are a source of food that feeds on other organisms. This could be primary consumers feeding off plant material, or secondary consumers who feed of primary consumers. Lastly, there are decomposers that release elements and compounds to the plants in the chain of the ecosystem (Freshwater, n.d.).
How can a freshwater ecosystem survive? This system must depend on sun as their ultimate energy source. To better understand this, let’s use solar energy as an example. As the sun hits solar panels, these panels are transferred to electrical energy. Thus, the electrical current is used to supply power to say a computer, TV, and a refrigerator to name a few. Sunlight is similar as plants, organisms and even bacteria absorb the sunlight to produce sugars and other biological compounds which is then used as energy. This process is called photosynthesis. Converting this energy into chemical energy allows the organism to flourish (How, n.d.).
Water is the next component essential for an ecosystem to function. Water is a source that is unique because it can be in the form of a gas, liquid, and a solid at natural earth temperatures. Other essential components of life can be found in only two forms. Without water, nothing could survive on earth. For this reason, signs of water are the primary source scientists look for on other planets like the moon and Mars (Properties, n.d.). No water would mean no vegetation on land or oxygen for animals, and of course, is the essential component for human survival. Water also effects weather, agriculture, and fisheries. Weather patterns and precipitation are controlled by water temperature and quantity of the water in both the atmosphere and oceans. Agriculture is dependent on water to feed the growing population on earth. Fisheries, such as fish and other aquatic creatures and organisms, need fresh water in order to survive. Poor water in these animals can kill or make humans very sick if consumed (Martonas, 2013).
Once sun and water are in abundance, the roles and interactions of producers, consumers, and decomposers begin to shape the ecosystem. As producers use the sun to create energy by photosynthesis, energy from the sun also contributes to carbon dioxide which is then converted into glucose. This glucose is vital in the life of plants. Consumers, basically anything that is not a plant, gets their energy from eating producers, as well as other consumers and even decomposers. Herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, are the three eating producers that dominate the ecosystem. Carnivores eat meat only, omnivores, like humans eat both, and herbivores eat plants only. Decomposers use dead organisms to gain their energy. Flies, wasps, fungi, earthworms, use the breaking down of molecular bonds to create soil. Plants then use photosynthesis to generate energy again, creating a cycle in the ecosystem (Smathers, n.d.).
Organisms interacting with each other while energy is exchanged are the fundamentals of an ecosystem. Living organisms, dead organic matter, and abiotic environments, exchange elements such as water, soils, and atmosphere are included in an ecosystem. The flow of an ecosystem starts with the sun. As it powers the producers, consumers are feeding off this energy while decomposers breakdown this energy as well as feed off this energy. By breaking down the organic matter into its inorganic chemicals, it allows the producers in the ecosystem to re-feed. As energy and matter are broken down the structure of an ecosystem is formed. This in turn helps to create interaction between organisms and the environment it is surrounded by (Ellis, 2014).

References
Ellis, E. (2014, September 24). Ecosystem. In eoearth.org. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152248/
Freshwater Producers and Consumers. (n.d.). In biology online. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://www.biology-online.org/6/1_producers_consumers.htm
How Do Living Things Depend on the Physical World for Survival. (n.d.). In Portage. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://www.portageinc.com/community/pp/plant.aspx
Martonas, J. (2013, August 6). Why Is Water So Important to Life on Earth? In Livestron.com. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/134084-why-is-water-so-important-life-earth/
Properties of Water. (n.d.). In water.me.vccs.edu. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/ENV211/lesson10
Smathers, M., O. (n.d.). Three Energy Roles in an Ecosystem. In ehow. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://www.ehow.com/list_7325647_three-energy-roles-ecosystem.htm

References: Ellis, E. (2014, September 24). Ecosystem. In eoearth.org. Retrieved August 5, 2014, from http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/152248/ Freshwater Producers and Consumers. (n.d.). In biology online. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://www.biology-online.org/6/1_producers_consumers.htm How Do Living Things Depend on the Physical World for Survival. (n.d.). In Portage. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://www.portageinc.com/community/pp/plant.aspx Martonas, J. (2013, August 6). Why Is Water So Important to Life on Earth? In Livestron.com. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://www.livestrong.com/article/134084-why-is-water-so-important-life-earth/ Properties of Water. (n.d.). In water.me.vccs.edu. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://water.me.vccs.edu/courses/ENV211/lesson10 Smathers, M., O. (n.d.). Three Energy Roles in an Ecosystem. In ehow. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from http://www.ehow.com/list_7325647_three-energy-roles-ecosystem.htm