BIO SCI 94 Chapter Notes - Chapter 56: Oceanic Zone, Positive Feedback, Chemical Energy

• School: UC-Irvine
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BIO SCI 94
• Professor: Robin Bush

Document Summary

Components of an ecosystem - the species present in a region along with abiotic components - are linked by flow of energy and cycling of nutrients needed to sustain life. Ecosystems themselves linked by global exchange of energy and nutrients throughout the biosphere - the thin zone of life surrounding earth. One of the defining characteristics of life is the use of energy. Most primary producers make food via photosynthesis. But in deep-sea hydrothermal vents and iron-rich rocks below earth"s surface, primary producers use chemical energy in inorganic compounds. Primary producers don"t create energy, but transforming energy in sunlight/inorganic compounds into chemical energy stored in sugars. Gross primary productivity (gpp) - the total amount of chemical energy produced in a given area and time period. Npp represent the total amount of chemical potential energy that is stored in organic material or biomass.