30. Energy and Matter in Ecosystems

Principles of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior (EEB 122)

The movement of matter and energy around the planet is very important, and its study draws on geology, and meterology in addition to chemistry. Energy tends to flow upwards from plantlike producers to herbivores to carnivores before being decomposed by detritovores and cycling back into energy usable by producers, in addition to the photosynthesis or chemosynthesis used by producers to produce energy. Like energy, compounds vital to life such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous flow around the planet in cycles.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
04:04 - Chapter 2. Energy Flow through Ecosystems
20:51 - Chapter 3. Cycles of Materials through Ecosystem Compartments
29:11 - Chapter 4. Biogeochemical Cycles
48:13 - Chapter 5. Conclusion

Complete course materials are available at the Open Yale Courses website: http://open.yale.edu/courses

This course was recorded in Spring 2009.