Ecosystem Ecology

  1. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
    1. Thermodynamic Principles
      1. First Law of Thermodynamics
        1. Energy Conservation
          1. Energy Transformations
          2. Second Law of Thermodynamics
            1. Entropy and Energy Degradation
              1. Heat Loss in Biological Systems
            2. Primary Production
              1. Photosynthesis
                1. Light-dependent Reactions
                  1. Light-independent Reactions
                    1. C3, C4, and CAM Pathways
                    2. Chemosynthesis
                      1. Chemosynthetic Pathways
                        1. Deep-sea and Extreme Environments
                        2. Measuring Primary Production
                          1. Gross Primary Production
                            1. Net Primary Production
                              1. Methods of Measurement
                              2. Factors Limiting Primary Production
                                1. Light Limitation
                                  1. Water Limitation
                                    1. Temperature Effects
                                      1. Nutrient Limitation
                                        1. Carbon Dioxide Availability
                                      2. Secondary Production and Energy Transfer
                                        1. Trophic Structure
                                          1. Trophic Levels
                                            1. Feeding Relationships
                                              1. Omnivory and Complex Feeding
                                              2. Energy Transfer Efficiency
                                                1. Consumption Efficiency
                                                  1. Assimilation Efficiency
                                                    1. Production Efficiency
                                                      1. Ecological Efficiency
                                                      2. The Ten Percent Rule
                                                        1. Energy Loss Between Trophic Levels
                                                          1. Implications for Food Chain Length
                                                        2. Food Webs and Energy Pathways
                                                          1. Food Chain Concepts
                                                            1. Grazing Food Chains
                                                              1. Detrital Food Chains
                                                                1. Aquatic vs. Terrestrial Chains
                                                                2. Food Web Structure
                                                                  1. Web Complexity
                                                                    1. Keystone Species
                                                                      1. Trophic Cascades
                                                                      2. Energy Flow Patterns
                                                                        1. Linear vs. Web-like Flow
                                                                          1. Cross-habitat Energy Subsidies
                                                                        2. Ecological Pyramids
                                                                          1. Pyramid of Numbers
                                                                            1. Pyramid of Biomass
                                                                              1. Pyramid of Energy
                                                                                1. Inverted Pyramids

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                                                                              1. Foundations of Ecosystem Ecology

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                                                                              3. Biogeochemical Cycling