Discuss the importance of decomposers, scavengers, and detritovites in the energy cycle.
Explain the use of GPP and NPP in the determination of ecosystem productivity.
Outline how each is measured experimentally.
View a video of a virtual GPP, NPP lab.

Discuss how trophic levels relate to feeding and nutrition.
Define autotrophs, heterotrophs, producers, consumers, organisism of decay.
Use food chains and food web diagrams to explain how the energy transfers between the trophic levels, and discuss the loss of energy at each level.
Display an energy (food) pyramid on its base and one on standing on its axis.
Elicit how they differ in apparent stability

Define and discuss the role which gross productivity product and net productivity product play in determining how productive a system is.
Determine that the amount of energy is key to how much a system is a support.
Outline and discuss how to determine the GPP and NPP by measuring the rate of carbon dioxide uptake and carbon dioxide production.
Write out the formula for determining the NPP.
Discuss the loss of energy at each trophic stage.

Review characteristics which differentiate ecosystems into well defined and more complex.
Introduce energy flow by discussing the significance of photosynthesis.
Write the chemical reaction for photosynthesis, discuss the input and output of energy, and the role of autotrophs .
Introduce the equation for cellular respiration and why both autotrophs and heterotrophs are involved on the cellular level.

Show how a food web diagram is a complex model of how energy and matter move throughout trophic layers.
Define and discuss the role played by omnivores, scavengers, detritovores, and decomposers in the ecosystem food web.
Introduce the gross primary productivity (GPP) and the net primary productivity (NPP).Briefly define and describe how they are measure of ecosystem productivity.

Discuss the characteristics which given ecosystems are dependent on. Introduce climate and location along with water amount and precipitation.
Use examples.
Discuss the components of ecosystems which provide the basis for boundaries, both biotic and abiotic factors.
Discuss well defined systems and those that are more difficult.
Introduce the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem and compare it to the park itself. Show why the GYE is an administrative system.
Introduce the biosphere and the second law of thermodynamics.

Discuss the significance of photosynthesis.
Define and discuss heterotrophs, Autotrophs, synthesis of complex organic molecules from simple inorganic molecules. .
Discuss how glucose is used by autotrophs and how autotrophs must ingest preformed organic nutrients.
Write both the photosynthesis formula and the cellular respiration formula.
Discuss trophic levels and the loss of energy.
View food chains and food webs.
Discuss the importance of decomposers in the chain.
Introduce herbivores, omnivores, and scavangers.

Outline the reasons why developed countries affect the environment more than developing countries. Introduce life-style differences. List land use, clean air, and water usage.
Discuss the ecological footprint as a method to assess the impact and sustainability of an ecosystem.
From a computer program, have JP determine his ecological footprint.

Define and discuss the process of photosynthesis. Discuss the significance of photosynthesis to ecosystem sustainability.
Discuss the input of autotrophs and heterotrophs into the system.
Introduce cellular respiration and the conversion stored energy into ATP molecules

Discuss the characteristics which determine a specific ecosysem.
Indicate location, climate and water availability.
Discuss the effects of soil on water retention and the ecosystem biotic factors which will survive in each category.
Introduce that the boundaries of an ecosystem will be distinguished by the biotic and abiotic factors.
Explain what constitutes a well define ecosystem and one not as well defined.
Use examples to illustrate both types.
Introduce the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, discuss why the boundaries are subjective, along with boundaries being formed by administrative duties.
View and discuss the Serengeti grassland, the plants, animals, and transfer of energy.
State the 2ond law of thermodynamics to explain the loss of energy from each trophic level