Energy flows and nutrient cycling in ecosystems

What this note covers

1. Solar energy as the foundation of ecosystem productivity
2. Trophic levels and the transfer of energy through food webs
3. The carbon cycle: linking energy flow to biogeochemical cycling
4. The nitrogen cycle: driving ecosystem productivity through nutrient availability
5. Decomposers and detritivores: the engine of nutrient regeneration
6. Disruption of biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem degradation
7. Interconnections: how energy flow and nutrient cycling sustain ecosystem stability

7 sections · 14 key terms & formulas · 6 common mistakes