Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 1K views

    Gersmehl Model

    Uploaded by

    Rosie Austin
    The Gersmehl model, also known as the nutrient cycle, shows the flow of nutrients between plants, animals, decomposers and soil. Nutrients are absorbed by plants and incorporated into biomass, and are transferred when animals eat plants. Nutrients return to the soil through decomposition or the death of animals. The model represents different ecosystems and how nutrient storage and flows vary depending on factors like moisture, temperature and growing seasons.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Gersmehl Model

    Uploaded by

    Rosie Austin
    1K views7 pages
    The Gersmehl model, also known as the nutrient cycle, shows the flow of nutrients between plants, animals, decomposers and soil. Nutrients are absorbed by plants and incorporated into biomass, and are transferred when animals eat plants. Nutrients return to the soil through decomposition or the death of animals. The model represents different ecosystems and how nutrient storage and flows vary depending on factors like moisture, temperature and growing seasons.

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The Gersmehl model, also known as the nutrient cycle, shows the flow of nutrients between plants, animals, decomposers and soil. Nutrients are absorbed by plants and incorporated into biomass, and are transferred when animals eat plants. Nutrients return to the soil through decomposition or the death of animals. The model represents different ecosystems and how nutrient storage and flows vary depending on factors like moisture, temperature and growing seasons.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    1K views7 pages

    Gersmehl Model

    Uploaded by

    Rosie Austin
    The Gersmehl model, also known as the nutrient cycle, shows the flow of nutrients between plants, animals, decomposers and soil. Nutrients are absorbed by plants and incorporated into biomass, and are transferred when animals eat plants. Nutrients return to the soil through decomposition or the death of animals. The model represents different ecosystems and how nutrient storage and flows vary depending on factors like moisture, temperature and growing seasons.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 7

    Gersmehl Model

    What is the Gersmehl Model?


     The Gersmehl model also known as the nutrient cycle was first
    developed in 1976, by P.F. Gersmehl, who attempted to show
    differences between ecosystem regards nutrients, transferred and
    stored between three areas. Plants take in those nutrients where
    they are built into new organic matter. Nutrients are taken up
    when animals eat plants and they returned to the soil when
    animals die and the body is broken down by decomposers.

     In all nutrient cycles there are interactions between the


    atmosphere and soil and many food chains are involved. Nutrient
    cycles vary greatly between ecosystems, as the rate of nutrient
    transfer is dependent on the amount of moisture, heat,
    vegetation and the length of the growing season.
    The circle sizes show the store sizes as a proportional
    amount to each other, and the arrow widths show the
    amount of nutrient flow, this is also proportionate.
    Soil
    The unconsolidated mineral material on the
    surface of the earth, that serves as a natural
    medium for growth of land plants.

    Litter
    The amount of organic matter, surface layer of
    vegetation including humus and leaf litter, in
    the soil.

    Biomass
    The total mass of living organisms, mainly plant
    tissue.
    Taiga
    Litter = the largest store, due to the slow decomposition of needle like leaves
    from coniferous trees. Biomass is low as a result of little undergrowth and few
    species of plant. Few nutrients are found in the soil, as rates of leaching are high,
    and the breakdown of rock is extremely slow due to low temperatures.
    Steppe or Prairie
    Biomass is small due to limited moisture, and low temperatures that limit the
    growing season to 6 months. Many nutrients are kept in the soil as a lack of rainfall
    means little leaching takes place. Nutrient transfer from biomass to litter is high as
    the grass dies back in winter.
    Tropical Rainforest
    Extremely rapid rates of nutrient transfer, due to high temps, rainfall and
    humidity. Biomass is the largest store of nutrients due to the vast arrays of
    plants found in the TRF. Few nutrients are in the litter, due to their rapid
    decomposition as a result of high temperatures. Leaching is rapid and more so
    in areas of rainforest clearance.

    You might also like