1 What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale

2 Organisms and Their Environment copyright cmassengale

3 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale

4 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life copyright cmassengale

5 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. copyright cmassengale

6 The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. copyright cmassengale

7 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

8 Abiotic

9 Abiotic

10 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

11 Levels of Organization copyright cmassengale

12 What are the Simplest Levels? AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem copyright cmassengale

13 Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. copyright cmassengale

14 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops copyright cmassengale

15 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

16 3 rd Level of Organization Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

17 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) copyright cmassengale

5 th Level of Organization Biome: A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms Biome: A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms copyright cmassengale18

19 6 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. copyright cmassengale

20 The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. copyright cmassengale

21 What level of organization? Organism

22 What level of Organization? Community

23 What level of Organization? Population

Producers & Consumers copyright cmassengale24

Energy Organisms need energy to survive No organism can create their own energy –Only use energy from other sources –Where does the energy come from? Organisms need energy to survive No organism can create their own energy –Only use energy from other sources –Where does the energy come from? copyright cmassengale25

The sun is the ultimate source of energy copyright cmassengale26

Autotrophs Algae, some bacteria, and plants can harness energy from the sun or chemicals and convert it into chemical energy They are autotrophs –“self feeding” Algae, some bacteria, and plants can harness energy from the sun or chemicals and convert it into chemical energy They are autotrophs –“self feeding” copyright cmassengale27

copyright cmassengale28 Producers Autotrophs –store energy in forms that make it available to other organisms –They are known as primary producers First producers Essential to flow of energy

Energy from Sun Primary producers use solar energy through the process of photosynthesis –Plants –Algae –Cyanobacteria Primary producers use solar energy through the process of photosynthesis –Plants –Algae –Cyanobacteria Photosynthesis –Captures light energy copyright cmassengale29

Life Without Light Chemosynthesis: –Chemical energy is used to produce sugars Chemosynthesis: –Chemical energy is used to produce sugars Chemosynthetic organisms are found in the deepest, darkest oceans, hot springs, and tidal marshes. copyright cmassengale30

Photosynthesis & Chemosynthesis copyright cmassengale31

Heterotrophs Many organisms cannot directly use energy from the environment. They must acquire energy from other organisms –They are known as heterotrophs Many organisms cannot directly use energy from the environment. They must acquire energy from other organisms –They are known as heterotrophs copyright cmassengale32

Consumers Organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients are called consumers There are different classes of consumers Organisms that rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients are called consumers There are different classes of consumers copyright cmassengale33

Consumers Decomposers: –“feed” by chemically breaking down organic matter –Ex: fungi, bacteria Detritivores: –Feed on detritus particles (waste, trash) –Ex: earthworms, beetles Decomposers: –“feed” by chemically breaking down organic matter –Ex: fungi, bacteria Detritivores: –Feed on detritus particles (waste, trash) –Ex: earthworms, beetles copyright cmassengale34

Consumers Omnivores: –Diet naturally includes a variety of different foods. –Both plants and animals –Ex: humans, bears, pigs Omnivores: –Diet naturally includes a variety of different foods. –Both plants and animals –Ex: humans, bears, pigs Scavengers: –Consume the carcasses of other animals –Ex: vultures, copyright cmassengale35

Consumers Herbivores –Eat plants, roots, seeds, or fruits –Ex: cows, caterpillars, and deer Herbivores –Eat plants, roots, seeds, or fruits –Ex: cows, caterpillars, and deer Carnivores –Kill and eat other organisms –Ex: snakes, cats, dogs, etc copyright cmassengale36