1 What is Ecology? Ch. 3.1

2 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.

3 Levels of Organization

4 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.

5 ORGANISM (species) An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsAn individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

6 POPULATIONPOPULATION A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

7 COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

8 ECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

9 BIOMES A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities –Grassland –Rain forest –Desert –Tundra A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities –Grassland –Rain forest –Desert –Tundra

10 BIOSPHEREBIOSPHERE The portion of Earth that supports life.The portion of Earth that supports life.

11 What level of organization? Organism

12 What level of Organization? Community

13 What level of Organization? Population

14 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

15 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.

16 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.

17 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

18 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

19 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

20 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

21 Biomes Video

22 Energy Flow Ch. 3.2

23 Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction –From sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs then heterotrophs Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction –From sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs then heterotrophs

24 Food Pyramid Each step in a food web or chain Trophic levels –Each step in a food chain or food web –Producers make up 1 st trophic level –Consumers make up 2 nd, 3 rd and higher levels Each step in a food web or chain Trophic levels –Each step in a food chain or food web –Producers make up 1 st trophic level –Consumers make up 2 nd, 3 rd and higher levels

25 Food Webs Complex network of food chains Multiple organisms at each step Complex network of food chains Multiple organisms at each step

26 Energy Pyramid Only part (10%) of energy stored in one trophic level is passed on to the next Most used to perform life functions Rest released as heat Only part (10%) of energy stored in one trophic level is passed on to the next Most used to perform life functions Rest released as heat

27 Biomass Pyramid Total amount of living tissues within a trophic level is called biomass Represents total amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem

28 Cycle of Matter? Ch. 3.3

29 Recycling in the Biosphere Matter is recycled within and between ecosystems Passed through biogeochemical cycles Matter is transformed as it is recycled –The air you breath may have been once been inhaled by a dinosaur

30 Nutrient Cycles Nutrients- –All chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life –Needed to build tissues and carry out essential life functions –Carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle all cycle nutrients

31 Carbon Cycle Carbon is a key ingredient of living tissue Carbon is in the atmosphere, underground, on land and in oceans Carbon is a key ingredient of living tissue Carbon is in the atmosphere, underground, on land and in oceans

32 Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is required for all organisms to make amino acids (which are used to build proteins) Nitrogen makes up 78% of earths atmosphere Nitrogen cycles through earth and living tissues Nitrogen is required for all organisms to make amino acids (which are used to build proteins) Nitrogen makes up 78% of earths atmosphere Nitrogen cycles through earth and living tissues

33 Phosphorus Cycle Phosphorus is required for making DNA and RNA Not very common in the biosphere Phosphorus does not enter the atmosphere Found mostly in rock, soil and ocean sediments Released as rocks and sediments gradually wear down. Consumers eat producers to obtain phosphorus Phosphorus is required for making DNA and RNA Not very common in the biosphere Phosphorus does not enter the atmosphere Found mostly in rock, soil and ocean sediments Released as rocks and sediments gradually wear down. Consumers eat producers to obtain phosphorus