Notes Pt. 1: Biomes and Succession Ecology Notes Pt. 1: Biomes and Succession

Ecology & Biodiversity Ecology: is the study of the relationships between living organisms. Biodiversity: The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Review Populations: Groups of the same species Communities: All of the living things interacting in a specific region Biomes: The living things interacting with the non- living environment

Biotic vs. Abiotic Biotic Abiotic Living Non-living Plants Animals Bacteria Non-living Water Oxygen Temperature

Energy Flow Nutrients cycle but energy does not. It is lost from the community as heat. Food Chains: Single chain of events that passes energy from the sun through a community Example: Sun  Algae  Gizzard Shad  Walleye Food Web: Many interacting food chains

Energy Flow Cast Members: Energy related roles within the community Producers: Convert abiotic energy into biotic energy; uses sun or chemicals from the earth to produce glucose Photosynthesis: Uses light energy to convert CO2 and H2O to glucose Chemosynthesis: Uses chemicals from the deep sea vents.

Energy Flow Cast Members Primary Consumer: Organisms that get their energy from producers Example: Cows eat grass

Energy Flow Cast Members Secondary Consumer: Organisms that get their energy from primary consumers Example: Robin eats a worm

Energy Flow Cast Members Tertiary Consumer: Organisms that get their energy from secondary consumers Example: Hawk that eats the snake that ate the mouse that ate some grass

Energy Flow Cast Members Scavenger: Organisms that get their energy from dead organisms Example: Turkey Vulture

Energy Flow Cast Members Decomposers: Organisms that get their energy from other living things; they return nutrients back to the system Example: mushrooms, bacteria, worms

Energy Flow Energy Pyramids: Not a food pyramid. Shows how much energy is passed from level to level. Producer Primary Consumer SecondaryConsumer Tertiary Consumer 90% energy lost 10% energy passed on

Energy Flow Example: Producers have 100 units of energy. 90% energy lost 10% energy passed on 0.10 1 10 100

Energy Flow Energy is lost as heat as you go up the pyramid. Why is there not a 4th level of consumer? Because there is not enough energy to pass on.

Succession Two types of succession Primary Succession Secondary Succession Succession creates biodiversity within an ecosystem

Primary Succession Begins on rock formations – volcanoes or mountains. Usually in a place with no organisms or soil. Pioneer species : lichen, algae & fungi and other abiotic factors like wind and water will start to normalize the habitat. This creates a condition for optimum plant growth.

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession Starts from an event such as a forest fire, harvesting or hurricane (natural disasters). Reduces the already established ecosystem to a smaller population of species. Occurs on preexisting soil. Primary succession occurs in a place lacking soil.

Secondary Succession

Bioaccumulation & Biomagnification Gradual build up of pollutants in living organisms Biomagnification Gradual build up of pollutants in a food chain.

Ecology Nutrient Cycling

Water Cycle 6 5 1 2 4 3 Precipitation: Rain, Sleet, Snow, Hail, etc… Surface Runoff Surface Runoff goes into the ground Groundwater runs into oceans, lakes, and streams Evaporation from lakes, streams, and ocean. Transpiration from vegetation (plants) and soil Condensation: water becomes visible in the atmosphere. 6 5 1 2 4 3

Carbon Cycle 2 1 3 4 1 6 5

Nitrogen Cycle 9 7 1 8 6 2 3 4 2 5 N2 mixes with rainwater Nitrogen fixation – bacteria turn atmosphere N2 into ammonia (NH3) Animals release NH3 in waste products Decomposition – bacteria break down leaves and animals release NH3 7 1 8 6 3 2 4 2 NH3  NO2  NO3 (nitrate) NO3 is taken in by plants Animals eat plants, go back to #3 Some bacteria take in NO3 and release N2 into the atmosphere Volcanic activity releases N2 into the atmosphere 5