Ecological Levels of Organization

Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community Population Organism

Food Chain vs. Food Web Food chain Food web (just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths)

Lions and Warthogs Watch the video: In your notes, draw a food chain to represent the transfer of energy observed. (2 minutes)

Feeding Relationships Watch the video: Predator – Prey In your notes, draw a food web to represent the transfer of energy observed. (3 min) How do they trap the sun’s energy? Through what process? What is that process similar to in animal cells?

Example of Food Web

Example of Food Web

Types of Heterotrophs Differ in the type of organism they consume to obtain their energy Herbivore—eats only plants Carnivore Omnivore Detritivore Decomposer

Types of Heterotrophs Differ in the type of organism they consume to obtain their energy Herbivore Carnivore—eats other animals Omnivore Detritivore Decomposer

Types of Heterotrophs Differ in the type of organism they consume to obtain their energy Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore—eats BOTH plants and animals Detritivore Decomposer

Types of Heterotrophs Differ in the type of organism they consume to obtain their energy Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore Detritivore—eats dead plants and animals Decomposer

Types of Heterotrophs Differ in the type of organism they consume to obtain their energy Herbivore Carnivore Omnivore Detritivore Decomposer—eats dead plants and animals AND breaks down dead organic matter and returns it to the environment

Detritus Detrivores and decomposers eat detritus Dead or decaying organic material

We are going to look at 3 pyramids: Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers

Energy Pyramids The energy in each trophic level can be visualized as an energy pyramid.

Energy Pyramid Why is only 10 % passed to the next trophic level? Each trophic level is represented by a block. Lowest trophic level (producers) on the bottom. Energy stored by the organisms at each trophic level is about one-tenth the energy stored by the organism in the level below. 10% of energy moves to the next tropic level. Why is only 10 % passed to the next trophic level? The other 90% is used in metabolism or lost to the atmosphere as heat.

Heat Heat Heat 90% 90% 90% Snake (tertiary consumer) Rat (secondary consumer) 90% Heat Grasshopper (primary consumer) Grass (producer)

Which of these options could feed more people? And less energy is “lost” in the process!

Nitrogen Cycle

Processes of The Nitrogen Cycle Ammonification Nitrogen Fixation Nitrification Assimilation Denitrification Find them on your Nitrogen Cycle Diagram on pg. 6!

BACTERIA are the most important facilitators of the nitrogen cycle!

The Carbon Cycle CO2 returns to the air or water in three ways: Cellular Respiration -using oxygen to break down food Combustion -burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) Erosion -limestone from sediment of decayed shells erodes releasing carbon.

Symbiotic Relationships MUTUALISM [ | ] COMMENSALISM [ | ] PARASITISM [ | ] PREDATION [ | ]

Symbiotic Relationships Why is there not a symbiotic relationship with 2 frowny faces (where both organisms are harmed?) MUTUALISM Occurs when both organisms benefit. COMMENSALISM Occurs when one organism benefits and the other organism neither benefits or is harmed. PARASITISM Occurs when one organism (the parasite) benefits and the other (the host) is harmed. PREDATION Occurs when one organism (the predator) hunts another organism (the prey) for food. Competition: Were two organism compete for some type of resource.