Ecology Continued Introducing … Energy Flow!

Let’s take a step back. What is Ecology? Any guesses? Definition: The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

Levels of Organization Organism _____________ = one individual that is made of at least one cell, requires energy, grows and develops, reproduces, and responds to it’s environment _____________ = a group of organisms that are similar enough that they can breed. _____________ = groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. _____________ = assemblages of the different populations that live together in a defined area. _____________ = a collection of all the organisms that live together in a particular place as well as their nonliving or physical environment. _____________ = a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities. Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome

Another way to organize organisms is in an Ecological Pyramid Definition: diagram that shows the amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food web or food chain. Energy Pyramid: only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level. How is energy transferred?

Energy lost at each step Energy Pyramid Energy lost at each step Energy Flow

Ecological Pyramids Continued Biomass Pyramid: shows the total amount of living tissue (biotic matter) available at each trophic level. REMEMBER: Each trophic level harvests only about one tenth of the energy from the level below, it can also only support about one tenth the amount of living tissue.

Biomass Pyramid

Ecological Pyramids Continued Numbers pyramid: shows the number of species at each trophic level.

Energy Flow Sunlight Plants Energy flow through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (consumers). ___________ is the main source of energy for life on Earth This energy is harnessed by ___________, which are examples of autotrophs Sunlight Plants Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage Prairie Ecosystem All energy comes from the sun

Energy Flow Step 1 = Autotrophs What does autotroph mean? Make food for self Also known as producers Plants are the most familiar autotrophs Lesser known autotrophs use chemical energy to make carbohydrates Ex. bacteria

Energy Flow Step 2 = Heterotrophs Also known as consumers What does heterotroph mean? Rely on other organisms for their energy and food Heterotrophs (Consumers) Prairie Ecosystem All energy comes from the sun Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage

Different Categories of Heterotrophs Herbivores _________ obtain energy by eating plants _________ eat animals for energy _________ get energy from both plants and animals _________ feed on the remains of plants, animals and other dead matter for energy Carnivores Omnivores Detritovores

Another Way to Categorize Heterotrophs Primary Consumers = eat autotrophs Secondary Consumers = eat primary consumers Tertiary Consumers = secondary consumers Scavengers = eat dead things Decomposers = break down dead organic matter and release minerals back to soil Let’s add these to our Energy Pyramid…

Bacteria, Fungus, Insects Decomposers Bacteria, Fungus, Insects Scavengers Eagle, Coyote Secondary Consumers Hawk, Badger, Eagle, Rattlesnake Primary Consumers Prairie Dog, Bison, Mice Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage Prairie Ecosystem All energy comes from the sun

Trophic Relationships What does tropic mean? Eating/feeding Food Chains are a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten. Food webs show the complex interactions within an ecosystem. Each step in a food chain or web is called a trophic level. Producers make up the first step, consumers make up the higher levels.

Food Chains vs. Food Webs

Cycles of Matter Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. These cycles are the Water cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorus cycle. These are ___________ resources (cannot be created or destroyed) NON-RENEWABLE

Biomagnification – What is it?