Principles of Ecology

GPS Standard: SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystem a. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities , ecosystems and biomes

Ecology: Ecological Relationships Identify relationships among components in an ecosystem Relate adaptations to the survival of organisms Explain the adaptations of an organism that enable the organism to be successful within an ecosystem Relate the stages of succession to changes in an ecosystem after a natural disaster

Organisms and Their Environment Biotic – living factors in an ecosystem Grass, trees, animals, insects Abiotic – nonliving factors in an ecosystem Rocks, soil, water, air, minerals Abiotic factors often determine the Biotic factors in a community

Levels of Organization in Ecology Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere

Organism

A single individual of a particular species. What defines a group as a species?

Organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring = _____________ SPECIES http://suedafrika.net/bluegifs/twooryx.jpg

EX: Horse X donkey = mule http://environnement.ecoles.free.fr/Site-chevaux/images/etalon_quarter_horse_genuine_redskin.jpg http://www.caribbeanart.com/art/j-portrait-donkey.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mule EX: Horse X donkey = mule 64 chromosomes 62 chromosomes 63 chromosomes Horses and donkeys are different species. If you breed them, the result is a mule which can NOT have offspring!

Population

A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place.

Community

A collection of interacting populations.

Ecosystem

A community and all of the physical surroundings, or abiotic factors, that affect that community.

Biome 16

Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar climax communities.

The portion of the planet in which all life exists = _________________ The scientific study of interactions of organisms with each other and with their environment = ______________ The portion of the planet in which all life exists = _________________ (includes land, water, atmosphere) ECOLOGY BIOSPHERE Extends from about 8 km above the Earth’s surface to 11 km below the ocean’s surface http://jaeger.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/Images/Topographic/Whole_Earth/Earth_100.jpg

Organisms in Ecosystems Every organism in an Ecosystem has a job or role. It’s NICHE. The place where an organism lives is its HABITAT

HABITAT vs NICHE? Habitat is like an address OCCUPATION http://www.electricwomen.com/hunterspoint/images/21-street-sign-moreell.jpg HABITAT vs NICHE? Habitat is like an organism’s ____________ Niche is like an organism’s ______________ address OCCUPATION http://resmedicinae.sourceforge.net/logos/doctor.png http://www.michcampgrounds.com/yogibears/yogi-picnic-cartoon.jpg http://www.formaui.org/kamalii/critters.htm

Section 2.2 GPS Standard: SB4. Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystem b. Explain the flow of matter and energy through ecosystems by *Arranging components of a food chain according to energy flow * Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid 21

Ecology: Transfer of Matter and Energy Recognize the role of an organism within a food chain or food web Analyze the transfer of energy and matter through an ecosystem Explain the concept of an ecosystem in terms of its components and the flow of matter and energy through the system Construct food chains and webs, based on the position of an organism within an ecosystem

The Earth is SOLAR POWERED! ALL LIVING THINGS USE ENERGY The Earth is SOLAR POWERED! _____________ is the main source of energy for life on Earth. SUNLIGHT http://www.animation-station.com/smileys/index.php?page=17

AUTOTROPHS = PRODUCERS Can make their own food ALL LIVING THINGS USE ENERGY AUTOTROPHS = PRODUCERS Can make their own food PHOTOSYNTHESIS Most autotrophs use _______________ to capture solar energy Main producers on land = green plants In water = algae BIOLOGY; MIller and Levine; Prentice Hall; 2006

HETEROTROPHS = ____________ Get energy from consuming other organisms CONSUMERS HETEROTROPHS = ____________ Get energy from consuming other organisms http://www.epa.gov/region5/superfund/ecology/images/fishcartoon.gif

HETEROTROPHS = CONSUMERS HERBIVORES ________________ = eat only plants eat only animals eat both plants & animals CARNIVORES OMNIVORES http://gallery.hd.org/_exhibits/natural-science/_more2003/_more09/elephant-eating-greenery-in-Addo-Park-Eastern-Cape-South-Africa-2-WL.jpg http://personal.ecu.edu/wuenschk/rabbit-wolf.gif http://www.rodsguide.com/bears/eating.jpg

HETEROTROPHS = CONSUMERS DETRITIVORES ________________ = feed on plant & animal remains EX: mites, earthworms, snails, crabs break down and absorb organic matter EX: bacteria & fungi DECOMPOSERS http://montereybayphotos.com/images/nature/2.jpg http://www.fwnp.com/bracket-fungi.htm

↑ ↑ CONSUMERS (Heterotrophs) PRODUCERS (Autotrophs) Energy flows through an ecosystem in a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by being eaten CONSUMERS (Heterotrophs) ________________ _________________ = _________________ ↑ ↑ PRODUCERS (Autotrophs) FOOD CHAIN http://fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/foodchain.jpg

Energy Flow in An Ecosystem Food chain – chain of energy movement from organism to organism **Arrows show the flow of energy 29

In most ecosystems feeding relationships are more complex Pearson Education Inc, Publishing as Pearson Prentice Hall In most ecosystems feeding relationships are more complex FOOD WEB A ______________ links ALL the food chains in an ecosystem together.

PRODUCERS FIRST Each step in a food chain or web = _______________ ALWAYS make up the ________ trophic level. TROPHIC LEVEL PRODUCERS FIRST http://home.insightbb.com/~g.mager/Pond/Ecosystem.htll

Lower levels must be bigger to support the level above. Only about_____ of the energy from each level is passed on. 10% http://home.insightbb.com/~g.mager/Pond/Ecosystem.htll

Some energy is used for life processes such as growth, development, movement, metabolism, transport, and reproduction. The rest is lost as ________ HEAT http://home.insightbb.com/~g.mager/Pond/Ecosystem.htll

Living relationships Symbiosis – the interactions of organisms in an ecosystem Predator/Prey – one kills and one is eaten Commensalism – one benefits Mutualism – both benefits Parasitism – one benefits and one is harmed Competition – when two or more organisms use one resource

Cut out your organisms. Organize them into a food web on your piece of construction paper. Check your web with one of us before you glue it. Label trophic levels, producers, primary consumers, secondary consumers, tertiary consumers. Draw arrows to show the flow of energy. Label each consumer as carnivore, herbivore, omnivore, or scavenger.