1 Ecology introduction Me 23 slides What is Ecology?

2 What is Ecology?? 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. 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.

3 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life

4 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.

5 The Living 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. Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.

Class Quiz When prompted, blurt your answer once. If it becomes too loud, you will be told to signal your answer visually. When prompted, blurt your answer once. If it becomes too loud, you will be told to signal your answer visually. 6

7 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

8 Abiotic

9 Abiotic

10 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

11 Levels of Organization

12 What are the Simplest Levels? Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ System Organism Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ System Organism

13 on to ECOLOGICAL Levels of Organization 5 levels

14 1 st Level of Organization Organism (or Individual): An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

15 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

16 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

17 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Community plus abiotic factors Can be terrestrial or aquatic Ecosystem: Community plus abiotic factors Can be terrestrial or aquatic

18 5 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.

19 Read; don’t copy. The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.

Class Quiz 20

21 What level of organization? (1) Organism

22 What level of Organization? (2) Community (without the rocks) or Ecosystem (with the rocks and other abiotic factors)

23 What level of Organization? (3) (Ignore the tree.) Population

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25 Ecosystems food energyM.e 25 Slides Energy Flow in an Ecosystem Now look for underlined words OR color change for your guided notes.

26 Energy Flow Energy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sunEnergy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sun Energy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumersEnergy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumers –Producers (make food) –Consumers (use food by eating producers or other consumers) Energy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sunEnergy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sun Energy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumersEnergy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumers –Producers (make food) –Consumers (use food by eating producers or other consumers)

27 ProducersProducers Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth.Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth. Producers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sunProducers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth.Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth. Producers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sunProducers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun

28 ConsumersConsumers Heterotrophs (e.g. animals) eat other organisms to obtain energy. HerbivoresHerbivores –Eat Only Plants CarnivoresCarnivores –Eat Only Other Animals Animals Heterotrophs (e.g. animals) eat other organisms to obtain energy. HerbivoresHerbivores –Eat Only Plants CarnivoresCarnivores –Eat Only Other Animals Animals

29 Consumers (cont’d.) Omnivores (like humans)Omnivores (like humans) –Eat Plants & Animals ScavengersScavengers –(like buzzards) Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains DecomposersDecomposers –Fungi & Bacteria Omnivores (like humans)Omnivores (like humans) –Eat Plants & Animals ScavengersScavengers –(like buzzards) Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains DecomposersDecomposers –Fungi & Bacteria

30 Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from producers to various levels of consumers Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from producers to various levels of consumers

31 Feeding Relationships (cont’d.) Food ChainFood Chain –Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food WebFood Web –More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains Food ChainFood Chain –Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food WebFood Web –More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains

32 Here is a Food Chain Producer ( trapped sunlight & stored food) 1 st order Consumer 2 nd Order Consumer 3 rd Order consumer 4 th Order Consumer

33 Quiz: Name the Producer, Consumers & Decomposers in this food chain:

34 Food Web

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36 Trophic Levels Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. ProducersProducers –Always The First Trophic Level –How Energy Enters The System HerbivoresHerbivores –Second Trophic Level Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. ProducersProducers –Always The First Trophic Level –How Energy Enters The System HerbivoresHerbivores –Second Trophic Level

37 Trophic Levels Carnivores/OmnivoresCarnivores/Omnivores –Make Up The Remaining Trophic Levels Each level depends on the one below it for energy. Carnivores/OmnivoresCarnivores/Omnivores –Make Up The Remaining Trophic Levels Each level depends on the one below it for energy.

38 Ecological Pyramids Graphic Representations Of The Relative Amounts of Energy or Matter At Each Trophic Level May be: Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers Graphic Representations Of The Relative Amounts of Energy or Matter At Each Trophic Level May be: Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers

39 Energy Pyramid 10% Rule: Only about 10% of chemical energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest (90%) dissipates as heat.

40 Biomass Pyramid % Rule: Only about 10% of chemical energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest (90%) dissipates as heat.

41 Pyramid of Numbers 10% Rule: Only about 10% of chemical energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest (90%) dissipates as heat.

42 What do all three pyramids show? Everyone is somebody’s lunch, but... 10% Rule: Only about 10% of chemical energy (bodies) is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest (90%) is given off as heat. That’s where body heat comes from. Everyone is somebody’s lunch, but... 10% Rule: Only about 10% of chemical energy (bodies) is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest (90%) is given off as heat. That’s where body heat comes from.

The End? 43