1 What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale

2 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. 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. 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 Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life Niche is an organism’s total way of life

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

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

6 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

7 Abiotic

8 Abiotic

9 Biotic

10 Levels of Organization

11 What are the Simplest Levels? Atom Atom Molecule Molecule Organelle Organelle Cell Cell Tissue Tissue Organ Organ System System copyright cmassengale

12 Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. copyright cmassengale

13 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops copyright cmassengale

14 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. Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

15 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

16 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) copyright cmassengale

17 5 th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. copyright cmassengale

18 The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. copyright cmassengale

19 What level of organization? Organism copyright cmassengale

20 What level of Organization? Community copyright cmassengale

21 What level of Organization? Population

Producer (autotroph) Producers (autotrophs) are always at the base of the chain. Producers are organisms that make their own food. Plants are producers.

Photosynthesis vs. Chemosynthesis

Consumers (heterotrophs) Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Detritivores Decomposers Organisms that relay on other organisms for their energy and food supply

Herbivore Herbivores are animals that only eat plants. A cow and a deer are herbivores.

Carnivore Animals that eat meat are carnivores. A lion and a wolf are carnivores.

Omnivore An omnivore eats both plants and animals. Humans and bears are omnivores.

Detritivores Mites Earthworms Snails Crabs Feed on plant and animal remains and other dead matter

Decomposer A decomposer eats dead or dying organisms.

Producers and Consumers So…producers make their own food (e.g., photosynthesis) and consumers don’t. Is a dog a producer or a consumer? Is a termite a producer or a consumer?

Energy Flow Sun major supplier of the earth’s energy. Most of the energy released is lost in the form of heat.

The Flow of Energy Producers - Plants capture the sun’s energy and store it in food Primary Consumers (herbivores) - Animals that receive their energy directly from plants Secondary Consumers (carnivores) - Consumers that feed on primary consumers Energy flows from the sun to the producer, then to the primary consumer, then to the secondary consumer, third level consumers, forth level consumers, etc...

Food Webs Many food chains interacting with each other. The arrow always points away from the organism being eaten to the organism doing the eating. Shows the movement of energy and matter in an ecosystem.

Everglades Food Web

Everglades Food Web vs. Food Chain

Pyramids

Law of 10% Pyramid of energy Energy used for life processes the rest is lost as heat

Phosphorus Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle