1 What is Ecology?

2 Organisms and Their Environment Organisms and Their Environment

3 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.

4 Levels of Organization

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

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

1. The Cell Basic unit of life. copyright cmassengale7

2. Tissues A group of specialized cells working together for a specific purpose copyright cmassengale8

3. Organs a group of tissues working together to perform a vital function in living organisms. copyright cmassengale9

4. Organ system A group of organs working together to perform a specific function. copyright cmassengale10

11 5. Organism An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

12 6. Population A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

13 7. Community All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

14 8. Ecosystem (Biomes) Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

15 9. Biosphere The portion of Earth that supports life.The portion of Earth that supports life.

16 What level of organization? Organism

17 What level of Organization? Community

18 What level of Organization? Population

19 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life (It’s their job) Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life (It’s their job)

20 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.

21 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.

22 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

23 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

24 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

25 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

26 Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

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

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

29 Autotrophs An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply!An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply! Autotrophs are also called ProducersAutotrophs are also called Producers Plants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examplesPlants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examples

30 Niche of a Producer Captures energy and transforms it into organic, stored energy for the use of living organisms.Captures energy and transforms it into organic, stored energy for the use of living organisms. May be photoautotrophs using light energy (e.g. plants)May be photoautotrophs using light energy (e.g. plants) May be chemoautotrophs using chemical energy (e.g. cyanobacteria)May be chemoautotrophs using chemical energy (e.g. cyanobacteria)

31 Photoautotroph Producer That Captures Energy from the sun by: –Photosynthesis Adds Oxygen to the atmosphereAdds Oxygen to the atmosphere Removes Carbon Dioxide from the AtmosphereRemoves Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere Algae

32 On LandOn Land –Plants In The SeaIn The Sea –Algae (Protists) Tidal Flats & Salt MarshesTidal Flats & Salt Marshes –Cyanobacteria Habitat of Photoautotrophs

Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called Organisms that can make glucose during photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS. 33

34 Producers use most of the energy they make for themselves.

35 The energy that is not used by producers can be passed on to organisms that cannot make their own energy.

36 Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called CONSUMERS.

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

38 Consumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. Omnivores (Humans)Omnivores (Humans) –Eat Plants & Animals Detritivores (Scavengers)Detritivores (Scavengers) –Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains (buzzards) DecomposersDecomposers –Break down dead material into Reusable nutrients.

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

40 Feeding Relationships Food ChainFood Chain –Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food WebFood Web –More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains

41 Food Chain Producer ( trapped sunlight & stored food) Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary consumer Quaternary Consumer

42 Consumers that eat producers to get energy: Are primary consumers herbivoresAre herbivores (plant-eaters) Are primary consumers herbivoresAre herbivores (plant-eaters)

43 ONLY 10% of the energy gets passed from one level to the next.

10% Rule Notice that only about 10% of the energy goes from one level to the next. Only 10% of the energy in primary producers gets transferred to energy in primary consumers. The rest goes into metabolism, growth, and waste. 44

45 A Consumer that Eats Another Consumer for Energy: Is called a secondary consumerIs called a secondary consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivoreMay be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a predatorMay be a predator May be a scavengerMay be a scavenger

46 Most of the energy the secondary consumer gets from the primary consumer is used by the secondary consumer.

47 Some of the energy is lost as heat, but some energy is stored and can be passed on to another consumer.

48 A consumer that eats a consumer that already ate a consumer: Is called a tertiary consumerIs called a tertiary consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivoreMay be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a predatorMay be a predator May be a scavengerMay be a scavenger Is called a tertiary consumerIs called a tertiary consumer May be a carnivore or a omnivoreMay be a carnivore or a omnivore May be a predatorMay be a predator May be a scavengerMay be a scavenger

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

50 The transfer of energy from the sun to producer to primary consumer then to higher order consumers can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN.

51 Food Chains Show Available Energy

52 More Food Chains

53 Food Webs: Are interconnected food chainsAre interconnected food chains They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystemThey show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

54 Food Web

55

T. Trimpe

1. What are the producers? 2. Name two organisms that are herbivores. 3. Name one organism that is a carnivore. 4. What would happen to the snake population if the hawk were removed? Image: Use the food web to answer these questions.

1. What are the producers? 2. Name two organisms that are herbivores. 3. Name one organism that is a carnivore. 4. What would happen to the snake population if the hawk were removed? The answers are … Oak Tree & Pine Tree Pine Borer & Mouse Salamander, Kinglet, Snake, or Hawk Since there would be more mice and birds, we would expect the snake population to increase. Image:

59 Trophic (Energy) Levels Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. Producers –A–A–A–Always The First Trophic Level –H–H–H–How Energy Enters The System Herbivores –S–S–S–Second Trophic Level

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

61 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

62 Another way of showing the transfer of energy in an ecosystem is the ENERGY PYRAMID

63 Energy Pyramids Show Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumersAmount of available energy decreases for higher consumers Amount of available energy decreases down the food chainAmount of available energy decreases down the food chain It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumersIt takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumersIt takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers

64 Energy Pyramids Show Amount of available energy decreases for higher consumersAmount of available energy decreases for higher consumers Amount of available energy decreases down the food chainAmount of available energy decreases down the food chain It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumersIt takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumersIt takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers “Hoot” “Hoot” “Did anybody see me hiding?”

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66 Energy Pyramid

67 Biomass Pyramid

68 Pyramid of Numbers

Ecology Quiz 1. The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment is called –A. Zoology B. Chemistry C. Ecology 2. Put the following in correct order from 1 st (Smallest Eco. ) Level to 5 th (Largest Level) –Biosphere, Community, Organism, Population, and Ecosystem The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment is called –A. Zoology B. Chemistry C. Ecology 2. Put the following in correct order from 1 st (Smallest Eco. ) Level to 5 th (Largest Level) –Biosphere, Community, Organism, Population, and Ecosystem Label the following food chain correctly -PRODUCER -PRIMARY CONSUMER -SECONDARY CONSUMER -ULTIMATE SOURCE OF ENERGY