1 What is Ecology?

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. 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 Levels of Organization

4 Levels are determined according to complexity.Levels are determined according to complexity.

5 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

6 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.

7 3 rd Level of Organization Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

8 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)

9 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem:Ecosystem: 3 types – terrestrial, marine, and aquatic3 types – terrestrial, marine, and aquatic Ecosystem:Ecosystem: 3 types – terrestrial, marine, and aquatic3 types – terrestrial, marine, and aquatic

10 5 th Level of Organization Biome: group of ecosystems that have the same climate (terrestrial or aquatic)Biome: group of ecosystems that have the same climate (terrestrial or aquatic)

11 6 th Level of Organization Biosphere: anywhere on Earth where life exists.Biosphere: anywhere on Earth where life exists.

12 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. 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.

13 Primary Producers autotrophsautotrophs Make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesisMake their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis autotrophsautotrophs Make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesisMake their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis

14 Primary Producers Plants, certain algae and some bacteriaPlants, certain algae and some bacteria Use most of the energy for themselvesUse most of the energy for themselves Energy is passed on to consumersEnergy is passed on to consumers Plants, certain algae and some bacteriaPlants, certain algae and some bacteria Use most of the energy for themselvesUse most of the energy for themselves Energy is passed on to consumersEnergy is passed on to consumers

15 Primary Producers Chemosynthesis  plants use energy stored in organic compounds to make foodChemosynthesis  plants use energy stored in organic compounds to make food

16 ConsumersConsumers heterotrophsheterotrophs Can’t make their own foodCan’t make their own food Eat producersEat producers heterotrophsheterotrophs Can’t make their own foodCan’t make their own food Eat producersEat producers

17 Primary Consumers First consumers – eat primary producersFirst consumers – eat primary producers Herbivores  eat plantsHerbivores  eat plants Insects, deerInsects, deer First consumers – eat primary producersFirst consumers – eat primary producers Herbivores  eat plantsHerbivores  eat plants Insects, deerInsects, deer

18 Secondary Consumers A consumer that eats another consumerA consumer that eats another consumer Can be Carnivores (eats animals) or omnivores (eats plants and animals)Can be Carnivores (eats animals) or omnivores (eats plants and animals) May be a predator or scavengerMay be a predator or scavenger Frogs, snakes, racoonsFrogs, snakes, racoons A consumer that eats another consumerA consumer that eats another consumer Can be Carnivores (eats animals) or omnivores (eats plants and animals)Can be Carnivores (eats animals) or omnivores (eats plants and animals) May be a predator or scavengerMay be a predator or scavenger Frogs, snakes, racoonsFrogs, snakes, racoons

19 Tertiary Consumers Top level for most food chainsTop level for most food chains Eats a consumer that already ate a consumerEats a consumer that already ate a consumer Carnivores or omnivoresCarnivores or omnivores Some birds, lions, sharksSome birds, lions, sharks Top level for most food chainsTop level for most food chains Eats a consumer that already ate a consumerEats a consumer that already ate a consumer Carnivores or omnivoresCarnivores or omnivores Some birds, lions, sharksSome birds, lions, sharks

20 PredatorsPredators Hunt and kill other consumersHunt and kill other consumers Prey  animals that are hunted and killedPrey  animals that are hunted and killed Hunt and kill other consumersHunt and kill other consumers Prey  animals that are hunted and killedPrey  animals that are hunted and killed

21 ScavengersScavengers Consumers that eat dead consumers (leftovers)Consumers that eat dead consumers (leftovers) Lions, vultures, racoonsLions, vultures, racoons Consumers that eat dead consumers (leftovers)Consumers that eat dead consumers (leftovers) Lions, vultures, racoonsLions, vultures, racoons

22 DecomposersDecomposers Break down dead plants and animalsBreak down dead plants and animals Recycle nutrientsRecycle nutrients Also called detritivoresAlso called detritivores Fungi, bacteriaFungi, bacteria Break down dead plants and animalsBreak down dead plants and animals Recycle nutrientsRecycle nutrients Also called detritivoresAlso called detritivores Fungi, bacteriaFungi, bacteria

23 DetritivoresDetritivores Break down dead plants and animalsBreak down dead plants and animals Recycle nutrientsRecycle nutrients Called detritivoresCalled detritivores Fungi and bacteriaFungi and bacteria Break down dead plants and animalsBreak down dead plants and animals Recycle nutrientsRecycle nutrients Called detritivoresCalled detritivores Fungi and bacteriaFungi and bacteria

24 Food chain  shows the flow of energy from producer (always first) to consumer

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26 Food Webs: interconnected food chainsinterconnected food chains They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystemThey show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

27 Food Webs: Marine

28 Food Webs: Terrestrial

29 Trophic Levels Place occupied by an organism in a food chain or webPlace occupied by an organism in a food chain or web Shows interdependence of organismsShows interdependence of organisms The greater the number of levels between organisms, the smaller amount of energy availableThe greater the number of levels between organisms, the smaller amount of energy available

30 Trophic Levels Rule of 10  only 10% of the energy at one trophic level is used by organisms at the nextRule of 10  only 10% of the energy at one trophic level is used by organisms at the next

31 Ecological Pyramids shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained at each trophic level in a food chain or food web shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained at each trophic level in a food chain or food web

32 Ecological Pyramids takes a large number to support the next trophic level takes a large number to support the next trophic level

33 Biomass Pyramid shows the amount of potential food available for each trophic level shows the amount of potential food available for each trophic level

34 Energy Pyramid shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level

35 Pyramid of Numbers shows population sizes at each trophic level shows population sizes at each trophic level Not always a pyramid – sometimes invertedNot always a pyramid – sometimes inverted

36 Food Chains Show Available Energy

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

39 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. 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.

40 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. 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.

41 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. 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.

42 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

43 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

44 Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

45 Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic