1. ECOLOGY

2. Levels of Organization
Ecologist study organisms ranging from the various levels of organization:
_Individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere

3. Species
Group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Organism

4. Population
group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area.
Population

5. Community an assemblage of different populations that live together

6. Ecosystem
Collection of organisms that live in a place with the nonliving environment
Ecosystem

7. Biome
Group of ecosystems with the same climate and dominant communities
Tropical rain forest
Tropical dry forest
Tropical savanna
Temperate woodland
and shrubland
Desert
Temperate grassland
Boreal forest
(Taiga)
Northwestern
coniferous forest
Temperate forest
Mountains and
ice caps
Tundra
Ecosystem

8. Ecosystem
Biosphere
The part of the Earth where life exists including land, water, air, and atmosphere

9. Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs
Autotrophs – make their own food so they are called PRODUCERS
Heterotrophs – get their food from another source so they are called CONSUMERS

10. Two Main forms of Energy for Autotrophs
Sunlight
The main source of energy for life on earth
Photosynthesis
Chemical
Some organisms such as bacteria, rely on the energy stored in inorganic compounds
Chemosynthesis

11. Detritivores and Decomposers Feeds on plant and animal remains
Types of Consumers
Omnivores
Eat plants and meat
Herbivores- only eat plants
Carnivores - only eat meat
Detritivores and Decomposers
Feeds on plant and animal remains

12. Where does all of the energy on the Earth ultimately come from?
THE SUN!
Where does our electricity come from?
HOW?

13. How does Energy flow through an Ecosystem?
Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE direction,
sun or chemicals
Autotrophs
heterotrophs

14. Feeding Relationships
Food Chain – steps of organisms transferring energy by eating & being eaten
Food Web – network of all the food chains in an ecosystem

15. Food Web

16. TROPHIC LEVELS

17. Ecological Pyramids
Trophic Level – each step in a food chain or food web
Biomass Pyramid
Energy Pyramid
Pyramid of Numbers

18. Pyramid of Numbers -relative number of individuals at each trophic level

19. Pyramid of Biomass - amount of potential food available for each trophic level

20. Pyramid of Energy - amount of energy available at each trophic level
Only 10% of the energy from each trophic level is passed on to the next level
Most of the energy is used by the organisms for life processes
Most of the energy is lost as heat

21. Peregrine falcons and DDT-a case of biomagnification