* Ecosystems and Flow of Energy

the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment eco root home, abode ecoclimate ecosystem ecotourism ology suffix study of zoology epidemiology climatology Ecology

Ecosystem  living + nonliving things in a particular environment  ex. oak forest, coral reef  living + nonliving things in a particular environment  ex. oak forest, coral reef Biotic Factors  the living parts of an ecosystem  includes plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms  the living parts of an ecosystem  includes plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms Abiotic Factors  the nonliving parts of an ecosystem  includes air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun)  the nonliving parts of an ecosystem  includes air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun)

Examples of Ecosystems

Examples of Biotic Factors

Examples of Abiotic Factors

 do not have clear boundaries  can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another  biotic - migration, seed dispersal  abiotic - flood, erosion, drought  do not have clear boundaries  can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another  biotic - migration, seed dispersal  abiotic - flood, erosion, drought Ecosystems

interact with each other in complex ways Biotic Factors also interact with abiotic factors in the ecosystem parasitism mutualism competition dependent upon water, minerals, temperature, light such as

* 1) energy * 2) mineral nutrients * 3) water * 4) oxygen * 5) living organisms

* Organisms - living things that can carry out life processes independently * examples: animals, plants, insects, bacteria * Species - groups of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring

* Populations – groups of organisms of the same species that live in the same area * example: all the field mice in a corn field

* Communities – groups of organisms of different species that live in the same area and interact with each other

* Habitats - places where an organism usually lives - location * organisms suited to their natural habitats

* Niche – organism’s use of its habitat * role an organism plays in its community

All energy in an ecosystem comes from the…

* Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen.

* Producers make own food – photosynthesis * plants * AKA autotrophs or self-feeders.

* Consumers - eat other organisms * animals and bacteria * AKA called heterotrophs or other-feeders.

* Each time an organism eats another organism, an energy transfer occurs. * This transfer of energy can be traced by studying food chains, food webs, and trophic levels.

* Food chain – one organism eats another * energy moves from the “eaten” to the “eater” * arrow shows direction of energy

Why does this look more like a “cycle” than a chain?

* Food web – network of food chains * shows many possible feeding relationships * many animals eat or is eaten by more than one kind of organism

* trophic level - each step in a food chain or web * energy is lost as heat each time it is transferred * less energy at higher levels * only 10% of energy transferred

each layer represents one trophic level producers on bottom, consumers on top in order of biomass

 In this food chain, what is the producer?  What is the primary consumer?  What is the secondary consumer?  Is the polar bear the tertiary consumer? Explain.