Levels of Organization

What is Ecology? The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment (surroundings)

Biotic

Abiotic

Biosphere It is made up of the parts of the planet where all life exists This includes: Land, water, and air, or the atmosphere.

Ecosystem

Different populations that live together in the same area.

Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

Is a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring. Fertile offspring – their babies can have babies

 Energy Flow  In order for organisms to interact with their environment, there is a need for energy to power life’s processes  Sunlight is the main energy source for life on Earth

Autotrophs (producers) Organisms that are able to make their own food by using the energy of the Sun are called autotrophs, meaning "self-feeders“ Autotroph = producer

Photosynthesis: autotrophs use the sun to convert CO2 and H2O into O2 and sugars Producers give us oxygen and start the flow of energy on earth. On land, plants are the main autotrophs In freshwater, algae are the main autotrophs

Consumers Consumers are animals that cannot make their own food. They get their energy from consuming/eating plants and animals. Consumers are also called heterotrophs. Consumer = heterotroph

Herbivores  Herbivores: obtain energy by eating plants  Ex: cows, deer, horses, rabbits

Carnivores: obtain energy by eating animals, or meat (snakes, dogs, owls)

Omnivores: eat both plants and animals Ex: humans, bears crows

Decomposers: break down organic matter Ex: Bacteria and Fungus – mushrooms (mushrooms are NOT producers!!!)

Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction: sun → autotrophs (producers) → heterotrophs (consumers) Food chains: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating & by being eaten

Food webs: feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem that form a network of complex interactions Each step in a food chain/web is called a trophic level Producers make up the 1 st trophic level Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it for energy.

Ecological pyramids: diagrams that show the amount of energy/matter in each trophic level in a food chain or food web; there are 3