Ecology studies 2 things: Ecology studies 2 things: ● the interactions of organisms with each other ● the interactions between organisms and their environment

Biosphere – Area of the earth where life exists; places on Earth that can support life Biosphere – Area of the earth where life exists; places on Earth that can support life Extends from oceans depths to a few kilometers above land. Extends from oceans depths to a few kilometers above land. Broken up into BIOMES – areas of similar climate & vegetation

Ecosystem A self supporting unit of interacting organisms and their environment. Ex. Forest or pond Includes biotic and abiotic factors. Includes biotic and abiotic factors. a. Biotic factors – living things b. Abiotic factors – nonliving things Ex. Temperature, light, nutrients

Community – all the ecosystem’s interacting biotic factors. Communities may be broken down into smaller units called populations. Communities may be broken down into smaller units called populations. Populations – A group of individuals that belong to the same species and occupy the same area and share common resources. A community may have 1000’s of populations (tropical rainforest) or relatively few (tundra) A community may have 1000’s of populations (tropical rainforest) or relatively few (tundra)

Tundra Biome Tropical Rainforest Biome

Individual – 1 member of a species Individual – 1 member of a species Population – several members of the same species Population – several members of the same species Community - all the interacting populations in an ecosystem Community - all the interacting populations in an ecosystem Ecosystem – an area of interacting organisms and their environment. Ecosystem – an area of interacting organisms and their environment. Biome – an area of similar climate & vegetation Biome – an area of similar climate & vegetation Biosphere – any part of the planet that can support life Biosphere – any part of the planet that can support life

How is energy transferred in an ecosystem? Trophic Levels Organisms in a community survive by either producing or consuming food. Trophic levels – levels of feeding in a community Trophic levels

Producers – Make their own food Producers – Make their own food Ex. plants, some bacteria Ex. plants, some bacteria Done by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis Done by photosynthesis or chemosynthesis Also known as AUTOTROPHS

Consumers – CANNOT make their own food. They must EAT food. Consumers – CANNOT make their own food. They must EAT food. Also known as HETEROTROPHS Also known as HETEROTROPHS Several kinds Several kindsHerbivoresCarnivoresOmnivoresDecomposers

Food chain - A series of steps of energy transfer ALWAYS begins with a PRODUCER ALWAYS begins with a PRODUCER ProducerHerbivore Consumers – either carnivores or omnivores

Food Web – ALL of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem Food Web – ALL of the feeding relationships in an ecosystem A series of interconnected food chains A change in one species in a food web will cause changes in the other species!!

Producers have the MOST available energy Energy is lost as it moves up through the food web; 10% rule – only 10% of the available energy is passed to the next trophic level The “lost” energy is used to catch, eat, and digest food.

57 units

3700 Units of ENERGY Knowing how much energy the producer has, you should be able to fill in the number of energy units that will pass to EVERY other organism in this web!! If all of the dragonflies DIED OUT, what would happen to the other organisms in this food web?

ALL species rely on other species in some way This is called Symbiosis – when 2 species live their lives connected together in some manner 4 main types: MutualismCommensalismParasitismPredator/Prey

When BOTH species benefit from the relationship When BOTH species benefit from the relationship Clownfish and sea anemone Lichen – an alga and a fungus Don’t forget about humans and bacteria… and flowers and birds/bees Don’t forget about humans and bacteria… and flowers and birds/bees

When 1 species BENEFITS and the other is UNAFFECTED When 1 species BENEFITS and the other is UNAFFECTED Shark and Ramora fish Birds and Trees

When 1 species benefits and the other species is HARMED When 1 species benefits and the other species is HARMED Humans and tapeworms Dogs and Fleas PARASITE HOST

When 1 species KILLS and EATS the other species When 1 species KILLS and EATS the other species Predator – does the killing Prey – gets eaten

Directions for the diagram Label each biotic and abiotic factors Label levels of organization: Organism, population, community, ecosystem and biome. Define each level of organization Label 3 types of symbiotic interactions: parasitism, mutualism, commensalism and prey & predator (you need to draw diagrams to show all the relationships).. Define each type of interaction Color the picture