Aim: What parts make up an ecosystem Aim: What parts make up an ecosystem? Do now: What does the word “biology” mean? Homework: read pages 4-9 of your book and answer any questions on those pages

Ecology The study of the interaction between living things and their environment Every organism occupies an important role in its environment called a niche Abiotic- non-living Biotic- living

Key Terms Individual- one organism Population- a group of the same organism Community- a group made of different types of organisms living in the same area (habitat) Ecosystem- a community and the abiotic factors surrounding the organisms

Activity- index card Individual Population Community Ecosystem

AIM: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem? Do Now: What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? Homework: Complete index card if not done yet

Key terms: Autotroph- organism that can produce its own food through photosynthesis, also called a producer Heterotroph- an organism that must consume other plants or animals for energy, also called a consumer

Food chains A food chain is a diagram showing the flow of energy between organisms in an ecosystem It always starts with a producer organism obtaining energy from the sun Then various types of consumers make up the rest of the chain

Example Grass-- Mouse-- Hawk--Lion Grass- producer Mouse- primary consumer (herbivore) Hawk- secondary consumer (carnivore) Lion- tertiary consumer (carnivore) *Omnivore- eats both plants and animals

Aim: How do food chains and webs show the flow of energy in an ecosystem? Do Now: What is the first type of organism found in every food chain? Homework: Read and complete page 19-23 in your book

Decomposers- organisms that recycle the nutrients from dead animals and put those nutrients into the soil to help plants grow Ex) bacteria and fungi

FOOD CHAIN

Food web- a diagram showing various connected food chains- food webs are a more accurate representation of nature All organisms in a food chain or web are dependent on the others. If one organism is removed, then the whole food chain will be disturbed

Aim: How is energy transferred in an ecosystem? Do Now: Write down an example of a food chain that could exist in nature Homework: read and complete page 24-29 in your book

Energy pyramid In a food chain or web, only 10% of the energy when an organism gets eaten is transferred from one level to the next Producers are always on the bottom and tertiary consumers at the top- an ecosystem always has many more producers than any other organism for this reason

EAGLES SNAKES MICE GREEN PLANTS Above is a typical representation of a NY State terrestrial energy pyramid.

Aim: What is ecological succession? Do Now: Why does an ecosystem always have more producers than consumers? Homework: Test Weds 5/15, complete worksheet on succession

Ecological succession A process that occurs to build an new ecosystem either in a place where there was no life or after a natural disaster has destroyed another ecosystem

This process consists of a series of steps that occur in order to rebuild the ecosystem Step one- pioneer organisms begin to live in the area (grasses, moss, shrubs, etc)- these organisms help the soil become nutrient rich Step 2- Gradually larger plants and animals will begin to move into the area

Step 3- The area will become a “climax community” or a stable ecosystem. This ecosystem will remain there until another disruption occurs. Stable ecosystems need to have: 1) More producers than consumers 2) A constant source of energy (the sun)