This Is ECOLOGY! Introduction First, we studied how individual cells work. Second, we learned how cells fit together into organisms and reproduce. Then, we discovered how organisms change (evolve) over long periods time. Now, we will study how groups of these organisms interact and change the environment around us. We will also look at how our treatment of the environment threatens the survival of the human species. After last transition – before we can study how our improper treatment of the environment threatens other species/ourselves, we must understand how the environment works. So, we’re going to look at… food webs and how organisms interact! This Is ECOLOGY!

What is Ecology, refresher! In this unit we will learn… Why the sun is so important for ALL LIFE How animals interact with each other How animals interact with their environment What happens when environments run out of resources

Key Point #1 There are two ways organisms get food 1. Make their own food 2. Eat food

Key Point #2 Plants make their own food using solar energy in a chemical reaction called photosynthesis

Food makers! Organisms that produce their own food are called PRODUCERS or AUTOTROPHS Auto= self Troph= food

Why should we learn about plants? Plants use energy from the sun and then other organisms eat plants! We have to know about plants because they help give energy to all living things

Key Point #3 Plants are made of eukaryotic cells. Just like all living things, they do the MR GORE things.

Metabolism Plants make their own food in chloroplasts during photosynthesis. Plants turn this food into energy in the mitochondria during cell respiration.

Reproduction

Reproduction Most flowers make male and female sex cells. -male: pollen -female: seeds Pollen is delivered from one flower to another by either wind or other animals.

Growth Unlike animals, plants continue to grow throughout their whole life. Apical meristems divide rapidly and replace old dead cells with new cells.

Organization Plants are made up of plant cells. Three main differences REVIEW!

Response Plants respond to stimuli all the time Stimuli- things that cause change in the environment -Examples: light, rain, wind

Response Plants respond to stimuli all the time Stimuli- things that cause change in the environment -Examples: light, rain, wind

Response Environmental stimuli signal growth responses called TROPISMS in plants. Phototropism: Plants tend to grow toward light Gravitropism: In horizontal plants the stems bend upward and the roots bend downwards Thighmotropism: Vines and climbing plants will grow around an object when they touch it.

Evolution Originally there were just simple green algae water plants. The first land plants didn’t form until 475 million years ago. Today, there are 260,000 species of flowering land plants.

Key Point #4 Animals cannot produce their own food so they get their energy through eating other organisms

EATERS, nom nom nom Organisms that must eat food to get energy are called CONSUMERS or HETEROTROPHS

There are THREE different types of consumers Primary consumer: Eats producers Secondary consumer: Eats primary consumers Tertiary consumer: Eats secondary consumers

We call consumers different names based on WHAT they consume! Eat plants= HERBIVORE Eat animals= CARNIVORE Eat plants AND animals= OMNIVORE

Class practice Look at the picture Decide if it makes its own food/ eats food If it has to eat food, decide if it is a primary, secondary, or tertiary consumer If it has to eat its food, look at what it is eating- carnivore, omnivore, herbivore? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. WE WILL DO ONE TOGETHER. THIS WILL BE GRADED FOR ACCURACY!

I eat snakes. Snakes eat mice. Mice eat plants. DELICIOUS!

WHAT ARE DA COWZ?

I’m salmon! I eat small fish. Small fish eat aquatic plants. Help meeee!

I EAT EVERYYYYTHING!

YUUUUMMMMY SEAWEED!

Soakin up some rays. Getting my tan on!

Zebras eat grass!

Wooooah nelly! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gic0W9tUpm0

Ooooo I like fish but I also like acorns. FOOD FOOD FOOD!

Algae

Stay away from my cypress trees!

Stop eating bacon, PLZZZZZ! Farmer john gets me fat with corn and soybeans!

Mess with me. I eat lions. Lions eat zebras. Zebras eat grass Mess with me? I eat lions. Lions eat zebras. Zebras eat grass. FEAR THE HIPPO! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUh7FNdjK4M&feature=related