Ecology

What is ecology? The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment. Interactions can take place between living and nonliving things.

Abiotic Factors Nonliving parts of environment Soil Temperature Sunlight Water/Moisture

Biotic Factors All the living organisms

Levels of Organization in Ecology Organism – an individual Population – a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time. Community – a collection of interacting populations Ecosystem – interactions of living and nonliving things in the community

Organism http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Population http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Community http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Ecosystem http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

How organisms obtain energy Producers – can make own food; usually use energy from the sun (photosynthesis) 6CO2 + 12H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O Consumers – must eat other organisms; cannot make own food

Different Types of Consumers Herbivore – eat only plants Carnivore – eat only animals Omnivore – eat both plants and animals Decomposer – break down and absorb nutrients of dead plants and animals Scavenger – eat rotting flesh (like road kill)

Food Chain Shows how matter and energy move through ecosystem Arrows indicate flow of energy Only a portion of original energy is passed on to other organisms in chain (10% each link) Example: Algae  Fish  Heron

Food Web Made up of many food chains Shows all possible feeding relationships in a community More realistic than a food chain, because most animals eat more than one thing.

Identify the: 1. Producers 2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers   2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers 4. Herbivores 5. Carnivores 6. Omnivores http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/foodweb1.gif

Let’s check for understanding! Are you ready?

Question 1 Which of these does not belong to the group? Consumer Human Fish Plant

Question 2 All energy transformations in an ecosystem begin with -- A scavenger A decomposer The Sun An herbivore

Question 3 In a food chain, which are the most efficient users of solar energy? Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Scavengers

Question 4

Autotrophs- “auto”matically makes its own food…producers…plants Quiz on Monday 2/09/15 on Food webs and Energy pyramids Need parent signature ______ Autotrophs- “auto”matically makes its own food…producers…plants Energy enters an ecosystem from the SUN! A food chain shows feeding relationships in an ecosystem A habitat would include shelter, food, water. What happens during photosynthesis? The cell uses the energy in sunlight to make food.

Abiotic-nonliving parts of an ecosystem Biotic- living parts of an ecosystem What part of the plant captures most of the sun’s energy? Chlorophyll Examples of producers: seaweed, grass, cacti Examples of consumers: rabbits, snakes, hawks

What do third level consumers eat? 2nd level consumers What do 1st level consumers eat? Producers What would vultures be considered in the food chain? Scavengers What would bacteria or fungi be considered in the food chain? Decomposers

What do all food chains or energy pyramids start with What do all food chains or energy pyramids start with? Producers or autotrophs Which level of an energy pyramid receives the most amount of energy? The producers or the bottom Which receives the least amount of energy? The top or 3rd level consumers

What happens to the consumers in an ecosystem if the producers die What happens to the consumers in an ecosystem if the producers die? Consumers would leave the area in search of food. If a bird eats a mouse that eats grass, the bird is what level consumer? 2nd level What happens to the available energy between the bottom level and the top level of an energy pyramid? It decreases

Levels of ecological succession: Organism, Population, Community, Ecosystem ***The process of helping the natural decomposition process break down of waste is called-COMPOSTING*** ONLY 10% OF ENERGY IS TRANSFERRED UP THE ENERGY PYRAMID!!!

Energy Pyramid