Chapter 3: The Biosphere What is Ecology?

Pre-Quiz: Is it living? Make two lists and divide the following items as living or non- living. Write 2 sentences about the rules you used to decide what it means to be living or non-living. Tree Feather Sun Yogurt Rock Grass Mushroom Mitochondria Fire Seed Potato River Child Egg Leaf Cut flowers Wind Bacteria Butterfly DNA Rabbit Cell Cocoon Virus Cloud Molecule Fossil Hibernating Bear

The Biosphere A biosphere includes all areas where life exists from the atmosphere to the deep ocean Life on Mars? http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/life-on-mars-nasa-says-planet-appears-to-have-flowing-water/ar-AAeSEvU?li=AAa0dzB&ocid=onepro

3.1 What is Ecology? “Oikos” is the Greek word for “house” Ecology is the study of the earth’s “houses” or habitats and the things that live in them.

Levels of Organization Biosphere of Earth Biome Ecosystem Community Population Species Individual

Biotic and Abiotic Factors A biotic factor is living An abiotic factor is non-living

Ecological Methods Observation: Develop questions from what you see or wonder about an organism or its habitat/ecosystem Experimentation: Test a question in an artificial environment or within the confines of a natural habitat Modeling: Use to see what could happen for large areas or long periods of time

3.2 Energy, Producers and Consumers Primary producers are autotrophs: Auto = Self Troph = Feeder They get energy from nonliving sources (like sunlight) Build sugars from CO2 and water or other chemicals