Ecology Notes

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Levels of Organization Output 102 103

What is Ecology Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environment

Recall the levels of organizations from our first unit… Atoms- basic unit of matter Molecules- combined atoms Cells- smallest unit of life Tissue- groups of cells with similar function. Organ- 2 or more types of tissues that work together Organ System- group of organs carrying out specific sets of functions ORGANISM- several organ systems functioning together

Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Here are the levels of organization that relate to the study of ecology Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere

Levels of Organization Organism - single living individual Species- a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring Population- group of organisms of the same species and live in the same area Community - all interacting populations that live together in a given area

Levels of Organization Ecosystem- collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place together with their nonliving environment Ex. Rotting log, pond lake, clump of dirt, a field, maple tree Biome- a group of ecosystems that have a particular climate and similar species of plants and animals Ex. Tundra Biosphere - contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists (land, water, and air)

Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors (non-living) – all physical and chemical factors affecting an organism Examples: precipitation, sunlight, and temperature, water (lakes), rocks, etc.

Biotic Factors Biotic factors (living) – all living things that directly or indirectly affect the environment Examples: Plants, animals, microorganisms

Output Directions: Start with the lowest level of organization (organism) in the smallest circle. Write the name of the level in the circle. Then Draw a picture in each circle to demonstrate your understanding of the definition of each level. Your picture that you used for organism should continue through all levels (i.e. if your organisms is a fish, fish should appear at each level) It must be colored!!!

STOP HERE!

Feeding Relationships Two feeding levels Producers - capture sunlight or chemicals to make food (also called autotrophs) Plants, algae, bacteria Consumers - rely on other organisms for energy/food (also called heterotrophs) Animals, fungi, bacteria

Types of Heterotrophs Herbivores- eat ONLY plants Cows, deer, caterpillars Carnivores- eat ONLY animals Snakes, wolves, owls Omnivores- eat BOTH animals and plants Humans, bears, crows

Types of Heterotrophs Decomposers - obtain nutrients by breaking down remains of organic matter Examples: Bacteria, fungi, earthworms

Energy Flow Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs and then to heterotrophs *Remember sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth Photosynthesis Some organisms obtain their energy from chemicals Chemosynthesis

Flow of Energy

Food Chains Food chain - series of steps in which organisms transfer energy from one organism to another organism; shows only one path for energy Example: leaf  caterpillar  song bird producer  primary consumer  secondary consumer

Food Webs Food web – consists of many food chaings that shows a network of complex interactions formed by feeding relationships Links all the food chains in an ecosystem together

Trophic Levels Each step in a food chain or food web is called a trophic level Producers make up the first trophic level Consumers make up the second, third, or higher trophic levels Second = primary consumer Third = secondary consumer Fourth = tertiary consumer

Energy Pyramid Energy pyramid- shows the transfer and loss of energy from one trophic level to another

10% Rule 10% Rule - only 10% of the energy at any one level is available for use by the next level 90% is used by the organisms for living, growing, and reproducing or it is lost as heat The number of higher level consumers that can be sustained is much lower than the number of lower level consumers and producers

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