The flow of matter and energy through an ecosystem. Ecology Introduction The flow of matter and energy through an ecosystem.

• Arranging components of a food web according to energy flow. b. Develop and use models to analyze the cycling of matter and flow of energy within ecosystems through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. • Arranging components of a food web according to energy flow. • Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid. • Explaining the need for cycling of major biochemical elements (C, O, N, P, and H). 02/26/07

d. Design a solution to reduce the impact of a human activity on the environment. (Clarification statement: Human activities may include chemical use, natural resources consumption, introduction of non-native species, greenhouse gas production.) 02/26/07

What are we learning? Standard Element: SB5.b b. Develop and use models to analyze the cycling of matter and flow of energy within ecosystems through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. • Arranging components of a food web according to energy flow. • Comparing the quantity of energy in the steps of an energy pyramid. • Explaining the need for cycling of major biochemical elements (C, O, N, P, and H).

d. Design a solution to reduce the impact of a human activity on the environment. (Clarification statement: Human activities may include chemical use, natural resources consumption, introduction of non-native species, greenhouse gas production.) 02/26/07

What's alive? Characteristics of Living things Biotic – living things Require food for energy to carry out life processes Use energy to maintain homeostasis Respond to stimuli in their environment Reproduce similar offspring, passing genetic information to them Made of cells Biotic – living things Nonliving things are called Abiotic

What is Ecology? Factors involved in ecology The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms in their environment, or surroundings Factors involved in ecology Abiotic (non-living) ex. Sunlight, water, gravity, temperature, soil Biotic (living)-plants, animals, bacteria, fungi

Levels of Organization Organism- A living thing- (singular) Population All the members of one species in an area- Same species same place Community All the members of the different interacting species in an area More than one population interacting Ecosystem All the members of a community plus the abiotic (physical) factors influencing them Community interacting with abiotic factors Biome Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biosphere Entire region of the earth where living things may be found

Levels of Organization Organism- A living thing- (singular) Population All the members of one species in an area- Same species same place Community All the members of the different interacting species in an area More than one population interacting Ecosystem All the members of a community plus the abiotic (physical) factors influencing them Community interacting with abiotic factors Biome Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biosphere Entire region of the earth where living things may be found

Niche vs. Habitat NICHE HABITAT An organism’s role or job in a community What does it eat? How does it effect its environment? How does its environment effect it? HABITAT The place where an organism lives Tree Rock Water Cave

Types of Organisms AUTOTROPH (“self-feeder”) Also be called Producers They are making or becoming the food for the other organisms Organism who use energy from the sun to make their own food HETEROTROPH (“other-feeder”) Get energy from the autotrophs Also be called Consumers They are consuming other organisms as food Must go and get their food Scavengers (Feed on dead animals) Carnivores (Feed on animals) Herbivores (Feed on plants) Omnivore (Feed on both plants and animals) Decomposers (Feed by breaking down complex compounds and extracting the nutrients)

Community Interactions Competition Occur when organisms attempt to utilize the same resource or place at the same time Between species Within species Predation One organism captures and feeds on another organism Predator-Prey Relationship Symbiosis Interaction when two species live closely together

“Living Together” Symbiosis “Three types of symbiotic relationships COMMENSALISM One organism benefits, while the other is neither helped nor harmed ( + ,0) MUTUALISM Both organisms benefit (+,+) Coevolution- is a type of mutualism PARASITISM (+.-) One organism benefits at the other’s expense

Food Chain Simple model that demonstrates how matter and energy flow through an ecosystem Each link is a “trophic level” The first level = producers The second, third, or higher levels = consumers As you move up the chain, the energy output decreases

Food Web All of the possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level A network of interconnected food chains OR an overlapping of food chains

Organization of Life Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biosphere Biomes- the major ecosystem’s on the Earth.

Food chains A food chain shows how matter and energy flow through an ecosystem. Food chains begin with producers! Producers (autotrophs) harness this energy for photosynthesis. Primary producer is plants Others are bacteria and algae

Food Chains… Consumers (heterotrophs) are eat other consumers for energy Herbivores- only eat plants Carnivores- eat meat (other consumers) Omnivores -eat everything Scavenger- eat dead things Decomposers are a special type of consumer that break down the dead and waste. They recycle the essential nutrients.

Trophic levels Organisms are grouped according to their source of energy. Each organism in a food chain represent a different trophic level.

A food web Many food chains tied together (overlapping food chains) Many organisms feed on more than one species.

The Energy Pyramid Shows the decrease of energy at each trophic level. The total energy transfer up is about 10% Not all food that is eaten can be digested Some of the digested food is used as energy and some is lost as heat

The other pyramids Pyramid of numbers Biomass pyramid Shows the number of organisms on each trophic level Biomass pyramid Shows the mass of organisms on each trophic level

The Elements The elements that are the components in all organic molecules must be recycled because there are a finite amount on our planet. The elements are: Carbon (C) Oxygen (O) Hydrogen (H) Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)