Introducing

Levels of Organization group of organs working together one individual living thing all organisms of the same kind living in one area all living and nonliving things interacting within a certain area all interacting populations in an ecosystem group of different kinds of tissues working together group of similar cells organized to work together smallest unit of living things ecosystem community population organism organ system organ tissue cell

log, -o, y (G) suffix study of Ecology Eco logy the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors in environments eco (G) root home, abode log, -o, y (G) suffix study of ecosystem ecoclimate ecotourism climatology epidemiology zoology

Ecosystem Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors includes all abiotic and biotic factors in one particular environment Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors the living parts of an ecosystem the nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Biotic Factors Bio include plants, animals, fungi, microorganisms bio(s), bio(t) (G) root life biotechnology biosphere biography biology

a, an (G) prefix not, without Abiotic Factors A include air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun) a, an (G) prefix not, without abiotic amoral atoxic

Examples of Abiotic Factors

Ecosystems Biotic Abiotic do not necessarily have clear boundaries due to biotic and abiotic changes can change daily as things move from one ecosystem to another Biotic Abiotic migration, seed dispersal flood, erosion, drought

Producer Autotrophs Examples Rely on sun to create food. Plants Algae Contain the most energy based on the 10% rule Autotrophs Examples Rely on sun to create food. Source of all food in the ecosystem Plants Algae Microorganisms 6H2O + 6CO2  C6H12O6+ 6O2

Consumer AKA Heterotrophs 4 categories: http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/iText/products/0-13-064376-9/ch17/videoBlank.html?/ebook/products/0-13-064376-9/video/sx02vtlngoro.mov Consumer AKA Heterotrophs 4 categories: Herbivore - Eat mainly plants. Prefix Herb=grass or herb Suffix vore = to eat Omnivore – Eat both plants & animals. Prefix Omni = all Carnivore – Eat mainly animals. Latin carnis = flesh Scavenger – Eat dead organisms

Decomposer Break down waste and dead organisms i.e. absorbing nutrients  return raw materials to the environment Important in recycling nutrients!!! Usually found on ground or low areas Examples: Bacteria Fungi

Levels of Organization group of organs working together one individual living thing all organisms of the same kind living in one area all living and nonliving things interacting within a certain area all interacting populations in an ecosystem group of different kinds of tissues working together group of similar cells organized to work together smallest unit of living things ecosystem community population organism organ system organ tissue cell

FOOD CHAINS Tertiary consumers Primary consumers Secondaryconsumers plants herbivores carnivores Primary consumers Secondaryconsumers Producers But in real ecosystems, who eats who is MUCH more complicated…instead of food chains, ecologists usually talk about FOOD WEBS

The transfer of energy from sun  producer  primary consumer  secondary consumer  tertiary consumer can be shown in a FOOD CHAIN.

Energy pyramids show That the amount of available energy decreases as it moves up the food chain It takes a large number of producers to support a small number of primary consumers It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of secondary consumers

Energy Pyramids

Even “simple” food webs can be VERY complicated Food webs in real ecosystems can be VERY complicated.