Introduction to Ecology Biology

Ecology This is the most important unit – 40% of the EOC will be about ecology. Even if your mastery average is below 50% you can still pass the EOC by rocking out on this unit. This is also the easiest unit of the year because you’ve already learned the basics in middle school. We will go through this fast so it is important you are here every day.

What is ecology? Ecology is the study of ecosystems Water birds such as herons, along with a variety of other plants and animals, rely on the presence of wetlands for their survival. How might the loss of wetland areas affect these aquatic species? How might other organisms be affected?

BIG Ideas! (write this down) Ecology is all about equilibrium Maintaining a balance to achieve stability. Everything is connected in an ecosystem. When one thing is thrown off everything is.

Vocabulary- (in your notebook) Using the computer look up the following words and write down the definition in your own words. Write an original example for each. Work in your groups to find each word and then share you have 10 min to finish. Organism/Individual Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biotic (factors) Abiotic Biodiversity Keystone species Detritivores decomposers Food chain Food Web Trophic Level

Give an example of each level of ecosystem organization.

Which ones are biotic? Abiotic?

Vocabulary- (in your notebook) Using the book look up the following words and write down the definition in your own words. Write an original example for each. Work in your groups to find each word and then share you have 10 min to finish. Autotrophs Producers heterotrophs herbivores carnivores omnivores Detritivores decomposers Food chain Food Web Trophic Level

CFU Where does all energy on Earth come from? Which comes first in a food chain? (autotroph or heterotroph) Which comes first in a food chain? Herbivore or Carnivore?

Concept Map! Draw this concept map. Heterotrophs Autotrophs Sun PRIMARY consumer SECONDARY consumer Tertiary consumer Sun Producer Herbivore or Omnivore Carnivore or Omnivore Carnivore

Feeding Relationships Copy in INB under Notes: FOOD CHAINS – shows how energy passes from the sun to consumers. Energy moves in ONE DIRECTION. Sun Producer PRIMARY consumer SECONDARY consumer DECOMPOSER

Food Webs This is all the notes for this! A food web is a more complex version of a Food Chain because very rarely does one species only eat one other species. In this graphic the arrows are showing the movement of energy from one animal to the next. Arrows only go in one direction. To the organisms obtaining the energy

Food Webs: Questions: Who has the most energy? __________________ The arrows indicate: ________________________ Can arrows point in two different directions, why or why not?

Challenge Questions PREDICT THE FOLLOWING: If prey increase, predators _______________. If predators increase, prey _______________. If predators _____________, prey increase. If prey _____________, predators decrease.

What happens to all of the sun’s ENERGY? What does our body use food for? Do we eat ALL of the parts of the chicken? Does the chicken eat ALL parts of the corn?

Energy Pyramid ENERGY IS LOST as you move up the pyramid. Energy is lost because it is used by the animal (ex: heat, growth, movement) Each level is called a TROPHIC LEVEL. The bottom has the MOST energy. The top has the LEAST energy.

How much energy will be at each level? Where are the producers? Where are the consumers? Who is the top predator here? Where is the most energy? Where is the least amount of energy found on a food pyramid? What is the energy available at each level if the grass has 8580 kcal? 8580 kcal

10% Rule in Ecology An average of only 10% of the energy in one trophic level is passed to the next trophic level. -Students copy this definition -Ask students to think: why do you think this happens? Think of the game from yesterday. (go to next slide as you talk about this)

10% rule... 10% 90% lost as heat

10% rule diagrams... 10% 90% lost as heat

10% rule diagrams... 10% 90% lost as heat

How much energy is at each level? 1000 Cal ? Cal

How much energy is at each level? 9 Cal as heat 1000 Cal 100 Cal 10 Cal 1 Cal 90 Cal as heat 900 Cal as heat

10% Rule Why do you think only 10% of the total energy from 1 trophic level is passed to the next?

3 Reasons for decrease in available energy Energy is “used up” for daily life activities. Not all organisms that die are eaten by animals in the next trophic level. Not all parts of an organism are eaten and digested for energy. Show just the heading and elicit student responses. When students have given reasons, continue to show 3 reasons for them to copy down.

CFUs Where do we find the MOST energy on a energy pyramid? Where do we find producers on an energy pyramid? Where is the LEAST amount of energy in a food pyramid?