Ecology Biology I: Unit 5 Notes

Ecology Defn.: study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment Greek root oikos = house “-ology” = study of Study of nature’s “houses”

Levels of Organization – Largest to Smallest (see chapter 3) Biosphere = largest

Levels of Organization Biome – second largest

Levels of Organization Ecosystem = 3rd largest Ecosystem = looking at a particular area within a biome

Levels of Organization Comparison

Levels of Organization Community = 4th largest grouping Groups of several different species interacting within an ecosystem

Levels of Organization Population = 5th largest One group of a particular species in a habitat

Levels of Organization Individual organism = smallest grouping

Biomes Characteristics of Biomes: abiotic and biotic factors

Biomes/Ecosystem Characteristics Abiotic and biotic factors

Coniferous Forest Biotic Factors

Moose! One individual still within biotic and abiotic factors What is her niche?

Energy Pyramid Energy flows one way in an ecosystem What’s missing? Energy lost from trophic level to trophic level (90% lost after each move)

Food Chain

Food Web What’s missing?

Flow of Matter Water Cycle

Flow of Matter Carbon Cycle

Comparison Flow of Energy – one way flow Flow of Matter – cycled

Flow of Energy vs. Matter Compare energy flow to cycle of matter in an ecosystem

Ecosystems Evolve - Succession Primary Succession – after an event such as a volcanic eruption

Succession – evolution of an ecosystem Secondary Succession - occurs after an event such as a fire

Words to Know Biosphere Ecosystem Habitat Niche Community Population Species Biome, Ecosystem Biotic and abiotic factors Energy flow and trophic levels Matter cycles Food chain vs. food web Succession; primary and secondary Pioneer species