copyright cmassengale What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale 2 2
copyright cmassengale What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of life-how they interact with their envir. copyright cmassengale
The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. copyright cmassengale
The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale
Levels of Organization copyright cmassengale
What are the Simplest Levels? Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ System copyright cmassengale
Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. copyright cmassengale
1st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops copyright cmassengale
2nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale
3rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale
4th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) copyright cmassengale
5th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. copyright cmassengale
copyright cmassengale The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. copyright cmassengale
Relationships Predation- organism consuming other organisms (lion hunts antelope) Competition- organisms use the same resources and “fight” for them Symbiosis- Realationship between two or more organisms
Symbiotic Relations Mutualism- both organisms benefit (bees and flowers) Commensalisms- one benefits the other is not harmed (small fish and sharks Parasitism- one benefits the other is harmed. (Tick and dog)
copyright cmassengale Energy Flow Energy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sun Energy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumers Producers (make food) Consumers (use food by eating producers or other consumers) copyright cmassengale 22 22
copyright cmassengale Producers Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth. Producers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun copyright cmassengale 23 23
copyright cmassengale Autotrophs An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply! Autotrophs are also called Producers Plants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examples copyright cmassengale 24 24
copyright cmassengale Niche of a Producer Captures energy and transforms it into organic, stored energy for the use of living organisms. May be photoautotrophs using light energy (e.g. plants) May be chemoautotrophs using chemical energy (e.g. cyanobacteria) copyright cmassengale 25 25
copyright cmassengale Photoautotroph Producer That Captures Energy from the sun by: Photosynthesis Adds Oxygen to the atmosphere Removes Carbon Dioxide from the Atmosphere Algae copyright cmassengale 26 26
Called a Black smoker (thermal vent) Chemoautotrophs Capture energy from the bonds of inorganic molecules such as Hydrogen Sulfide Process is called Chemosynthesis Often occurs in deep sea vents or gut of animals Called a Black smoker (thermal vent) copyright cmassengale 27 27
Tube Worms living in Black Smoker copyright cmassengale 28 28
Consumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. (e.g. animals) Herbivores Eat Only Plants Carnivores Eat Only Other Animals copyright cmassengale 29 29
Consumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. Omnivores (Humans) Eat Plants & Animals Scavengers Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains (buzzards) Detritivores -Decomposers Fungi & Bacteria copyright cmassengale 30 30
Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from producers to various levels of consumers copyright cmassengale 31 31
Feeding Relationships Food Chain Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food Web More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains copyright cmassengale 32 32
copyright cmassengale Food Chain 3rd Order consumer 2nd Order Consumer 1st order Consumer 4th Order Consumer Producer (trapped sunlight & stored food) copyright cmassengale 33 33
Name the Producer, Consumers & Decomposers in this food chain: copyright cmassengale 34 34
copyright cmassengale Food Web copyright cmassengale 35 35
copyright cmassengale 36 36
Trophic Levels Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. Producers Always The First Trophic Level How Energy Enters The System Herbivores-Second Trophic Level copyright cmassengale 37 37
copyright cmassengale Trophic Levels Carnivores/Omnivores Make Up The Remaining Trophic Levels Each level depends on the one below it for energy. copyright cmassengale 38 38
Ecological Pyramids Graphic Representations Of The Relative Amounts of Energy or Matter At Each Trophic Level May be: Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers 39 39
copyright cmassengale Energy Pyramid copyright cmassengale 40 40
copyright cmassengale Biomass Pyramid copyright cmassengale 41 41
copyright cmassengale Pyramid of Numbers copyright cmassengale 42 42