Ecology

Ecology is the study of how living things interact with living things in their environment in various ways.

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Abiotic Factor: Non-living components of an ecosystem. Examples: Rocks, water, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water. Biotic Factor: Living components of the environment; Examples: Grass, animals, plants, algae, bacteria…

Name the biotic and abiotic factors of the ecosystem.

6 non-living factors of an ecosystem: Atmosphere Climate Soil Temperature Sunlight Water

1. Atmosphere The atmosphere provides breathable oxygen for animals and plants to use. It also protects organisms from harmful UV radiation.

2. Climate The climate influences where certain organisms can live. Each organism’s environment influences what it eats, where it lives, and what its camouflage is.

3. Soil Soil provides water and nutrients for plants and animals. It also give shelter and homes to many organisms that in return are eaten by predators.

4. Temperature Temperature determines how likely an organism’s survival rate is. It also determines food sources for the organism, as well as what type of camo/coverings it needs to stay warm or cool.

5. Sunlight All organisms get their energy from the sun. Sunlight provides an energy source to plants for the use of photosynthesis. And other animals eat plants for this energy source as well. Sunlight also provides a source of heat for animals that cannot thermoregulate their body temperature. Ex: Turtles

6. Water All living things need water to survive. This includes plants and animals!

Niche An individuals role in an ecosystem

Habitat Where an organism lives. Example; Desert, ocean, forest

Competition in an ecosystem Competition: The struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resource. All organisms are in completion for resources such as; food, water, sunlight, space, air…

Producers (Autotrophs) Organisms that make their own food from sunlight (Example: Plants).

Consumers (Heterotrophs) Organisms that rely on an external food source from their environment. Includes herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.

Decomposer Breaks down food from dead organisms and waste materials

Omnivores Consume plants and animals! YOU!!!!

Carnivores Consume meat!

Herbivores Consume plants!

Energy Pyramids Represents the flow of energy available to producers and consumers in an ecosystem. The bottom of the pyramid has the most available energy and the energy decreases as you travel up the pyramid. ( Each level only passes on 10% to the next level above it.) All energy is cycled between the living and nonliving parts of the ecosystem.

Food is broken down into smaller micro-nutrients as the food is passed from one trophic level to the next. All energy in an ecosystem comes from the sun. Foods contain molecules that have chemical energy in the form of chemical bonds (sugars, carbs, etc) The calorie is just how much energy is stored in a food item.

Tertiary Consumer Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer

Food Chains A series of events in which one organisms eats another and obtains energy. Energy flows in a cycle. It is never created nor destroyed!

Food Web An overlapping food chain in an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction where plants convert water, carbon dioxide, and energy from the sun into a usable energy source (Glucose) which is converted into (ATP) when animals consume a plant. Photosynthesis also released oxygen into the atmosphere as well.

Draw This!

Cellular Respiration Cellular Respiration allows an organism to take in oxygen and glucose and convert it to a usable energy source (ATP) and release carbon dioxide and water. This helps organisms gain a usable form of energy to fuel cell processes. Plants ands animals do this!

Draw this!

The Earth has four major spheres…the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Water, nitrogen, and carbon move through all of theses spheres in a continuous cycle.

The Carbon Cycle All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and even rocks A biogeochemical cycle where carbon is exchanged between the biosphere,, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere of the Earth.

The Carbon Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle The process where nitrogen is converted between various chemical forms. Important processes in the nitrogen cycle include fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification. The majority of Earth's atmosphere (78%) is nitrogen.

The nitrogen Cycle