Levels of Organization

I. Levels of Organization A. Ranges from a single individual to the entire Biosphere 1. Species 2. Populations 3. Communities 4. Ecosystem 5. Biome 6. Biosphere

II. Energy Flow A. Sunlight is the main E source for life on earth 1. Autotrophs are producers that use this process to feed the world 2. Done in 2 ways: a. Photosynthesis Taking suns E and changing it to a chemical E

b. Chemo synthesizers: Break down E from inorganic molecules 1. Found in volcanic vents on ocean floor and in Yellowstone hot springs

c. Consumers are heterotrophs that rely on other organisms 1. Herbivores 2. Carnivores 3. Omnivores 4. Decomposers

III. Feeding Relationships A. Energy flows in 1 direction sun autotrophs Heterotrophs 1. Food chain is the transfer of energy by eating and by being eaten

Food Chain

B. Food Webs link all the food chains in an ecosystem together Each step in a food web are called a trophic level 1st level Producers 2nd or higher is the consumers

IV. Role of the climate A. Climate is the year-after-year conditions of a region 1. Earth has 3 main climate zones A. Temperate zone: sits between polar and tropic zone Climate ranges from hot to cold Tilt causes light to be direct and indirect at times

B. Tropical Zone: near the equator. Light is more direct Warm year around C. Polar Zone: Areas around the north and south poles Sun light strikes at a low angle

V. What shapes an Ecosystem A. Niche: Conditions in which an organism lives and the way an organism uses those conditions 1. For EX: Place in food web Temperature needed to survive

Bull frogs eats worms, spiders, small fish, or even mice Niche Example: Bull frogs eats worms, spiders, small fish, or even mice Predators like herons, raccoons, snakes prey on bull frogs Must live by water and body temp is regulated by the surrounding water. Hibernate in the mud during winter No 2 species share the same niche Don’t write notes just listen

VI. Community Interactions A. Community interactions affect an ecosystem 1. Competition 2. Predation 3. Symbiosis Mutualism: Both species benefit Commensalisms: One is benefited and the other is unharmed Parasitism: One is benefited and the other is harmed

Commensalism Parasitism

Examples of Keystone Species Helps soil formation, keep prairie grasses Short and helps feed 170 species Gopher tortoise helps build homes For other organisms by burrowing In the ground