Ecology

What is Ecology? Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environments.

Ecology Terms Biotic-Living factors that shape ecosystems. Abiotic-Non-living factors that shape ecosystems. -Temperature range -Light intensity -pH range -level of pollutants Biotic-Living factors that shape ecosystems. -Other organisms -Plants

Levels of Organization Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere

Levels of Organization Organism - individual living thing, such as an alligator. Organism

Levels of Organization Populations – groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. Population Organism

Levels of Organization Communities – assemblages of different populations that live together in a defined area. Community Population Organism

Levels of Organization Ecosystems – collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment. Ecosystem Community Population Organism

Levels of Organization Biome Biomes – group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities. Ecosystem Community Population Organism

Levels of Organization Biosphere Biome Biosphere – contains all the portions of the planet in which life exists, including the land, air, water, and atmosphere. Ecosystem Community Population Organism

Energy in Ecology

Producers Also called *Autotrophs * Food from self Photosynthesis Chemosynthesis

Consumers Also called *Heterotrophs* a. Herbivores -Eat plants Food from others a. Herbivores -Eat plants b. Carnivores -Eat animals c. Omnivores -Eat both d. Detritivores -Eat dead matter e. Decomposers -Break down organic matter

Food Chains Shows how matter and energy move through a series of organisms Arrow points toward the belly of the consumer.

Food Webs Shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem Made up of a bunch of food chains

Trophic Levels Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it for energy

Ecological Pyramids An ecological pyramid is a diagram that shows the amount of energy or matter contained with each trophic level of a food chain or food web Pyramid of Numbers Biomass Pyramid Energy Pyramid Biomass-total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Energy Pyramid Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level. Only part of the energy that is stored in one trophic level is passed on to the next level.

Biomass Pyramid Represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level.

Pyramid of Numbers Shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level.

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle