Chapter 3: The Biosphere ECOLOGY Section 3-1 Section 3-2 Section 3-3

3-1: What is Ecology? Key Concepts What different levels of organization do ecologists study?

Ecology Study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their surroundings Ecologist- scientist that studies the environment

Biosphere All portions where life exists, including land, water, and air.

Levels of Organization

Levels of Organization Species (individual) Populations A group of organisms that can breed and produce offspring Example: Ladybugs Groups of individuals of the same species and live in the same area Example: Population of Ladybugs

Levels of Organization Communities Groups of populations that live in the same area What organisms do you see in this pond community?

Levels of Organization Ecosystem Group of organisms that live in one environment, together with their nonliving (abiotic) environment Abiotic Factors: Biotic Factors:

List the abiotic and biotic factors in the picture..

Levels of Organization Ecosystem Abiotic Factors Air Wind Water Light Temperature Sun Gases Biotic Factors Shark Tuna Baleen whale Zooplankton Phytoplankton Small fishes Flounder Algae Scallops Sea stars lobster

Levels of Organization - Biomes A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and communities Examples: Desert Grasslands Rain Forest Ocean

Levels of Organization Biosphere Highest level of organization that includes all of the other levels of organization

Checkpoint 1: Correct Answer? C: Ecosystem A collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place along with their physical environment make up a (an): Species Biome Ecosystem Correct Answer? C: Ecosystem

Now create a sentence to remember the order! Checkpoint 2: List the six different levels of organization that ecologists study, in order, from smallest to largest. Species Populations Communities Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Now create a sentence to remember the order!

Checkpoint 3: The branch of biology dealing with interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment is called _______________. A person who studies these populations is called an ecologist. ECOLOGY

Checkpoint 4: All of the members of a particular species that live in one area are called a (an) ___________________. Draw your own population of species that you may have seen in the past week. POPULATION

Complete this worksheet with your table partner:

3-2 Energy Flow Key Concepts Where does the energy for life processes come from? How does energy flow though living systems? How efficient is the transfer of energy among organisms in an ecosystem?

Sunlight Main energy source for life on Earth. 1% Main energy source for life on Earth. Less than 1% is used by living things. However, some types of organisms rely on the energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds. These organisms obtain energy from a source other than sunlight.

Who Uses the Sun for energy? Only plants, some algae, and certain bacteria can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food.

Use energy (sun, chemical) from the environment to make complex organic molecules. Autotrophs make their own food. Autotrophs

Autotrophs Autotrophs PRODUCERS A form of an autotroph (makes own food) Can capture sunlight or chemical energy Example: KELP Kelp is found in the ocean

In Water: Photosynthetic Bacteria Autotroph HALL OF FAME On Land: PLANTS In Water: ALGAE Use photosynthesis Use sunlight to make energy rich sugars and oxygen Found in freshwater and top layers of the ocean In Water: Photosynthetic Bacteria

Autotroph HALL OF FAME (with a twist) Chemosynthesis Can produce food without light! Use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates These bacteria are found in remote places like: Volcanic vents on ocean floor Hot springs in Yellowstone Tidal marshes

Heterotrophs Animals, fungi, and many bacteria cannot harness their own energy. Heterotrophs rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply Heterotrophs CONSUMERS A form of an Heterotroph (cannot make own food) Acquire energy from other organisms Different types of heterotrophs: herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, detritivores, and decomposers

Detritivores Feed on plant and animal remains or dead matter, called detritus Examples: Mites Earthworms Snails Crabs

Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, 1) Sun or inorganic compounds 2) autotrophs (producers) 3) heterotrophs (consumers) The relationships between PRODUCERS and CONSUMERS connect organisms into feeding networks based on who eats whom.

Label the producers and consumers Food Chain Label the producers and consumers Definition: Shows energy flow from producers to consumers Producer Consumer (Herbivore) Consumer (Herbivore) Consumer (Carnivore) Consumer (Carnivore)

GAME TIME!!!

Food Webs Definition: A food web links all the food chains in an ecosystem together. A food web in a salt-marsh community. * Let’s take a look at the Heron….

Trophic Levels Each step in a food chain/web= Trophic level. Tertiary Consumer Each step in a food chain/web= Trophic level. Producers make up the first/primary layer Consumers make up the successive layers. Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producers

Ecological Pyramid Ecological Pyramids- shows amounts of energy or matter at each trophic level 3 types: Energy, Biomass & Numbers pyramid.

Energy Pyramid Shows how energy reduces by 90% each trophic level. Organisms use this 10 % of energy for life processes. The rest is lost as heat.

Biomass Pyramid Biomass Pyramid: Shows the amount of living tissue in a trophic level expressed in grams per unit area.

Inverted Biomass Pyramid in an Aquatic Ecosystem

Pyramid of Numbers Pyramid of Numbers: Shows the # of organisms in a trophic level.

Correct Answer? (A) Chemosynthesis Checkpoint 1: When organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates, the process is called: Chemosynthesis Autosynthesis Photosynthesis Correct Answer? (A) Chemosynthesis

Correct Answer? (C) Chemosynthetic Bacteria! Checkpoint 2: Which of the following organisms DO NOT NEED sunlight to live? Trees Photosynthetic Bacteria Chemosynthetic Bacteria Algae Correct Answer? (C) Chemosynthetic Bacteria! But WHY??????

Checkpoint 3: TRUE!!!! TRUE or FALSE? Algae are both producers and autotrophs. TRUE!!!!

Correct Answer? (A) Food Web!!! Checkpoint 4: All the food chains in an ecosystem are linked together by a (an) Food Web Trophic Level Ecosystem Correct Answer? (A) Food Web!!!

Checkpoint 5: Only about 10 percent of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level. Of the remaining energy, some of it is used for life’s processes and the rest is lost as what????? HEAT!!!!

Checkpoint 6: In words, briefly describe the flow of energy among organisms in an ecosystem. HINT: Think feeding relationships! Energy is transferred from one organism to the next through trophic levels. Only 10% of the energy is transferred from level to level. The rest is lost as heat!

Checkpoint 7: Explain the relationships in this food chain: omnivore, herbivore, and autotroph. Autotroph is an organism that creates its own energy using chemicals or sunlight. An organism that eats an autotroph is called an herbivore. An omnivore could eat either the herbivore OR the autotroph.

Checkpoint 8: Refer to the “Salt-Marsh Food Web”, which shows a food web in the salt marsh. Choose one of the food chains within this web. Then, write a paragraph describing the feeding relationships among the organisms in the food chain. Hint: Use the terms producers, consumers, and decomposers ALONG with who eats whom in your description. (You may also draw them out as well)