It is the study of the environment we live in What is Ecology? It is the study of the environment we live in

Origin of the word…ecology Greek origin OIKOS = household LOGOS = study of… Study of the “house/environment” in which we live.

Ecology is study of interactions between non-living components in the environment… light water wind nutrients in soil heat solar radiation atmosphere, etc. AND…

Living organisms… Plants Animals microorganisms in soil, etc.

Ecology… Study of the relationship between plants and animals and their environment

Consumers Decomposers Primary producers herbivores and carnivores fungi and bacteria break up dead organisms Primary producers green plants

Levels of organization - Terms Biosphere Part of the earth where organisms can live Composed of many ecosystems Ecosystem Large or small as we decide Garden Woodland Beach

Levels of organization - Terms Organism – living thing Population – one species live in one place at one time Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a HABITAT.

Levels of organization - Terms Habitat – physical location of a community Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a HABITAT.

A predator eats other animals. Cats eat fish. So do bears!

Predator The cat is a predator, because it eats other animals. The bear is a predator, because it eats other animals.

Prey Any animal which is hunted and killed by another animal for food is prey. Predator Prey

Match the predator to its prey.

Predators and Prey Some animals are predators, some are prey - some are both. The predator eats the prey, and the prey gets eaten by the predator.

Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten. The fly is eaten by the thrush.

Food Chains A food chain shows what is eaten. The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit.

Food chains always start with a plant. The lettuce is eaten by the slug, the slug is eaten by the bird.

Connections Primary Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Top of the food chain

The top of the food chain. Some animals are said to be at the top of the food chain. This is because they are not hunted by other animals. No other animal hunts the lion. The lion is at the top of the food chain. Can you think why?

Green plants convert the sun’s energy and are called PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down the dead plants and animals to make nutrients for the primary producer (Green plants).

Food Web A number of interconnected food chains

Carnivore eats other animals Herbivore eats plants Omnivore eats plants and animals

Pyramid of Numbers The lion is top of the food chain There are few lion and lots of trees

Interdependence Plants and animals depend on each other for survival Carbon Dioxide Food Photosynthesis Fertiliser

Interdependence

Summary

H/W P 135-6 Q 1,3,5,7,9,14.