Ecology

The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment, or surroundings.

Biosphere Combined portions of the planet in which all life exists (land, water, air, organisms)

BIOME Group of ecosystems that have the same climate, similar soil and distinctive plants and animals See textbook pp HANDOUT: Biome Group Project DUE: Nov. 25 Worth: 50 points

Ecosystem BIOTA (living) Organisms Animals Plants Fungi bacteria ABIOTA (nonliving) environment Soil Air water

Biomes of the World

Communities Groups of populations living in the same area Like these desert animals

Populations Groups of individuals all of the same species EX: All the Long- nosed Leopard Lizards of the Mojave Desert

Scales of Ecological Organization

Ozone Thinning at Antarctica

Energy Flow Sunlight is the main source of energy for life on Earth.

Chemosynthetic Organisms Some organisms rely on inorganic chemicals rather than the sun for energy. All bacteria, manufacture carbohydrates and other organic molecules from the oxidization of sulfates or ammonia.

Chemosynthetic Microbes

Videos Explore life at a hydrothermal vent.Explore life at a hydrothermal vent.

Autotrophs Organisms that use sunlight to produce energy. Use inorganic compounds to make organic molecules. PLANTS Also called PRODUCERS

Photosynthesis Process by which autotrophs harness sunlight in a chemical reaction to change inorganic compounds into energy-rich carbohydrates and oxygen.

Heterotrophs Organisms that rely on energy from other organisms Also called CONSUMERS

Types of Consumers Herbivores – eat only plants Carnivores – eat animals Omnivores – eat both plants and animals Detritivores – feed on animal remains and dead matter Decomposers – break down organic matter Scavengers-predator eats corpses it killed or others killed (raccoons, vultures, beetles)

Decomposers Bacteria fungi earthworms beetles

Herbivores (Primary Consumers) Eat producers

Carnivores Eat other animals

Detritivores Spaghetti worms have tentacles range out from a burrow in rock or sediment to collect the small particulate detritus that the worm feeds on. amphipods tearing plant debris and organic detritus into "bite sized" pieces and eating it

Omnivores Eat plants and animals

Scavengers Vultures Ants Crows spider

Food Chain Desert Food Chain Video (DesertUSA) Energy flows from the sun or inorganic compounds in one direction to autotrophs (producers) and then to heterotrophs (consumers).

Food Chain Simulation Sunny Meadows

Producers? Consumers?

Primary producers (organisms that make their own food from sunlight and/or chemical energy from deep sea vents) are the base of every food chain - these organisms are called autotrophs. Primary consumers are animals that eat primary producers; they are also called herbivores (plant- eaters). Secondary consumers eat primary consumers. They are carnivores (meat-eaters) and omnivores (animals that eat both animals and plants). Tertiary consumers eat secondary consumers. Quaternary consumers eat tertiary consumers. Food chains "end" with top predators, animals that have little or no natural enemies.

Food Web: links all the food chains of an ecosystem together

Trophic Level Each step of a food chain or food web

Ecological Pyramid Note that only 10% of the energy is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level

Biomass Pyramid Amount of tissue in a trophic level

Biomass Total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level

Pyramid of Numbers

Compare Pyramid of NumbersPyramid of Biomass

Ecological Pyramids Lab Activity

Ecological Pyramid Activities A. Biome Bags –Divide into Producers, Primary Consumers, Secondary Consumers, Tertiary Consumers –Weigh for Biomass Pyramids –Count for Pyramid of Numbers

Ecological Pyramid Activities B. Cedar Glade Pyramids –Energy pyramid with list of species –Water volume to represent % of energy transferred to the next trophic level

Draw names of Biomes Divide contents into four smaller bags: Producers, Primary Consumers, Secondary Consumers, Tertiary Consumers

CAUTION: If your pyramid does not look like it will support the food chain, then make adjustments. Remember the fox, rabbit, and grass online simulaltion.

Biomass Pyramid