Warm-Up #33 Complete 3-1 Section Assessment #1-3 on page 65. Complete 3-2 Sections Assessment #1-5 on page 73.

The Biosphere What is Ecology?

Objectives Identify the levels of organization that ecologists study. Describe the methods used to study ecology.

Ecology Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. German biologist Ernst Haeckel based this term on the Greek work oikos, meaning house. Haeckel saw the living world as a household with an economy in which each organism plays a role.

Levels of Organization Biosphere Biome Ecosystem Community The study of ecology ranges from the study of an individual organism to populations, communities, ecosystems, biomes—and, finally, to the entire biosphere. The information that ecologists gain at each level contributes to our understanding of natural systems. Population Individual

Organisms and Species the different forms of life on earth, can be classified into different species based on certain characteristics.

Other animals 281,000 Known species 1,412,000 Insects 751,000 Fungi 69,000 Prokaryotes 4,800 Figure 3.3 Natural capital: breakdown of the earth’s 1.4 million known species. Scientists estimate that there are 4 million to 100 million species. Plants 248,400 Protists 57,700 Fig. 3-3, p. 52

Ecosystems Ecosystems are made up of not only the living organisms (biotic) but the non-living, or abiotic components as well. The biotic would be the plants, insects, birds, and humans. The abiotic would be the soil, air, sunlight and water.

Ecological Methods Observing Experimenting Modeling—ecologists make models to gain insight into complex phenomena such as the effects of global warming on ecosystems. Many ecological models consist of mathematical formulas based on data collected through observation and experimentation.

Summary What are the levels of organization that ecologists study? What methods do ecologists use?

The Biosphere Energy Flow

Objectives Identify the source of energy for life processes. Trace the flow of energy through living systems. Evaluate the efficiency of energy transfer among organisms in an ecosystem.

Producers Autotrophs Organisms that use energy from the sun or energy stored in chemical compounds to manufacture their own nutrients Producers Autotrophs

Consumers Heterotrophs Organisms that obtain nutrients from other organisms

Heterotrophs that only feed on Autotrophs Herbivores

Scavengers Carnivores Heterotrophs that only feed on other Heterotrophs Scavengers Carnivores

Heterotrophs that feed on both Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Omnivores Heterotrophs that feed on both Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Decomposers Heterotrophs that obtain nutrients from breaking down dead Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Feeding Relationships Energy moves along a one-way path from sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (consumers). This flow of energy can be described using Food chains—simple descriptions, not the most accurate Food Webs—more realistic description of energy interactions.

Food Chains Food chains simple track of energy flow through ecosystem Coyote Pronghorn Grass

1st Order (Level) Consumer 2nd Order (Level) Consumer 3rd Order (Level) Consumer Producer Autotroph Heterotroph Heterotroph Heterotroph Herbivore Carnivore Carnivore

Food Webs Food Webs offer a more realistic track of energy flow through an ecosystem

Humans Blue whale Sperm whale Crabeater seal Elephant seal Killer whale Leopard seal Adelie penguins Emperor penguin Squid Figure 3.18 Natural capital: a greatly simplified food web in the Antarctic. Many more participants in the web, including an array of decomposer organisms, are not depicted here. Petrel Fish Carnivorous plankton Krill Herbivorous plankton Phytoplankton Fig. 3-18, p. 65

Impala Vulture Cheetah Dung Beetle Lion Hyena Termites Giraffe Hunting Dog Wildebeest Trees & Grass Fungi Zebra

9. What is one food chain of the food web? Identify the: 1. Producers   2. Primary (1st Level) Consumers   3. Secondary (2nd level) Consumers 4. Tertiary (3rd level) consumers   5. Herbivores   6. Carnivores   7. Omnivores   8. What elements are missing from this food web? 9. What is one food chain of the food web? 10. How would a toxin sprayed on the producers in which they can’t break it down and it stays in their tissues influence the other trophic levels?

Ecological Pyramids There are 3 basic types of ecological pyramids Energy Numbers Biomass

Energy Pyramid Notice the change in the amount of energy that is available as you move up a trophic level

What pattern do you see?

It is referred to as the 10% rule What happened to all the energy?

Again notice the pattern we saw earlier

Pyramid of Biomass Size of boxes indicates the amount of biomass

Pyramid of Numbers Shows relative number of individuals at each trophic level.

Summary What is the source of energy for all life processes? How does energy flow through living systems? What two ways to we use to describe this energy flow? What are the three types of energy pyramids? How much energy is conserved from level to level?

Homework Read Text 74-84 Complete Study Guide 104-105