Ecology The study of the interaction of living things with their environment.

Biotic (Living) Factors Bacteria Protists Plants Animals Fungi Abiotic (Non- Living) Factors Water Gases Weather Temperature Soil

Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism Organ system Organ Tissue Cell Levels of Organization Most inclusive Most Exclusive

The Ecosystem Habitat ~ Area in which a particular organism lives (where an organism lives). Niche (pronounced “nitch”)~ The job an organism carries out in its ecosystem (how an organism lives).

Obtaining Food Autotroph: make their food Producer –Ex. Plant Heterotroph: eat their food Decomposer –Ex. Bacteria Consumer Herbivore: eat autotrophs –Ex. Cow Carnivore: eat heterotrophs –Ex. Lion Omnivore: eat both –Ex. Humans Scavenger: eat leftovers –Ex. Hyenas

The Sun Source of all energy in the biosphere.

Food Chain: A series of steps in an ecosystem showing the TRANSFER OF ENERGY (represented by an arrow) by organisms Producer: An organism that produces food through photosynthesis Primary (1°) consumer: The organisms that consume the producer in a food chain. Secondary (2°) consumer: The organisms that consume the primary consumer in a food chain. Tertiary (3°) consumer: The organisms that consume the secondary consumer in a food chain. Grass → Rabbit → Fox → Mountain Lion

Energy Pyramid Trophic Levels: different levels in the food chain 10% Rule: only 10% of the energy in an organism can be passed to the organism consuming it, the other 90% is lost as heat

Which way would the arrow go? Zebra Lion Koala Bear Leaf

Which way would the arrow go?

Food Web Shows all of the possible food chains in an ecosystem. Arrows always point toward the consumer (the direction of energy flow). Identify a food chain with: 3 trophic levels 4 trophic levels