Ecology Period 1.

Energy Flow and Cycles of Matter Ultimate source of energy for life = The Sun Sun  Autotrophs  Heterotrophs Process of making own food is Photosynthesis

Food Chains, Food Webs, & Trophic Levels Food Chain & Food Webs Trophic Levels Only 10% of energy gets passed on to each trophic level!

Photosynthesis

Biogeochemical Cycles a.k.a Cycles of Matter Cycles of Matter Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorous Cycle

Ecosystems and Biomes Biotic Factors- Living organisms that effect an ecosystem. Abiotic factors- non- living or physical factors that effect an ecosystem.

Community Interactions Different Types of Interactions CompetitionPredationSymbiosis

Biomes Tropical Rainforest Tropical Dry Forest Tropical Savanna Desert Temperate Grassland Temperate Woodland Temperate Shrubland Temperate Forest Northwestern Coniferous Forest Boreal Forest Tundra

Population/ Population Growth Characteristics of a Population- geographic distribution, density, growth rate and age structure. Population Growth- # of births, # of deaths, immigration and emigration. –Exponential: reproducing. –Logistic: slowed growth. –Carrying Capacity: # of individuals an environment can contain.

Evolution and Natural Selection Evolution is any change in the relative frequency of alleles in a population. A population is a group of individuals of the same species in a given area whose members can interbreed. A gene pool consists of all the genes, including all the different alleles that are present in a population. The 2 main sources of genetic variation are mutations and gene shuffling. - Mutations: any change in sequences of DNA. - Gene Shuffling: any combining of dissimilar genes between one species.

Evidence for Evolution Fossils! Similar Body Structures among different species!

Humans and the Biosphere Changing Landscape - Humans have become the most important source of environmental change. Pollution - A pollutant is a harmful material that enters the biosphere through land, air or water. - Smog is a common and toxic air pollutant.

Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources Renewable resources can regrow if they are living or be replaced by biogeochemical processes if they are not. Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced by natural processes within a relatively short time span.

Biodiversity Biodiversity is defined as the sum of genetically based variety of all organisms in the biosphere. It is the Earths greatest natural resource. Lack of biodiversity causes endangered species and therefore enables conservation. - Endangered species: species whose populations size is declining in ways that it might become extinct. - Conservation: the wise management of natural resources including habitats and wildlife.