Ecology

ECOLOGY - the study of interactions among organisms with each other and with environment

Understanding Ecology 1.Ecological Methods 2.Levels of Organization 3.Feeding Relationships 4.Recycling in Biosphere

Ecological Methods How can we study ecological relationships? 1.Observing – usually 1 st step Field study Tagging/Counting 2.Experimenting – test hypothesis Field study Smaller artificial environments 3.Modeling – use math/formulas to help predict Use current and past data to project trends Often continually tested and modified

Ecological methods - how do we study it? Observing Experimenting Modeling Models are created by humans to make predictions.

Sometimes, you must be cautious in how a model interprets data.... Imagine graphing a person's height as they age. One could predict that by the time they were age 30, they would be 22 feet tall. However, the model would need to account for the slowing of growth after adolescence.

Levels of Organization ____________ –Group of organism that can have fertile offspring

Levels of Organization Species –Group of organism that can have fertile offspring

Levels of Organization Populations –Groups of ________ _________________

Levels of Organization Populations –Groups of individuals of the same species in the same area

A population is always composed of same-species organisms

Levels of Organization _______________ –Different populations that live in a defined area

Levels of Organization Community –Different populations that live in a defined area

Levels of Organization Ecosystem –Includes all __________ (living) AND _________ (nonliving) things that are in the same area

Levels of Organization Ecosystem –Includes all Biotic (living) AND Abiotic (nonliving) things that are in the same area

Levels of Organization Biome –_____________________ that have the same climate and similar communities

Levels of Organization Biome –Ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities

Levels of Organization _____________ –The Earth itself (11 miles up, 11 miles down)

Levels of Organization Biosphere –The Earth itself (11 miles up, 11 miles down)

Levels of Organization

What is in your backyard community?

Feeding Relationships Describes relationships among Trophic Levels What is the ultimate source of energy that drives ALL food webs?

*SUNLIGHT is the main source of energy* Photosynthesis - uses light energy to make "food"

Feeding Relationships Terms to understand 1.Producer (_____________) 2.Consumer (_____________) Herbivores – Carnivores – Omnivores – Detritivores – Decomposers – 3.Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers

Feeding Relationships Terms to understand 1.Producer (Make their own food) 2.Consumer (Need to eat their food) Herbivores – Eats only plant material Carnivores – Only eats meat Omnivores – Eats both plants and animals Detritivores – Eats decaying plant and animals Decomposers – Breaks down and recycles dead material 3.Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers

FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS - illustrate the flow of energy in an ecosystem *Note the direction of the arrows, they indicate where the energy is going when one organism consumes another. Each step in a chain or web is called a TROPHIC LEVEL

Feeding Relationships Producer Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers

Identify: Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers Find the Omnivore.

Feeding Relationships 1.Energy Pyramid – ____________________ ___________________________________ -Main Point – only 10% of energy is passed on to higher energy levels What happens to the other 90% of energy?

Feeding Relationships 1.Energy Pyramid – Pyramid that shows the amount of energy in each trophic level -Main Point – only 10% of energy is passed on to higher energy levels What happens to the other 90% of energy?

Feeding Relationships Popcorn Race 1.Each individual group member must race around obstacle with popcorn in hands 2.Popcorn must be transferred to each partner 3.Any lost popcorn may NOT be picked up 4.Be fast and try to keep as much popcorn as possible

Feeding Relationships 2.Biomass Pyramid – describes amount of living material (food) available at each trophic level Why would using corn (ethanol) as a fuel not be the best choice for our society?

Design a Food Web Pick a habitat you are familiar with Make a list of at least 30 organisms and group them into producers, herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers Construct a food web using all of your organisms –Be sure to have your food web show clear trophic levels for your consumers