Ecosystem Relationships09/05/12 *I will walk around to collect late 10 steps and lab safety/course info sheets* 1.Biotic components 2.Ecosystem relationships HW: Horseshoe Crabs and Shorebirds reading questions DO NOW [journal] 1.Describe a coral reef community. 2.What are four abiotic components of a river?

Energy Flow Energy flows through living systems. Energy flow through living systems can be represented in food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids.

ARROWS POINT TOWARDS WHO IS GAINING THE ENERGY.

Food Web Can see there are many different ways of obtaining food. The top consumers don’t always eat all the organisms below. Is this just one organism? Or the whole population?

Kelp Forest Found along the California coast Important for protecting young fish Highly productive

Energy Pyramid Marine food web

Notes sheet Biomass – the total amount of animals or plants. Producers – gain energy from the sun through photosynthesis. Almost all sun energy is used within in the plant. Consumers – gain energy from eating other organisms. The higher up the food chain, the less total energy is gained. Most energy is lost as heat.

4 kinds of consumers Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Decomposers

Think – Pair – Share 1.What limits how long a food chain is? 2.Could a food chain be infinitely long? 3.Are there more producers (plants) or consumers (animals) in the world?

A marine environment provides a habitat for a variety of plants and animals. A small part of a marine food web is shown below. Which of these describes the role of the sanderling in the marine food web? producer herbivore carnivore omnivore

Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis: any close relationship between species. Three types of symbiotic relationships: Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Mutualism Definition: a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. Examples:  lichens (made up of algae and fungus): algae supplies energy to both organisms, fungus provides a protected space for algae to live

Commensalism Definition: a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is not affected. Examples:  Clown fish (Nemo) and anemone: tentacles do not sting clown fish, fish is protected from predators. Anemone is not affected.

Parasitism Definition: a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other organism is harmed. Examples:  Roundworms and dogs/cats: worm attaches to intestine and feeds on nutrients, animal can have pain, bloating diarrhea and possible death. Parasitic wasp lays eggs in caterpillar. Eggs hatch and then eat their way out.

How does a habitat differ from a niche? A niche is: 1. how an organism survives 2. obtains its food and shelter 3. finds a mate 4. cares for its young 5. avoids danger. These things are all requirements of the species for its survival