Ecology

What is ecology? The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment. Interactions can take place between living and nonliving things.

Abiotic Factors --- Nonliving parts of environment Soil Temperature Sunlight Water/Moisture

Biotic Factors All the living organisms

Levels of Organization in Ecology Organism – an individual Population – a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time. Community – a collection of interacting populations Ecosystem – interactions of living and nonliving things in the community

Organism http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Population http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Community http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

Ecosystem http://people.uvawise.edu/cte/documents/Science%20Resources/Principles%20of%20Ecology.pdf

How organisms obtain energy Producers – can make own food; usually use radiant energy from the sun (photosynthesis) 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 Carbon dioxide+ water  Glucose + Oxygen Consumers – must eat other organisms; cannot make own food

Different Types of Consumers Herbivore – eat only plants Carnivore – eat only animals Omnivore – eat both plants and animals Decomposer – break down and absorb nutrients of dead plants and animals Release nutrients into the soil for the plants Scavenger – eat rotting flesh (like road kill)

How does this work? Food Chain Shows how matter and energy move through ecosystem Arrows indicate flow of energy from one organism to the next. Only a portion of original energy is passed on to other organisms in chain (10% each link) Example: Energy Transfer Energy Transfer Algae Fish Heron

How does this work? Food Chain Producer: Plants Absorbs energy from the sun Provide oxygen as a result of photosynthesis ( takes place in chloroplast) Provide glucose to consumers for energy

How does this work? Food Chain Consumers: Herbivore – primary consumer Most efficient users of solar energy (thru cellular respiration process in the mitochondria) Get energy from plants they eat Carnivore/Omnivore – Secondary/Tertiary Use energy from other consumers (animals) by eating them

How does this work? Food Chain Decomposers Provide nutrients to the soil by breaking down organic material (dead animals and dead trees/limbs) Nutrients return to soil and absorb by plants

Food Web Made up of many food chains Shows all possible feeding relationships in a community More realistic than a food chain, because most animals eat more than one thing.

Identify the: 1. Producers 2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers   2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers 4. Herbivores 5. Carnivores 6. Omnivores 7. Tertiary Consumer http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/foodweb1.gif

What if we remove producers from the web? Food chain collapses because: No food for herbivores and carnivores No oxygen production by photosynthesis: No cellular respiration, so no energy for all levels Decomposers run out of material to break down

Energy Pyramid Draw the pyramid

Let’s check for understanding! Are you ready?

Question 1 Which of these does not belong to the group? Consumer Human Fish Plant

Question 2 All energy transformations in an ecosystem begin with -- A scavenger A decomposer The Sun An herbivore

Question 3 In a food chain, which are the most efficient users of solar energy? Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Scavengers

Question 4