Ecology

Starter What is currently going on in the coastal ecosystems of Louisiana?

Tertiary Consumer Secondary Consumer Producer Primary Consumer Energy Pyramid Carnivore Carnivore/Omnivore Herbivore 1000 units 10 units 1 unit 100 units

Where does the energy go? ~10% of the energy gets passed on to the next trophic level 90% is not passed on – Feces – Chemical energy used by the organism  ends up as heat Nonuseable – Chemical Energy used for growth Useable for those species that are eaten – However, not all are eaten so not all of it is passed on

Ecosystem Productivity Rate at which the organisms in the trophic level collectively synthesize new organic matter – Primary productivity Productivity of producers – Producers also use those organic molecules to go through cellular respiration Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) – Raw rate of production of organic matter Net Primary Productivity (NPP) – GPP minus the respiration of the producers » Available organic matter for herbivores

Static vs. Dynamic Dynamic – Continuous movement, constantly changing Productivity – Expressed as a rate because it is constantly happening Static – Stationary, a snapshot at a particular time Standing crop biomass – Amount of organic matter (biomass) present at a particular time

Other Pyramids Pyramid of numbers – Number of individuals within the trophic levels

Other Pyramids Pyramid of biomass – Standing crop biomass Dry weight

Top Down vs Bottom Up Graph Discussion – Graph Number 1: Why do streams with trout have more algae? – Graph Number 2: Explain what the graph is telling you? What might be the effect if snakes that prey on fish were added to the enclosures? – Graph Number 3: Compare all three graphs and explain what they are telling you collectively.

What can we form from our pyramids? Food Chains! – Linear Producer Prim.Cons. Sec.Cons. Tert. Cons.

Let’s Do an Activity!

Energy Flow Producers – Sun  Energy Consumers – Energy  feed on producers or other consumers – Herbivore Eats only producers – Carnivores Eats other consumers – Ominvores Eats both Decomposers – Energy  breakdown wastes and dead organisms – Detritivores Energy enters and is released as heat Producers must continue to receive energy to survive