1. Ch 3: The Biosphere

2. Studying Our Living Planet Biosphere: all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists Biosphere: all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists Eco = oikos, meaning house Eco = oikos, meaning house Ecology: study of interactions among & between living organisms and their physical environment Ecology: study of interactions among & between living organisms and their physical environment

3. Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity.

4. Ecological Levels of Organization

5. 1 st Level of Organization Organism/Individual: A living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops—is part of a species Organism/Individual: A living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops—is part of a species Species: group of similar organisms that can breed & produce fertile offspring Species: group of similar organisms that can breed & produce fertile offspring

6. 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

7. 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All of the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. Biological Community: All of the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

8. 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of organisms that interact with each other and with the environment of a given area. Ecosystem: Populations of organisms that interact with each other and with the environment of a given area.

9. 5 th level of Organization -Biomes are a group of ecosystems with similar climates and typical organisms.

10. 6 th Level: The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.

11. Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic factor – living components of the environment with which an organism may interact; all of the biological influences on organisms Biotic factor – living components of the environment with which an organism may interact; all of the biological influences on organisms -- Ex: Plants, Animals, Fungi, Protists, Bacteria Abiotic factor – any nonliving part of the environment that affects the organism Abiotic factor – any nonliving part of the environment that affects the organism --Ex: Sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, wind, water currents, soil type, etc.

12. Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

13. Abiotic

14. Abiotic

15. Biotic

16. Energy, Producers, & Consumers Living systems operate by using energy Living systems operate by using energy Need energy for: growth, reproduction, metabolism, etc. Need energy for: growth, reproduction, metabolism, etc. Organisms can only use energy from other sources Organisms can only use energy from other sources Where do you get your energy from?? Where do you get your energy from?? Where does the energy in food come from??? Where does the energy in food come from???

17. What is our Planet’s Energy Source? For most life on Earth, sunlight is the ultimate energy source For most life on Earth, sunlight is the ultimate energy source For some organisms energy stored in chemicals in rocks, soil, etc., serves as their primary energy source For some organisms energy stored in chemicals in rocks, soil, etc., serves as their primary energy source

18. Primary Producers (Autotrophs) Organisms that produce their own food supply Organisms that produce their own food supply Cells of most autotrophs contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun Cells of most autotrophs contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun Ex: plants, attached algae, free- floating algae (phytoplankton), & some bacteria Ex: plants, attached algae, free- floating algae (phytoplankton), & some bacteria May be photoautotrophs using light energy (e.g. plants) May be photoautotrophs using light energy (e.g. plants) May be chemoautotrophs using chemical energy (e.g. some bacteria) May be chemoautotrophs using chemical energy (e.g. some bacteria)

19. Photosynthesis Chemical reaction where producers use water and carbon dioxide to store the sun’s energy as glucose. Chemical reaction where producers use water and carbon dioxide to store the sun’s energy as glucose. 6H 2 O + 6CO 2 + Sun  C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2

20. 20

21. Chemosynthesis Chemical reaction where producers use chemicals and carbon dioxide to store energy as glucose. Chemical reaction where producers use chemicals and carbon dioxide to store energy as glucose.

22. Consumers (Heterotrophs) Eat other organisms to obtain energy. Eat other organisms to obtain energy. Ex: animals, fungi, protists, & many bacteria Herbivores Herbivores --Eat only plant products (leaves, roots, seeds, or fruits) --Ex: Cows, caterpillars, deer Carnivores Carnivores --Eat only other animals --Ex: Snakes, dogs, cats, otters Omnivores Omnivores --Eat plant products & animals --Ex: Humans, bears, pigs, raccoons Scavengers Scavengers --Eat carcasses of other animals killed by predators or died of natural causes --Ex: Vultures Decomposers Decomposers --`feed’ by chemically breaking down organic matter; produces detritus (small pieces of dead & decaying plant & animal remains) --Ex: Bacteria & fungi Detritivores Detritivores --Consume detritus & the decomposers that live on/in detritus --Ex: Earthworms, mites, snails, shrimp, crabs

23. Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction: from producers to various levels of consumers Food Chain Food Chain Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating & being eaten Series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating & being eaten Food Web Food Web More realistic path through an ecosystem—made of many food chains (because organisms may eat more than one kind of food!) More realistic path through an ecosystem—made of many food chains (because organisms may eat more than one kind of food!)

24. Food Webs Are interconnected food chains Are interconnected food chains They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

25. Food Chain Producer (trapped sunlight & stored food) 1 st Order Consumer 2 nd Order Consumer 3 rd Order Consumer 4 th Order Consumer

26. Trophic Levels Levels through which energy flows in an ecosystem Levels through which energy flows in an ecosystem Each step taken in a food chain or web is called a trophic level Each step taken in a food chain or web is called a trophic level 1 st level: Primary producers 1 st level: Primary producers 2 nd level: Primary consumers 2 nd level: Primary consumers 3 rd level: Secondary consumers 3 rd level: Secondary consumers 4 th level: Tertiary consumers 4 th level: Tertiary consumers

27. Food Chains Show Available Energy

28. What happens to the energy? Most of the energy the primary consumer gets from the producer is used by the consumer Most of the energy the primary consumer gets from the producer is used by the consumer Some of the energy moves into the atmosphere as heat. Some of the energy moves into the atmosphere as heat. Rule of 10: Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest is used for life functions (growth, reproduction, etc)! Rule of 10: Only about 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. The rest is used for life functions (growth, reproduction, etc)! Example: Example: It takes 100 kgs of plant materials (producers) to support 10 kgs of herbivores It takes 100 kgs of plant materials (producers) to support 10 kgs of herbivores It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg of 1 st level predator It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg of 1 st level predator

29. Ecological Pyramids Another way of showing the relative amount of energy or matter contained in each trophic level Another way of showing the relative amount of energy or matter contained in each trophic level 3 different types: 3 different types:--Energy--Biomass--Numbers

30. 30 Ecological Pyramids Show Energy Pyramids: Amount of available energy at each trophic level Amount of available energy at each trophic level Only 10% of energy is transferred from one level to the next. Only 10% of energy is transferred from one level to the next. Biomass Pyramids: Amount of living organic matter available at each trophic level (grams/kg) Amount of living organic matter available at each trophic level (grams/kg) Numbers Pyramids: Number of individual organisms at each trophic level (population size) Number of individual organisms at each trophic level (population size)

31. Ecosystem Recycling: Cycles of Matter All ecosystems must have cycles of systems to reuse raw materials (there is not an infinite amount of resources!!!) All ecosystems must have cycles of systems to reuse raw materials (there is not an infinite amount of resources!!!) Matter is recycled within & between ecosystems Matter is recycled within & between ecosystems Biogeochemical Cycles: closed loops that allow matter to be recycled through biological, geological, & chemical (physical) processes Biogeochemical Cycles: closed loops that allow matter to be recycled through biological, geological, & chemical (physical) processes Water Cycle Water Cycle Carbon Cycle Carbon Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorus Cycle Phosphorus Cycle

32. Water Cycle Evaporation Transpiration Precipitation Runoff Groundwater

33. Steps of the Water Cycle 1. Water vapor in the air condenses and falls as rain or snow. 2A. Some rain/snow seeps into soil and becomes part of groundwater. 2B. Most rain/snow falls into the ocean. 3A. Water is heated by the sun and evaporates. 3B. Plants absorb water that is in the ground. 4. After going through the plant, the sun and wind pulls water out by evaporation – process called transpiration.

34. Nitrogen/Phosphorus Cycle Found in atmosphere, runoff, fertilizers- due to decomposition Nitrogen & phosphorus are used in the synthesis of amino acids (proteins), nucleic acids (DNA), & energy molecules (ATP) Nitrogen/Phosphorus fixing (converting): done by bacteria/fungi; change nitrogen/phosphorus compounds into a usable form for plants Nitrogen/Phosphorus in soil is then absorbed by plants and becomes part of the plant’s tissues Plants are consumed by herbivores or omnivores & these organisms are then consumed by another consumer or decomposed of when they die

35. Carbon Cycle Combustion Photosynthesis Respiration Decomposition Fossil fuels

36. Steps of the Carbon Cycle 1. CO 2 in the air is used by producers for photosynthesis. They become part of the producers in the form of sugar. 2A. Respiration – most organisms (plants, animals, etc) breathe in O 2 created by producers. They breathe out CO 2. 2B. Combustion – burning of fossil fuels increase CO 2 in the air. 2C. Decomposition – Decay of dead organic wastes by bacteria/fungi create CO 2.

37. Nutrient Limitation Primary Productivity: rate at which organic material is produced by autotrophic organisms Primary Productivity: rate at which organic material is produced by autotrophic organisms With ample sunlight & water, primary productivity may be limited by the nutrients available With ample sunlight & water, primary productivity may be limited by the nutrients available Limiting nutrient: nutrient whose supply limits productivity Limiting nutrient: nutrient whose supply limits productivity Limitations can occur in soil or in aquatic habitats Limitations can occur in soil or in aquatic habitats