2. IB ECOLOGY The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment.

3. The Biosphere  Biosphere: is the “life zone” of the Earth, and includes all living organisms, & all organic matter that has not yet decomposed.  Life exists in the upper layer of the Geosphere.  It extends approximately 11 km into the Hydrosphere.  It extends approximately 9 km into the Atmosphere.

4. The Biosphere is a Hierarchy

5. What Are Biomes? Biomes: Are large regions characterized by a specific type of climate & certain types of plants and animal communities. Biomes: Are large regions characterized by a specific type of climate & certain types of plants and animal communities. Climate- long-term weather patterns in a given area. Climate- long-term weather patterns in a given area. Ecotones: Are transitional zones between ecosystems where there are a mixture of species not found together in adjacent ecosystems. Ecotones: Are transitional zones between ecosystems where there are a mixture of species not found together in adjacent ecosystems.

7. What Are Ecosystems?   Ecosystem: a community of organisms and their abiotic environment.   Abiotic Factors: all of the nonliving parts in an ecosystem   Biotic Factors: all of the living factors in an ecosystem

8. Components of an Ecosystem ABIOTIC COMPONENTSBIOTIC COMPONENTS SunlightPrimary producers TemperatureHerbivores PrecipitationCarnivores Water or moistureOmnivores Soil or water chemistry (e.g., P, NH 4 +) Detritivores All of these vary over space/time

9. Sustaining Life of Earth Energy Flow: Energy Flow: Most energy on earth comes from the sun: Most energy on earth comes from the sun: Energy moves through organisms during feeding interactions, Energy moves through organisms during feeding interactions, Becomes low quality energy & radiates as heat (body temp. regulation), Becomes low quality energy & radiates as heat (body temp. regulation), Returns to the atmosphere as heat. Returns to the atmosphere as heat. Cycling of Matter: Cycling of Matter: All matter moves via cyclic patterns. All matter moves via cyclic patterns. All matter on earth is essentially trapped here. All matter on earth is essentially trapped here.

10. The Input of Energy Tropical regions every day & Tropical regions every day & temperate regions during the growing season: temperate regions during the growing season: receive some 8,000 to 10,000 kcal of energy each day on each m 2 of surface. receive some 8,000 to 10,000 kcal of energy each day on each m 2 of surface. A kilocalorie is the amount of heat needed to warm 1 kg of water 1 degree Celsius (°C). A kilocalorie is the amount of heat needed to warm 1 kg of water 1 degree Celsius (°C). Because all of the light trapped in photosynthesis is ultimately released as heat, it makes sense to follow the flow of energy through ecosystems in units of heat. Because all of the light trapped in photosynthesis is ultimately released as heat, it makes sense to follow the flow of energy through ecosystems in units of heat.

11. BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION Biomass: The amount of organic matter in an ecosystem (amt/surface area) is the total mass of all living things & their products. Biomass: The amount of organic matter in an ecosystem (amt/surface area) is the total mass of all living things & their products. Gross Production: amount of energy trapped in organic matter during a specified interval at a given trophic level. Gross Production: amount of energy trapped in organic matter during a specified interval at a given trophic level.

12. Net Productivity in an Ecosystem Net production amount of energy trapped in organic matter during a specified interval at a given trophic level less that lost by the respiration of the organisms at that level. Net production amount of energy trapped in organic matter during a specified interval at a given trophic level less that lost by the respiration of the organisms at that level. Ecosystem production is measured as biomass Energy stored. Ecosystem production is measured as biomass Energy stored.

13. What about humans? Humans (heterotrophs) depend upon net productivity for their food both directly as we consume plant material & Humans (heterotrophs) depend upon net productivity for their food both directly as we consume plant material & indirectly when we eat indirectly when we eat animals that have, themselves, fed on plant material (poultry, cattle, sheep, etc.) and/or animals that have, themselves, fed on plant material (poultry, cattle, sheep, etc.) and/or animal products (e.g., milk, eggs). animal products (e.g., milk, eggs). We also use the earth's net productivity to meet other needs such as: We also use the earth's net productivity to meet other needs such as: wood for fuel wood for fuel wood and fiber (e.g., cotton, flax) to house and clothe us wood and fiber (e.g., cotton, flax) to house and clothe us It is estimated that our species appropriates some 20% of world's net productivity. We also reduce the net productivity of our planet by: It is estimated that our species appropriates some 20% of world's net productivity. We also reduce the net productivity of our planet by: paving over land for buildings, roads, parking lots, etc. paving over land for buildings, roads, parking lots, etc. burning forests to clear them for agriculture burning forests to clear them for agriculture

14. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov /Features/HANPP/hanpp.php

15. NPP by Biome

16. NPP/area of biomes on Earth

17. TWO KINDS OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTION 1 o production: of biomass carried out by Primary Producer organisms. 1 o production: of biomass carried out by Primary Producer organisms. Autotrophs: convert inorganic compounds & Energy (usually from the sun) to Energy-rich organic compounds. Autotrophs: convert inorganic compounds & Energy (usually from the sun) to Energy-rich organic compounds. Chemoautotrophic bacteria: produce biomass using inorganic Sulfur compounds. Chemoautotrophic bacteria: produce biomass using inorganic Sulfur compounds. 2 o production: by heterotrophs 2 o production: by heterotrophs Energy is fixed as biomass and released by producers & consumers thru respiration Energy is fixed as biomass and released by producers & consumers thru respiration

18. Definitions: Autotroph: self feeding Heterotroph: other feeding Carnivores: meat eaters Herbivores: plant eaters Omnivores: Eat both Detritovores: Eat dead organic material and act as decomposers.

19. ENERGY TRANSFER o An organism eats another & energy is transferred (predator-prey interactions). o In this way it travels through the food chain/food web. o Food Chain: is the sequence in which energy is transferred & shows the many feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

20. TROPHIC LEVELS The steps in the Food Chain/Food Web: The steps in the Food Chain/Food Web: Some energy is lost at each level as heat and: Some energy is lost at each level as heat and: 90% of the energy is used for daily living needs. 90% of the energy is used for daily living needs. 10% is stored as part of the body. 10% is stored as part of the body. Note that most energy is lost at each level. Note that most energy is lost at each level. This causes there to be fewer organisms at the top of the pyramid & more at the bottom where more energy exists. This causes there to be fewer organisms at the top of the pyramid & more at the bottom where more energy exists.

21. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS Trophic Levels of the Pyramid of Energy Tertiary Consumers Secondary Consumers Primary Consumers Primary Producers

22. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS Pyramid of Numbers An ecological pyramid of numbers shows graphically the population of each level in a food chain.

23. ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS Pyramid of Biomass An ecological pyramid of biomass shows the relationship between biomass and trophic level by quantifying the amount of biomass present at each trophic level of an ecological community at a particular moment in time. It is a graphical representation of biomass (total amount of living or organic matter in an ecosystem) present in unit area in different tropic levels.

24. Food Webs Identify the: 1. Producers 2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers 4. Herbivores 5. Carnivores 6. Omnivores 7. What elements are missing from this food web?

25. © 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers A typical terrestrial food web.

26. © 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers An oceanic food web.

27. THE COMMUNITY EFFECT Species interact directly thru food chains or indirectly thru other relationships. Species interact directly thru food chains or indirectly thru other relationships. Indirect species interactions - community- level interactions. Indirect species interactions - community- level interactions. Keystone species: Keystone species: One that has a large effect on the community or ecosystem & is critically important to ecosystems ecological balance. One that has a large effect on the community or ecosystem & is critically important to ecosystems ecological balance. Ex: Sea otters affect many other species directly & indirectly Ex: Sea otters affect many other species directly & indirectly

28. © 2003 John Wiley and Sons Publishers The effect of sea otters on kelp.

29. ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEMS: o Energy enters an ecosystem when plants use sunlight to create sugar molecules. PHOTOSYNTHESIS: PHOTOSYNTHESIS: o 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + Solar Energy => C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 CELLULAR RESPIRATION: CELLULAR RESPIRATION: o C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 => 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + ENERGY

31. Production of Energy Aerobic Respiration use of oxygen to break down glucose to produce energy (ATP). Aerobic Respiration - the use of oxygen to break down glucose to produce energy (ATP). Glucose + Oxygen --> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy Glucose + Oxygen --> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 --> 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + Energy C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6 O 2 --> 6 CO 2 + 6 H 2 O + Energy Anaerobic Respiration (fermentation) a form of cellular respiration in the absence of Oxygen: Anaerobic Respiration - (fermentation) a form of cellular respiration in the absence of Oxygen: End products: End products: methane methane ethyl alcohol ethyl alcohol acetic acid acetic acid hydrogen sulfide hydrogen sulfide YEAST

32. CHEMOSYNTHETIC ENERGY FLOW IN THE OCEAN Chemosynthesis - (bacteria) the conversion of simple compounds into complex nutrient compounds w/out the aid of sunlight. Chemosynthesis - (bacteria) the conversion of simple compounds into complex nutrient compounds w/out the aid of sunlight. Ex: Hydrothermal Vents Ex: Hydrothermal Vents Food chains in deep ocean areas depend on chemosynthesis, at the base of the food chain. Food chains in deep ocean areas depend on chemosynthesis, at the base of the food chain. Oceans generally have low average productivity, the total productivity within the ocean accounts for the majority of the Energy fixed on earth. Oceans generally have low average productivity, the total productivity within the ocean accounts for the majority of the Energy fixed on earth. These small % of ocean systems are highly productive & account for a large % of total ocean 1 o productivity. These small % of ocean systems are highly productive & account for a large % of total ocean 1 o productivity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFHtVRKoaUM&feature=related