1. Chapter 3 The Biosphere

2. 3.1 Vocabulary Biosphere Species Population Community Ecology
Ecosystem
Biome
Biotic Factor
Abiotic Factor

3. Section 1 What is Ecology?
Standards: 6A.1
Objectives:
Explain the difference between abiotic factors and biotic factors.
Describe the levels of biological organization.

4. Biosphere Biosphere – consists of all life on Earth
Earth  “Ball of Life”
Includes land, water, and atmosphere

5. Ecology
Ecology – study of the relationships among living organisms and the interaction the organisms have with their environment.
Studying organisms in the field can be difficult  too many variables to study.

6. Living & Nonliving Factors
Environmental conditions include biotic and abiotic factors:
Biotic Factors – living organisms  (dead or alive)
Abiotic Factors – nonliving parts  (physical components such as temperature, air, water, wind, humidity, sun, soil, rain, nutrients)
Organisms depend on biotic & abiotic factors for survival.
Organisms are well adapted to the biotic & abiotic factors in their environment ONLY.

7. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Environment
Biotic
Abiotic

8. Review: Biotic or Abiotic Factors?

9. Levels of Organization
Biosphere is too large and complex to study relationships  ecologists study smaller levels.
Organism  lowest level
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere  highest level
Least Complex
Most Complex

10. Organism
An individual living thing.

11. Population
Population – group of the same species that share the same geographic location at the same time.
Same species compete for same resources

12. Community
Community – groups of interacting populations that occupy the same area at the same time.

13. Ecosystem
Ecosystem – community of interacting organisms and the abiotic factors that affect them.
No clear boundaries  overlap
Changes in climate, migration, human activity  impact stability of ecosystem
Stable Ecosystem = Healthy  Homeostasis:
Population of each organism & supply of resources fluctuates at a predictable rate
Constant flow of energy

14. Biome
Biome – group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.
Examples: rainforest, desert, tundra, freshwater, marine

15. Review: Level of OrganizationB C D E F
Biome Community Organism Biosphere Ecosystem Population

16. Ecological Methods Ecologists use 3 methods in their work: Observation
Experimentation
Modeling

17. 3.2 Vocabulary Autotroph Carnivore Primary Producer Herbivore
Photosynthesis
Scavenger
Chemosynthesis
Omnivore
Heterotroph
Decomposer
Consumer
Detritivore

18. Section 2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers
Standards: 3A.2, 6B.1
Objectives:
Identify the ultimate energy source for photosynthetic producers.
Classify organisms as producers, consumers, herbivores, scavengers, omnivores, decomposers, or detritivores.

19. Review All organisms need ENERGY. Energy is the ability to do work.
Energy is needed for growth, reproduction, and other metabolic processes.
Organisms do NOT create energy  organisms use energy from other sources.
Ultimate source of energy  SUN

20. Energy from the Sun
Autotrophs – organisms that collect energy from sunlight (or inorganic substances) to produce food.
Also called PRIMARY PRODUCERS (first producers)
Photosynthesis – captures light energy and uses it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates (sugars and starches)
Used by plants, algae, phytoplankton, some bacteria
Adds oxygen to atmosphere and removes carbon dioxide

21. Energy Without the Sun
Chemosynthesis – chemical energy is used by to produce carbohydrates
Used by bacteria in deep-sea volcanic vents or hot springs

22. Energy from Consuming
Heterotrophs – organisms that get energy by consuming other organisms.
Also called CONSUMERS.
Predator-Prey Relationship
Examples: animals, fungus, bacteria
Different types based on what they eat.
Use sun indirectly

23. Types of Consumers Herbivores – eat only plants
Examples: cow, rabbit, grasshopper
Carnivores – eat only meat (or animals)
Examples: lion, wolf, cat
Omnivores – eat both plants and animals
Examples: bears, humans
Detritivores – eat dead plants & animals; recycles nutrients; decomposers
Examples: worms, fungus

24. Types of Heterotrophs
Herbivores
Omnivores
Carnivores
Insectivores

25. 3.3 Vocabulary Food Chain Phytoplankton Food Web Zooplankton
Trophic Level
Ecological Pyramid
Biomass

26. Section 3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Standards: 6B.1
Objectives:
Describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
Model the flow of energy through an ecosystem by creating a food chain or food web.

27. Energy Flow
The sun’s energy enters Earth’s ecosystems through photosynthetic organisms  plants & algae.
1st Trophic Level
Autotrophs/Primary Producers
3rd Trophic Level
Carnivores & Omnivores/
Heterotrophs/Secondary Consumers
2nd Trophic Level
Heterotrophs/Primary Consumers/Herbivores
Tertiary
Consumer
Direction that Energy Flows

28. Models of Energy Flow
Diagrams show the direction energy goes between organisms.
Trophic Level – each step in a food chain or food web.
Types of Models:
Food Chain
Food Web
Energy Pyramid

29. Food Chain
Food Chain – series of simple steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating & being eaten.
Aquatic Ecosystems:
Phytoplankton – photosynthetic algae  ocean surface
Zooplankton – small free-floating animals

30. Food Web Most organisms feed on more than one species.
Food Web – network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
More accurate

31. Food Web

32. Food Web

33. Food Web

34. Food Web Disturbances
If krill population drops, HOW would that affect the sizes of other populations?

35. Decomposers & Primary Producers

36. Ecological Pyramids
Ecological Pyramids - shows the relative amount of energy, biomass, or numbers of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem.
90% of energy is utilized by organisms for cellular processes (respiration, movement, growth, etc.) and/or released back into the environment as heat.
10% of energy is available for the next trophic level.

37. Ecological Pyramids
3 Types: Energy, Population Size, & Biomass (total mass of living organisms in a trophic level)
Base represents producers and size decreases in higher trophic levels.

38. 3.4 Vocabulary Biogeochemical Cycle Nutrient Nitrogen Fixation
Denitrification

39. Section 4 Cycles of Matter
Standards: 3A.2, 6B.1
Objectives:
Describe how nutrients move through the biotic and abiotic parts of an ecosystem.
Explain the importance of nutrients to living organisms.
Compare the biogeochemical cycles of nutrients.

40. Cycling of Matter Nutrients – chemical substances needed to live.
Living organisms need specific nutrients to survive.
Organisms composed mostly of 4 elements: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N).
Earth  closed system
Matter changes form but neither created nor destroyed  recycled in biosphere.
Nutrients found in food, water, rocks, soil, air.

41. Cycling of Matter
Biogeochemical Cycle – exchange of matter through the biosphere.
Elements pass from one organism to another and among parts of the biosphere.
4 Biogeochemical Cycles
Hydrologic Cycle (Water Cycle)
Carbon Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle

42. Water Cycle Life needs water
Water is found in the atmosphere, Earth’s surface & underground, & in living organisms.
Evaporation – sun’s energy changes liquid  gas
Transpiration – evaporation of water from plants
Condensation – cold temps. changes gas  liquid
Precipitation – liquid water falls from sky
Respiration –organisms produce water
Elimination – organisms need water to eliminate waste

43. Water Cycle

44. Carbon Cycle
Life needs carbon  macromolecules (lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids).
Carbon is found in the atmosphere, minerals & rocks, fossil fuels, soil, & aquatic sediments.
Organisms play a major role in recycling:
Photosynthesis – plants take in CO2  sugar
Respiration – organisms break down sugar  CO2
Decomposition – decomposers break down carbon compounds when organisms die  CO2
Digestion - Producers  Consumers  CO2
Combustion – burning wood/fossil fuels  CO2
Weathering – bones & shells form rocks  CO2

45. Carbon Cycle

46. Nitrogen Cycle Life needs nitrogen  make proteins & nucleic acids.
Nitrogen is found in the atmosphere (N2), living organisms, soil, & aquatic sediments.
Organisms play a major role in recycling:
Nitrogen-Fixation – nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in soil, plant roots, or aquatic ecosystems convert nitrogen into usable forms for plants such as ammonia or nitrates.
Decomposition – decomposers return nitrogen into soil.
Denitrification – soil bacteria break down nitrogen compounds in soil & release N2 back into atmosphere.

47. Nitrogen Cycle

48. Phosphorus Cycle Life needs phosphorus  DNA & RNA
P does not cycle in atmosphere. P is found in minerals & rocks, soil, & aquatic sediments.
Organisms play a major role in recycling:
Weathering of rocks & sediments  releases P
Plants take in P  absorb from soil or water
Decomposition – decomposers break down P compounds when organisms die
Digestion - Producers  Consumers
P is mined  produce fertilizer for crops

49. Phosphorus Cycle