1. Aim: What parts make up an ecosystem
Aim: What parts make up an ecosystem? Do now: What does the word “biology” mean? Homework: read pages 4-9 of your book and answer any questions on those pages

2. Ecology
The study of the interaction between living things and their environment
Every organism occupies an important role in its environment called a niche
Abiotic- non-living
Biotic- living

3. Key Terms Individual- one organism
Population- a group of the same organism
Community- a group made of different types of organisms living in the same area (habitat)
Ecosystem- a community and the abiotic factors surrounding the organisms

4. Activity- index card
Individual
Population
Community
Ecosystem

5. AIM: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?
Do Now: What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph?
Homework: Complete index card if not done yet

6. Key terms:
Autotroph- organism that can produce its own food through photosynthesis, also called a producer
Heterotroph- an organism that must consume other plants or animals for energy, also called a consumer

7. Food chains
A food chain is a diagram showing the flow of energy between organisms in an ecosystem
It always starts with a producer organism obtaining energy from the sun
Then various types of consumers make up the rest of the chain

8. Example Grass-- Mouse-- Hawk--Lion Grass- producer
Mouse- primary consumer (herbivore)
Hawk- secondary consumer (carnivore)
Lion- tertiary consumer (carnivore)
*Omnivore- eats both plants and animals

9. Aim: How do food chains and webs show the flow of energy in an ecosystem?
Do Now: What is the first type of organism found in every food chain?
Homework: Read and complete page in your book

10. Decomposers- organisms that recycle the nutrients from dead animals and put those nutrients into the soil to help plants grow
Ex) bacteria and fungi

11. FOOD CHAIN

12. Food web- a diagram showing various connected food chains- food webs are a more accurate representation of nature
All organisms in a food chain or web are dependent on the others. If one organism is removed, then the whole food chain will be disturbed

14. Aim: How is energy transferred in an ecosystem?
Do Now: Write down an example of a food chain that could exist in nature
Homework: read and complete page in your book

15. Energy pyramid
In a food chain or web, only 10% of the energy when an organism gets eaten is transferred from one level to the next
Producers are always on the bottom and tertiary consumers at the top- an ecosystem always has many more producers than any other organism for this reason

16. EAGLES SNAKES MICE GREEN PLANTS
Above is a typical representation of a NY State terrestrial energy pyramid.

17. Aim: What is ecological succession?
Do Now: Why does an ecosystem always have more producers than consumers?
Homework: Test Weds 5/15, complete worksheet on succession

18. Ecological succession
A process that occurs to build an new ecosystem either in a place where there was no life or after a natural disaster has destroyed another ecosystem

19. This process consists of a series of steps that occur in order to rebuild the ecosystem
Step one- pioneer organisms begin to live in the area (grasses, moss, shrubs, etc)- these organisms help the soil become nutrient rich
Step 2- Gradually larger plants and animals will begin to move into the area

20. Step 3- The area will become a “climax community” or a stable ecosystem. This ecosystem will remain there until another disruption occurs.
Stable ecosystems need to have:
1) More producers than consumers
2) A constant source of energy (the sun)