1. Ecology

2. 1. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and
their environment.

3. 2. Biosphere
Portions of the planet where all life exists – land, water, air, atmosphere
Bio = Life

4. 3. Species
A group of organisms so similar that they can breed and produce fertile offspring.

5. 4. Populations
Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.

6. Example Populations in Pennsylvania
White Tailed Deer
Coyote
(Odocoileus virginianus)
(Canis latrans)
Ring Necked Pheasant
(Phasianus colchicus)

7. Plant Populations in Pennsylvania
Hemlock
Red Maple
(Tsuga heterophylla)
(Acer rubrum)

8. 5. Communities
Assemblages of different populations that live together in a defined area
Assemblages = Several things grouped together or considered as a whole

9. 6. Ecosystem
A collection of all the organisms (biotic component) that live together in a particular place, together with their physical environment
Physical Environment = rocks, soil, water, air (abiotic)

10. Ecosystems
Aquatic ecosystems – In water –
can be freshwater, marine (ocean),
or a mixture of both (estuary,
brackish water)
Terrestrial ecosystems – on land

11. 7. Biome A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar
dominant communities

12. 8. The 6 levels of organization that ecologists study
Individual, Population, Community, Ecosystem, Biome, Biosphere

13. 9. What is the main energy source for life on earth?
Sunlight

14. 10. Autotroph
Organisms that can use energy from the sun to produce their own food
Algae
Plants
Cyanobacteria

15. 11. What is another name for an autotroph?
Producer

16. 12. What is the process where autotrophs use
12. What is the process where autotrophs use solar energy to make energy- rich
carbohydrates?
Photosynthesis

17. 13. What organisms are the most visible and best-known autotrophs?
Plants

18. What is it called when organisms use
chemical energy, instead of sunlight, to
produce carbohydrates (sugars)?
Chemosynthesis

19. Write down the chemical equation for chemosynthesis and photosynthesis
6CO2 + 6H2O + 3H2S C6H12O6 + 3H2SO4
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
Sunlight
Answer the following:
What are the 3 inputs in the chemosynthesis equation? (use words)
What are the 3 inputs in the photosynthesis equation? (use words)
What is the name of the carbohydrate produced in each process?
What is the by-product of chemosynthesis?
What is the by-product of photosynthesis?
Write a short statement that explains chemosynthesis and photosynthesis.

20. 15. List an example of an autotroph that
15. List an example of an autotroph that can produce carbohydrates from chemical energy.
Chemosynthetic Bacteria

21. 16. Heterotroph
Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply

22. 17. What is another name for a heterotroph?
Consumer

23. 18. Herbivore
Organisms that obtain energy by eating plants

24. 19. Carnivore
Eat other animals

25. 20. Omnivore
Eat both plants and animals

26. 21. Detritivore
Eat dead plant and animal remains – mites, earthworms, snails

27. 22. Decomposer
Break down organic matter – bacteria, fungi

28. Interactions among organisms
Predator/Prey
Commensalism – One benefits but the other is
unaffected
Mutualism – Both organisms benefit
Parasitism – One organism is hurt while the other
benefits

29. 23. Food chain
A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

30. 24. ______ _______show the one way flow of energy in an ecosystem.
Food
chains

31. 25. Is the algae a producer or consumer?

32. 26. Is the algae an autotroph or heterotroph?

33. 27. Detritus
Collective terms for dead plant and animal remains

34. 28. Food Web
Links all of the food chains in an ecosystem together

35. 29. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?
A food chain shows a one-way flow of energy while a food web shows the connections between all of the food chains in an ecosystem

36. 30. Trophic Level
Each step in a food chain or food web

37. 31. Grazing Food Web (not in student book)
Begins with photosynthesizing plants, algae, and phytoplankton

38. 32. Detrital Food Web (not in student book)
Begins with decomposers and detritivores

39. 33. List the types of simple inorganic molecules that are released when decomposers and detritivores break down the remains of dead organisms. These are cycled back in nature.
Carbon, Phosphorous, Nitrogen, Potassium, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Copper, Zinc, Molybdenum

40. 34. Ecological Pyramid
Diagram that shows the amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level of the food chain or food web

41. 35. Energy pyramid
Shows the amount of energy at each trophic level

42. 36. What percentage of the available energy, in a trophic level, do organisms use for life processes?
10%

43. 37. Where does the remaining energy in a trophic level go?
Lost as heat

44. 38. Biomass pyramid
Shows the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level

45. 39. Which part of the biomass pyramid contains the most biomass?
The Base

46. 40. Pyramid of numbers
Shows the number of individual organisms at each trophic level