1. Introduction to Ecology

2. What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.

3. Why do we study Ecology?
By understanding the relationships in the ecosystems, we can:
Help struggling populations rebound.
Prevent species from dying out.
Understand how we (humans) impact the environment.

4. An Organisms Environment
Abiotic Factors: all the non-living things that make up an organism’s environment
Includes physical factors such as: Water, soil, light, and temperature
Biotic Factors: all the living things that make up an organism’s environment
Includes living factors such as: Plants and animals

5. Organization in the Environment
There are a lot of factors which make up an organisms environment. To avoid confusion; Ecologists organize the environment with different levels

6. 1) Organism- any living thing
(1 individual)
2) Population- group of organisms of the same species in an area
3) Community- made up of all the populations of different species
4) Ecosystem- made up of a community of organisms and its abiotic factors
5) Biosphere- part of the Earth where life exists

7. Organization in the Environment
Common Mistakes!!!!
Population vs. Community
Population consists of all the organisms of the SAME species in a given area
Community is all the members of DIFFERENT species in a given area

10. Living Things Need Energy
Producers- organisms that gets energy by making its own food
Consumer- organism that needs to get its energy from another source

11. Living Things Need Energy
Decomposers- organism that gets energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms.
“Natures recyclers”
Ex: mushrooms, bacteria

12. Energy Pyramid Decrease number of organisms Decrease amount of energy
Increase number of organisms
Increase amount of energy
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Producers

13. Types of Consumers There are several kinds of consumers:
Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, and Scavengers
Herbivores- organism that eats plants only
ex: grasshopper, prairie dogs, deer
Carnivore- organism that eats meat only
ex: coyotes, hawks, owls

14. Types of Consumers Omnivore- organism that eats both plants and meat
ex: mouse, human
Scavenger- organism that feeds on the body of dead animals
ex: turkey vulture

15. Food Chains
Food Chains- diagram which represents how the energy is moved from one organisms to the next.
Usually 3 – 5 organisms long

16. FOOD WEBS ARE A BETTER REPRESENTATION!!!

17. Food Webs
Food Webs- shows all the possible pathways of energy in an ecosystem
Consists of two or more food chains

20. Remember the  (arrows) represent the flow and direction of ENERGY