1. Ecology Notes

2. Color the entries for your evolution unit and label them in your margin

3. Update Table of Contents

4. Levels of Organization Output
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5. What is Ecology
Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and their environment

6. Recall the levels of organizations from our first unit…
Atoms- basic unit of matter
Molecules- combined atoms
Cells- smallest unit of life
Tissue- groups of cells with similar function.
Organ- 2 or more types of tissues that work together
Organ System- group of organs carrying out specific sets of functions
ORGANISM- several organ systems functioning together

7. Organism Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere
Here are the levels of organization that relate to the study of ecology
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere

9. Levels of Organization
Organism - single living individual
Species- a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Population- group of organisms of the same species and live in the same area
Community - all interacting populations that live together in a given area

10. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem- collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place together with their nonliving environment
Ex. Rotting log, pond lake, clump of dirt, a field, maple tree
Biome- a group of ecosystems that have a particular climate and similar species of plants and animals
Ex. Tundra
Biosphere - contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists (land, water, and air)

12. Abiotic Factors
Abiotic factors (non-living) – all physical and chemical factors affecting an organism
Examples: precipitation, sunlight, and temperature, water (lakes), rocks, etc.

13. Biotic Factors
Biotic factors (living) – all living things that directly or indirectly affect the environment
Examples: Plants, animals, microorganisms

14. Output Directions:
Start with the lowest level of organization (organism) in the smallest circle.
Write the name of the level in the circle.
Then Draw a picture in each circle to demonstrate your understanding of the definition of each level.
Your picture that you used for organism should continue through all levels (i.e. if your organisms is a fish, fish should appear at each level)
It must be colored!!!

15. STOP HERE!

16. Feeding Relationships
Two feeding levels
Producers - capture sunlight or chemicals to make food (also called autotrophs)
Plants, algae, bacteria
Consumers - rely on other organisms for energy/food (also called heterotrophs)
Animals, fungi, bacteria

17. Types of Heterotrophs Herbivores- eat ONLY plants
Cows, deer, caterpillars
Carnivores- eat ONLY animals
Snakes, wolves, owls
Omnivores- eat BOTH animals and plants
Humans, bears, crows

18. Types of Heterotrophs
Decomposers - obtain nutrients by breaking down remains of organic matter
Examples: Bacteria, fungi, earthworms

20. Energy Flow
Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs and then to heterotrophs
*Remember sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth
Photosynthesis
Some organisms obtain their energy from chemicals
Chemosynthesis

21. Flow of Energy

22. Food Chains
Food chain - series of steps in which organisms transfer energy from one organism to another organism; shows only one path for energy
Example:
leaf  caterpillar  song bird
producer  primary consumer  secondary consumer

26. Food Webs
Food web – consists of many food chaings that shows a network of complex interactions formed by feeding relationships
Links all the food chains in an ecosystem together

30. Trophic Levels
Each step in a food chain or food web is called a trophic level
Producers make up the first trophic level
Consumers make up the second, third, or higher trophic levels
Second = primary consumer
Third = secondary consumer
Fourth = tertiary consumer

32. Energy Pyramid
Energy pyramid- shows the transfer and loss of energy from one trophic level to another

35. 10% Rule
10% Rule - only 10% of the energy at any one level is available for use by the next level
90% is used by the organisms for living, growing, and reproducing or it is lost as heat
The number of higher level consumers that can be sustained is much lower than the number of lower level consumers and producers

37. # #

38. Output Directions:
Follow the directions on your handout for your output page.