1. Ecology Notes

2. Ecology

3. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.

4. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the and
things that surround an organism.

5. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and
things that surround an organism.

6. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic things that surround an organism.

7. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic things that surround an organism.
Biotic: living or once living things

8. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic things that surround an organism.
Biotic: living or once living things
Ex. Animals, plants, decaying material, etc.

9. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic things that surround an organism.
Biotic: living or once living things
Ex. Animals, plants, decaying material, etc.
Abiotic: things that were never living

10. Ecology
The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic things that surround an organism.
Biotic: living or once living things
Ex. Animals, plants, decaying material, etc.
Abiotic: things that were never living
Ex. Rocks, temperature, water, etc.

11. Ecosystem

12. Ecosystem
A collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment.

13. Ecosystem
A collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment.
Ex.

14. Ecosystem
A collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment.
Ex. A local pond and all the organisms and materials in it

15. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems

16. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Part of an organism’s niche (role in an ecosystem) is its mode of nutrition.

17. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Part of an organism’s niche (role in an ecosystem) is its mode of nutrition.
Autotroph or Producer:

18. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Part of an organism’s niche (role in an ecosystem) is its mode of nutrition.
Autotroph or Producer: Organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to produce food

19. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Part of an organism’s niche (role in an ecosystem) is its mode of nutrition.
Autotroph or Producer: Organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to produce food
Ex.

20. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Part of an organism’s niche (role in an ecosystem) is its mode of nutrition.
Autotroph or Producer: Organisms that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals to produce food
Ex. Plants, algae, bacteria

21. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Heterotroph:

22. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Heterotroph: Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply

23. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Heterotroph: Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply
Consumers:

24. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Heterotroph: Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply
Consumers: another name for heterotrophs because they need to consume other organisms for energy

25. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Herbivores
Obtain energy by eating only plants
Ex. Cows, caterpillars and deer

26. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Carnivores
Organisms that eat animals
Ex. Snakes, dogs, owls

27. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Omnivores
Animals that eat both plants and animals
Ex. Humans, bears, crows

28. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Detritivores
Feed on plant and animal remains, and other dead matter
Ex. Mites, earthworms, snails, crabs

29. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Key idea: Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun to the to the to the Along the way chemical energy gets degraded into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and can’t be used by organisms.

30. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Key idea: Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun to the producers to the to the Along the way chemical energy gets degraded into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and can’t be used by organisms.

31. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Key idea: Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun to the producers to the herbivores to the Along the way chemical energy gets degraded into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and can’t be used by organisms.

32. Part 1: Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Key idea: Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun to the producers to the herbivores to the carnivores . Along the way chemical energy gets degraded into heat that is lost to the atmosphere and can’t be used by organisms.

33. Food chain:

34. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.

35. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level #
Trophic Level

36. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level

37. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer

38. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer

39. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer

40. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer

41. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Quaternary Consumer

42. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Each organism or link in the food chain is called a or feeding level.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
QuaternaryConsumer

43. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Each organism or link in the food chain is called a trophic or feeding level.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Quaternary Consumer

44. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Each organism or link in the food chain is called a trophic or feeding level.
Food chains usually have 2-5 trophic levels.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Quaternary Consumer

45. Food chain: series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.
Each organism or link in the food chain is called a trophic or feeding level.
Food chains usually have 2-5 trophic levels.
Arrows always point to the organism receiving the energy.
Organism Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Trophic level # 1 2 3 4 5
Trophic Level
Producer
Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Quaternary Consumer

46. The producer, or , occupies the trophic level of a food chain.

47. The producer, or autotroph. , occupies the
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the trophic level of a food chain.

48. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.

49. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass

50. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

51. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

52. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.

53. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Grasshopper

54. The producer, or autotroph
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Grasshopper
The secondary consumer, or
, occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

55. The secondary consumer, or
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Grasshopper
The secondary consumer, or
first level carnivore , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

56. The secondary consumer, or
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Grasshopper
The secondary consumer, or
first level carnivore , occupies the third trophic level in the food chain.

57. The secondary consumer, or
The producer, or autotroph , occupies the first trophic level of a food chain.
Ex. Grass
The primary consumer, or herbivore , occupies the second trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Grasshopper
The secondary consumer, or
first level carnivore , occupies the third trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Frog

58. The tertiary consumer, or. , occupies the
The tertiary consumer, or , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

59. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the
The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

60. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.

61. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Snake

62. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Snake
The quaternary consumer, or , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

63. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Snake
The quaternary consumer, or third level carnivore , occupies the trophic level in the food chain.

64. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Snake
The quaternary consumer, or third level carnivore , occupies the fifth trophic level in the food chain.

65. The tertiary consumer, or second level carnivore , occupies the fourth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Snake
The quaternary consumer, or third level carnivore , occupies the fifth trophic level in the food chain.
Ex. Hawk

66. Food Webs

67. Food Webs
A network of all the possible food chains in a given ecosystem

68. Food Webs
A network of all the possible food chains in a given ecosystem
Food webs take into consideration the varied diets of organisms.

69. Food Webs
Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk

70. Food Webs
Blue Jay
Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk

71. Food Webs
Blue Jay
Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Deer
Wolf

72. Food Webs Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk Blue Jay Skunk
Deer
Wolf

73. Food Webs Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk Blue Jay Skunk
Deer
Wolf

74. Food Webs Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk Blue Jay Skunk
Raccoon
Deer
Wolf

75. Food Webs Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk Blue Jay Skunk
Raccoon
Deer
Wolf

76. Food Webs Grass  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk Blue Jay Skunk
Raccoon
Deer
Fox
Wolf

77. Rule of 10%

78. Rule of 10%
Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level

79. Rule of 10%
Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level

80. Rule of 10%
Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level
Energy Transferred

81. Rule of 10%
Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level
Energy Lost
Heat
Energy Transferred

82. Pyramid of Energy 1% 10% 100% Tertiary Consumer Secondary Consumer
.1% 1%
Secondary Consumer
10%
Primary Consumer
100%
Producer

83. Pyramid of Energy
The amount of energy available to each trophic level decreases as you move up the food chain.
This is because an organism uses most of the energy it takes in or loses it as heat.
It only stores 10%, which is available to the consumer.

84. Pyramid of Numbers 10 100 1000 Tertiary Consumer Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
1000
Producers

85. Pyramid of Biomass 10 g 100 g 1000 g Tertiary Consumer
Secondary Consumers
100 g
Primary Consumers
1000 g
Producers

86. Pyramids
Top consumers have to eat a lot of organisms from the trophic level below it to get enough energy to survive.
Because of this great need to eat, each level can support fewer and fewer individuals.

87. Problems in the Food Chain
Biological magnification:

88. Problems in the Food Chain
Biological magnification: when concentrations of a harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web

89. Problems in the Food Chain
Biological magnification: when concentrations of a harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web
Top consumers have to eat a lot of organisms from the trophic level below it to get enough energy to survive.

90. Problems in the Food Chain
Biological magnification: when concentrations of a harmful substance increase in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web
Top consumers have to eat a lot of organisms from the trophic level below it to get enough energy to survive.
Because of this great need to eat, each level can support fewer and fewer individuals.

91. Biological Magnification

92. Nutrient Cycling in Organisms
Key ideas:

93. Nutrient Cycling in Organisms
Key ideas:
Unlike energy, which flows in one direction in an ecosystem, matter is recycled or within and between ecosystems. It just is changes into new forms.

94. Nutrient Cycling in Organisms
Key ideas:
Unlike energy, which flows in one direction in an ecosystem, matter is recycled or passed around within and between ecosystems. It just is changes into new forms.

95. Nutrient Cycling in Organisms
Key ideas:
Unlike energy, which flows in one direction in an ecosystem, matter is recycled or passed around within and between ecosystems. It just is changes into new forms.
Every living organism needs nutrients, a form of matter, to build tissues and carry out essential life functions

96. Nutrients

97. Nutrients
All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life

98. Nutrients
All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life
Ex.

99. Nutrients
All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life
Ex. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus

100. Nutrients
All the chemical substances that an organism needs to sustain life
Ex. Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus
As we will see, some nutrients cycle quickly. Other nutrients are “tied up” in rocks, soil, oceans, or air.

101. Water Cycle Why do organisms need water?
Many chemical reactions that occur in cells take place in water or use water (ex. Photosynthesis)
Helps bring down temperatures that rise as a result of different chemical reactions within cells (ex. Metabolism)

102. Water Cycle Water leaves the earth by:
Transpiration-loss of water from a plant through its leaves
Evaporation-process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas

103. Water Cycle
Water returns to the earth by:
Precipitation

104. Carbon Cycle Why do organisms need carbon?
Carbon is a key ingredient in living tissue and is involved in many chemical reactions

105. Carbon Cycle
Carbon leaves the atmosphere:
Through photosynthesis

106. Carbon Cycle Carbon enters the atmosphere: Cellular respiration
Burning organic material

107. Remember Photosynthesis: Equation: 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
Compounds: Carbon dioxide and water yields glucose and oxygen
Cellular Respiration:
Equation: C6H12O6 + 6O  6CO2 + 6H2O
Compounds: Glucose and oxygen yields carbon dioxide and water
light

108. Nitrogen Cycle
Why do organisms need nitrogen?

109. Nitrogen Cycle Why do organisms need nitrogen?
Needed to make amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins

110. Nitrogen Cycle Why do organisms need nitrogen?
Needed to make amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins
Problem: 78% of the nitrogen is in the form of nitrogen gas, which organisms can’t use.

111. Nitrogen Cycle Why do organisms need nitrogen?
Needed to make amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins
Problem: 78% of the nitrogen is in the form of nitrogen gas, which organisms can’t use.
Solution:

112. Nitrogen Cycle Why do organisms need nitrogen?
Needed to make amino acids which are the building blocks of proteins
Problem: 78% of the nitrogen is in the form of nitrogen gas, which organisms can’t use.
Solution: Certain types of bacteria go through nitrogen fixation to make it usable

113. Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Fixation:

114. Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Fixation: the process of converting gaseous nitrogen into ammonia and then ammonia into nitrates and nitrates

115. Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Fixation: the process of converting gaseous nitrogen into ammonia and then ammonia into nitrates and nitrates
Flow of nitrogen:

116. Problems with Nutrient Cycling
Water Cycle
Acid rain: acidic precipitation averaging a pH of
Chemical cause: Nitrogen and sulfur compounds in the atmosphere combine with water molecules to form nitric and sulfuric acids
Sources: Burning of fossil fuels
Environmental Impact: Kills plants by damaging leaves, changes the pH of soils and groundwater
Prevention: Decrease activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels

117. Problems with Nutrient Cycling
Carbon Cycle
Global Warming: increase in the global temperature on the earth due to an increase in greenhouse gases, which trap heat radiated from the Earth
Chemical causes: Increased CO2, methane, and water vapor
Sources: Burning fossil fuels, cutting down trees and developing over natural areas, increase in cattle raising
Environmental impact: Rise in sea levels, coastal flooding, more droughts in interior land areas
Prevention: Similar to water cycle; eat less beef and save the rain forest

119. Problems with Nutrient Cycling
Nitrogen Cycle
Eutrophication: increase in the amount of nutrients in bodies of water
Chemical cause: Increased levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients
Sources: Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides
Prevention: Avoid use of these chemicals
Environmental impact: Algal bloom causing the death of organisms in smaller bodies of water

120. Review Key Idea
Energy flows in one direction, while nutrients are cycled.