1. Ecology information

2. Of course we know it would increase.
If we had an eco system where one predator decreased, what would happen to the numbers of their prey?
Of course we know it would increase.

3. Concerning an energy pyramid—how do those work?

4. The bottom level has the most energy available!
Why---because that is where the producers are.
As each organism is eaten “UP” the pyramid ---less energy is available
Where does it go---lost in heat for one thing and other body processes of the organism.
So how much is converted up to the next level? Only 10% of what was there in the original energy.

5. How is the energy of the Sun made available to a pond community?
To begin--- the sun shines and sends out energy to everything---next, the producers make food for themselves. Next the producers are consumed by heterotrophs.(AKA consumers)
Plants—which are producers or autotrophs, use the sun’s energy to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.
We (consumers or heterotrophs) then consume the plants or an animal that consumed the producer to gain the sun’s energy.

6. A concern about our environment is that our ozone layer is being destroyed. What is the big deal about this?
There is a belief that the UV rays can penetrate the earth’s atmosphere which may increase the incidence of skin cancer in humans. So environmental-minded individuals worry about this occurrence.

7. As you can see from the energy pyramid, our bottom layer is filled with producers.
As we go up each level, the producers disappear and different consumers appear. They also get less of the original sun’s energy as they go up the energy pyramid:

8. Producers may have an advantage over consumers---why?
Because a producer can make its’ own food and a consumer cannot.

9. Could a pesticide that is sprayed into an ecosystem have some bad effects?
Yup---perhaps an organism that was not meant to be harmed---would be harmed or even eliminated. True, the weed intended to be eliminated would be but it may also drift into other areas and cause plants to die that were not supposed to.
That would upset the food chain and web of that system.

10. Why are scavengers important to an ecosystem?
They take the dead organisms and help break them down to the basic parts which they are made from (minerals, etc). Then these smaller units are put back into the ecosystem to begin the cycle/s all over again. They become part of the soil, plants and our food.
What are some of the organisms that are considered to be scavengers?

11. What resources in nature are renewable to humans?
Solar and wind

12. Predators are like the hunters. Prey are like the hunted.

13. What is carrying capacity?
This shows what an environment can support--- as far as how many organisms will be able to share the available energy, minerals and oxygen in that area.

14. Can humans help reduce the problem of extinction of endangered species?
Yes—by setting aside wildlife areas for one thing. Some ideas suggested have been limit hunting and killing, reserves to protect and limit how many are released.
Are there other ideas you know of?

15. What does the arrow mean in a food web?
The arrow shows the direction of the energy flow in the web. So, the pointed part of the arrow shows you where the energy is going and to what organism.

16. Nuclear power is cheaper to pay for but what is the downfall?
It pollutes the environment.

17. What is one human activity that may contribute to global warming?
The burning of………?
Fossil fuels!

18. They decompose and break down dead organisms.
Microorganisms are very small but they contribute a lot to an ecosystem…what do they do?
They decompose and break down dead organisms.

19. What would happen if there were not decomposers around?
We would have dead organisms piled up rotting and stinking---so, decomposers are a very good thing!!

20. If we cut down a lot of the forests will it help the wildlife population increase?
NO---it actually is not good for the wildlife and may cause more problems.

21. What is abiotic –vs- biotic?
Abiotic was never alive and biotic was once livi.ng

22. Can a stable ecosystem that was destroyed by a natural disaster, recover and become stable again?

23. Yes –over many years passing by, it can.

24. Hope you learned new concepts about ecology.