1. Introduction to Ecology
What is Ecology?

2. Introduction to Ecology
Ecology is……
The study of interactions…
between living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components….
in ecosystems!

3. Introduction to Ecology
Some definitions:
FOOD CHAIN:
A diagram showing the movement of energy between biotic factors in an ecosystem.
Shows what eats what.

4. Introduction to Ecology
Some examples of FOOD CHAINS:

5. Introduction to Ecology
Food Web
Connections between multiple food chains
Forms a complicated web
Shows what eats what

6. Introduction to Ecology
PRODUCER:
An organism that makes it’s own food from sunlight or heat (usually a plant)

7. Introduction to Ecology
CONSUMER:
An organism that must consume other organisms for energy (all animals are consumers)

8. Introduction to Ecology
HERBIVORE:
An organism that consumes only plants for food (deer, mice, grasshopper, gorilla)

9. Introduction to Ecology
CARNIVORE:
An organism that consumes only other animals for food (cats, owls, sharks, polar bear)

10. Introduction to Ecology
DECOMPOSER:
An organism that consumes only dead organisms for food (bacteria, worms, fungus, vultures)

11. Introduction to Ecology
NUTRIENT:
A material that an organism needs to grow and reproduce. Good examples are vitamins and minerals.

12. Introduction to Ecology
OMNIVORE:
An organism that can eat either plants or animals for energy (humans, raccoons, black bears, chimpanzees)

13. Introduction to Ecology
HABITAT:
The area in which an organism lives, including the space, water and food available, vegetation and soil types

14. Ecosystem
An ecosystem is the interaction and dependence of living things and non-living things within a given area
Contains many food webs

15. Trophic Levels 4th Trophic Level- Top Carnivores Or Apex Predators
3rd Trophic Level- Primary Carnivores
2nd Trophic Level- Primary Consumers
Usually Herbivores or Omnivores
1st Trophic Level- Producers
We place all of the organisms into trophic levels (or feeding levels)

16. Let’s use the definitions from your worksheet to label the following ecosystem:

17. Let’s use the definitions from your worksheet to label the following ecosystem:
abiotic
carnivore
biotic
omnivore
Ecosystem
producer
herbivore
abiotic
producer
consumer
*the arrows represent a food chain