1. Basics of Ecosystems

2. Animation – What is Ecology?
Video – Introduction to Ecology

3. An ecosystem includes all of the interacting parts of a biological community and its environment. This includes the organisms living in that area and their interactions with each other and their interactions with the environment.

4. Ecosystems Aquatic Ecosystems Terrestrial Ecosystems
Lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.
Terrestrial Ecosystems
Tropical rain forest, prairies, boreal forest, desert, etc.

6. Components of Ecosystems
ECOSYSTEMS ARE MADE UP OF BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS
Biotic Factors
Living parts of an ecosystem
Includes all organisms (plants and animals) and their interactions
Example: symbiosis, predation, competition
Abiotic Factors
Non-living parts of an ecosystem
Includes water, oxygen, light, nutrients, soil, temperature

7. Energy and Nutrient Transfer
Energy and nutrients transfer from organisms as they are consumed
Transfer of energy is shown using a food chain
Sequence of living organisms tied together by feeding and energy transfer relationships

8. Food Chain
Arrows show the transfer of energy from one organism to another
The organism that eats the other organism gets the energy and has the arrow pointing towards it

9. Food Web
A food web shows the multiple connections within an ecosystem

10. Producers: Green plants that are capable of “producing” their own energy – Usually through a process known as photosynthesis.

11. Consumers: animals who ingest other animals or plants to receive their energy.

12. Primary Consumers: Animals who eat producers (plants), such as rabbits and deer. They are also knows as herbivores.

13. Secondary Consumers: Animals that eat herbivores such as foxes and wolves. They are also known as carnivores if they eat only meat and omnivores if they eat both plants and animals.

14. Tertiary Consumer – Top carnivore in the food chain.

15. Many organisms do not get eaten| until after they have died.
When they (living things) die, energy still remains in the tissues of their bodies.
Decomposers break down the cells and extract the last remaining energy.

16. Scavengers feed on larger dead animals.
Detritivores feed on smaller dead animals, dead plant matter, and dung.

17. The fuel of all Ecosystems is…
THE SUN!!

18. Photosynthesis
Sunlight energy is taken in by plants along with carbon dioxide and water, and converted into oxygen, and glucose
Glucose is chemical energy we use as our fuel

19. Cellular Respiration
Organisms use glucose for fuel and oxygen to breath
We change this into carbon dioxide and water

20. You can’t have one without the other
They work together!
You can’t have one without the other
Photosynthesis:
Sun energy + CO2 + H2O → O2 + glucose
Cellular Respiration:
Glucose + O2 → CO2 + H2O + energy

22. Video – The Carbon Cycle

23. Trophic Levels
The levels that each organism occupies in the food chain.
Each level of the food chain represents one trophic level.
Trophic Level One – Producers
Trophic Level Two – Primary Consumers (Herbivores)
Trophic Level Three – Secondary Consumers
Etc…

25. Energy
At each level of the food chain, about 90% of the energy is lost through use by the organism.
The remaining 10% of energy is passed on to the next organism when consumed.
Therefore, as you move up the food chain, there is less energy available.
Animals located at the top of the food chain need a lot more food to meet their energy needs.