1. Ecology
The study of relationships between all organisms and their environment.
Ecosystem is all biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) things that share an environment.

2. Energy Flow– Types of energy changing and moving through the environment
Represented by arrows that point in the direction that the energy moves

3. Energy and an Ecosystem
Energy must flow constantly through an ecosystem for the system to remain stable.
Leaves  Grasshopper  Frog  Snake  Hawk
Leaves  Caterpillar  Spider  Frog  Lizard  Fox  Hawk

4. Food Chain It shows the relationships among organisms.
 A model used to show the transfer of energy and matter among organisms.
It shows the relationships among organisms.
Many food chains make up a food web.

7. AUTOTROPH
A group of organisms that can use the energy in the sun to convert water and carbon dioxide to sugar (food).
Examples: Plants, algae, phytoplankton
These are the producers of energy

8. Heterotroph:
Another term for heterotroph is consumer because they consume other organisms in order to live (to get energy to live).
Examples: Rabbit, deer, mushrooms

9. Types of Heterotrophs:
Carnivores: eat meat only
Omnivores: eat meat and plants
Herbivores: eat plants only

10. Trophic Levels
A position an organism occupies on a food chain

11. Producer Organisms (plants) that make their own food by Photosynthesis
The survival of any ecosystem is dependent upon producers capturing energy from the Sun.
Examples:
Plants
Algae – Phytoplankton – photosynthetic organisms found oceans & lakes (most common in water)
Some Bacteria (chemosynthesis)

12. Consumer Gets energy by eating another organism (plants)
Herbivores – animals that eat producers
Examples:
Rabbits
Deer
Caterpillar

13. Decomposers
Get energy and nutrients from breaking down dead organisms and animal wastes. They make soil rich in nutrients.

14. Trophic Levels

15. Relationships Within an Ecosystem
Producer/Consumer
-Organism produces food through photosynthesis (Plant) then are eaten by another organism (Herbivore)
Predator/Prey
Predator: hunts down and kills prey for food.
Prey: is hunted and killed for food.