1. Agenda 10/25 and 10/26 Intro to ecology lecture
Constructing food webs activity
Nutrient acquisition practice
Turn in: WB and video notes
Homework
1. WB 122, 123, 124
2. Nutrient Acquisition Worksheet

2. Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors
Sort the cards with your group into categories that make sense
Be prepared to explain your rationale behind your groups

3. Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors
Sort the cards with your group into categories that make sense
Be prepared to explain your rationale behind your groups
Discussion questions:
Can non living things affect living?
Do plants and animals have similar or different roles in an ecosystem?
Can biotic factors affect other biotic factors?
During the video, list as many abiotic and biotic interactions as you can find

4. Levels of Organization in an Ecosystem
Species- a group of organisms that can potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring
Ex: Zebras
Population- A group of species that are reproductively isolated from others
Ex: Zebras living in a specific grassland
Community- populations of different species living together and interaction with each other
Ex: Zebras, lions, tigers, hyenas living together
Ecosystem- communities interacting with abiotic and biotic factors
Ex: zebras, lions, tigers, hyenas living together in the climate, temperature, precipitation, near rocks, drinking water

5. Ecological Roles
Autotrophs- create their own food using sunlight and photosynthesis
Also called producers
Obtain nutrients from an abiotic source
Heterotrophs- consume something else for food
Also called consumers
Obtain nutrients from a biotic source
The sun allows an ecosystem to be sustainable as there is always energy going into the system

6. Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs

7. Food Webs The arrow points in the direction of energy flow
Example: The grass gives it energy to the bunny
DO NOT REVERSE THE ARROWS!
Explain two potential effects of removing the deer from the ecosystem

8. Roles within a food web
Autotrophs- obtain inorganic nutrients from abiotic environment (sun, photosynthesis)
Consumers- heterotrophs that feed on other living organisms by ingestion
Saprotrophs- heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from dead organisms by external digestion
Ex: bacteria, fungi
Detritivores- heterotrophs that obtain organic nutrients from detritus by internal digestion
Ex: Earth worms

10. What are some interactions that occur in an ecosystem?