1. Chapter 3: The Biosphere
What is ecology?

2. Ecology
Ecology – the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and environment (Haeckel, 1866)
Interdependence – dependence between or among individuals or things

3. Levels of Organization
Biosphere – largest level, our entire planet - portions of planet where life exists (land, H2O, air)
8 km above to 11 km below

4. Levels of Organization
Biome – group of ecosystems that share similar climates (temp. and rainfall)

5. Levels of Organization
Ecosystem – collection of all organisms in a particular place together with the abiotic (physical) environment.

6. Levels of Organization
Community – groups of different populations that live together in a defined area.
Population – groups of individuals of same species that live in same area.
Species – group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

7. Levels of Organization

9. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Biotic – living part of the environment
Plants, Animals ,Mold, Fungi, Bacteria, Protist
Abiotic – Nonliving part of the environment
Sunlight, heat, soil, wind, water, temperature
Environment – all conditions or factors surrounding an organism; includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

10. 3.2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers
At the core of every organism’s interaction with the environment is its need for ENERGY to power life’s processes

11. Producers (Autotrophs)
Can trap energy to produce food
Use solar or chemical energy to produce food by assembling inorganic compounds into complex organic molecules
Plants
Some protist
Some bacteria

12. Primary Producers
Photosynthesis – captures solar energy and converts it to chemical energy
sunlight
6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
Chemosynthesis – Chemical energy used to produce carbohydrates
bacteria in harsh environments
deep sea volcanic vents or hot springs

13. Consumers (Heterotrophs)
Can’t trap energy directly; must acquire it from other organisms
Herbivores – eat plant leaves, roots, seed or fruits (cow, catepillar, deer)
Carnivores – eat other animals (snakes, dogs cats)
Omnivores – eat both plant and animal (human, bear, pigs)

14. Consumers (Heterotrophs)
Scavengers – consume carcasses of other animals (vultures and hyenas)
Decomposers – break down organic matter (bacteria and fungi) – produces detritus (small pieces of dead and decaying plant and animal remains)
Detritivores – feed on detritus (earthworms and many types of snails, mites, shrimp, crabs)

15. 3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Chains
Food Webs
How Ecosystems Work (3:23)

16. Food Chains and Food Webs
SUN Autotrophs Heterotroph
Food Chain – energy trapped by producers passed on when organisms eat and are eaten
Food Web – relationship more complex than a chain

17. Food Web Activity

18. Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids
Trophic Levels – each step in a food chain/web
Ex: producers, then consumers
Ecological Pyramids – shows relative amount of energy at each trophic level of a food chain or web.
Biomass – total amount of living tissue within a trophic level

19. 3.4 Cycles of Matter
*Recycle Matter*

20. Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis – uses CO2 from atmosphere
Happens in the CHLOROPLAST
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
Respiration – returns CO2 to atmosphere
Happens in the MITOCHONDRIA
C6H12O6 + O2 H2O + CO2

21. Carbon Cycle

22. The Carbon Cycle
Volcanoes, respiration, fossil fuels, and decomposition add CO2 to atmosphere.
Organic carbon is locked deep beneath the Earth’s surface – high pressure converts layers of sediment (dead organisms and waste) to carbon-rich fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels are extracted and processed to make gasoline and oil –burning fossil fuels release CO2
Plants take CO2 and make carbohydrates - glucose (C6H12O6).
Plants are eaten by animals and carbohydrates are passed through the food chain.
As the animal breathes and eventually dies and decomposes, CO2 is returned to the atmosphere.

23. Carbon Cycling

24. Water Cycle

25. Water Cycle Water enters the atmosphere by:
Evaporation – water changes from a liquid to a gas
Transpiration – Evaporation through leaves
As water rises it cools condenses into tiny droplets that form clouds.
Droplets returns to Earth as precipitation.
Water enters the rivers, ground water, ocean or plant roots to restart cycle.

26. Nitrogen Cycle

27. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of atmosphere
Nitrogen Fixation: bacteria take nitrogen gases and turn it into ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
Plants and animals use nitrate to make amino acids.
Animal dies and decomposes returning nitrates to the soil.
Denitrification: other bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

29. The Phosphorus Cycle

30. The Phosphorus Cycle Phosphate – parts of DNA/RNA
Found in rocks that are worn down
Washes into rivers/streams/oceans for marine organisms
Taken in by plants and turned into organic compounds

31. Nutrient Limitation
Primary Productivity – the rate at which organic molecules are created by producers
If nutrients are in short supply, they are called LIMITING NUTRIENTS
Ex: Nitrogen is often limiting in water; if there is suddenly as input of N (fertilizer runoff), organisms can grow rapidly (Algal Bloom)

32. Chapter 4: Ecosystems and Communities
4-1 The Role of Climate

33. Climate Climate: long-term, over entire biome area Greenhouse Effect
Weather: short-term, local
Greenhouse Effect
It’s a good thing!
CO2, H2O, CH4 all trap heat and hold it next to the surface
Keeps the temperature suitable for life
Video Clip 1
Video Clip 2

34. The Effect of Latitude on Climate
Earth has 3 climate zones due to unequal heating because of the angle of the sun
Polar
Temperate
Tropical

35. Heat Transport Ocean and wind currents help produce Earth’s climates
They are affected by land masses and Earth’s rotation

36. 4-2 Niches and Community Interactions

37. The Niche
Niche – where and how something lives; the way the species obtains what it needs to survive and reproduce
Habitat is the general place where an organism live (address)
Niche is the organism’s how it interacts with biotic and abiotic factors (occupation)

38. Community Interactions
Competition
Organisms compete for resources
Ex: Food, Mates, Shelter
Competitive Exclusion Principle – no 2 organisms occupy exactly the same niche in exactly the same habitat at exactly the same time.
winner and a loser
Predation
One organism (predator) captures and feeds on another (prey).

39. Community Interactions
Symbiosis
Mutualism – both species benefit
Ex: Flowers & insects, Clown Fish & Sea Anemone, Egrets & Alligators
Commensalism – one benefits, the other is not helped nor harmed
Ex: Barnacle (gets food) & Whale
Parasitism – one benefits, other is harmed
Ex: tapeworms, fleas, ticks, lice

40. Examples of Symbiosis 5 min video Bed bugs Grey shark with pilot fish
Aphid – destructive insect pests
Grey shark with pilot fish

41. 4.3 Ecological Succession
Ecological Succession - change in an ecosystem
Primary Succession – no remnants of an older community (volcanic eruption, glacier erosion = reveals bare rock)
1st species to colonize barren areas are called “pioneer species”
Ex: algae, fungi, lichens - composite, symbiotic organisms
Secondary Succession – disturbance affects the community - soil exists (flood, hurricane, wild fires, clear cutting, plowed for farming)
Climax Community – fairly stable, dominant community established after succession.

43. Intro to Biomes
4-4 Land Biomes

44. Biomes based on Precipitation and Temperature

45. Videos on Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes: Deserts, Grasslands, and Forests (3:39)
Savanahs (2:36)