1. Introduction to Ecology
Ms. Szczepanski 2014

2. Intro to Ecology
Ecology is the study of the relationship between organisms** and their physical surroundings.
The biosphere** is portion of the planet were all living things live.

3. 2 parts of the biosphere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1pp_7-yTN4
Abiotic – non-living parts of the biosphere. (examples: water, rocks, air)
Biotic – used to describe the living parts of the biosphere. (examples: plants, animals)

4. Energy Flow
The sun is the main source of energy for all life on Earth.
Some organisms rely on energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds.

5. Producers Producers make their own food.
Autotrophs (producers) use energy directly from the sun for energy.
Autotrophs use photosynthesis to capture energy from the sun.
Convert energy from the sun into food.

6. Consumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain their energy.
Carnivores – eat only other animals.
Omnivores – eat plants and animals
Herbivores – eat only plants
Decomposers – break down organic matter.

7. Feeding Relationships
Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction: from the producers to the various levels of consumers

8. Food Chains
Food Chains – a flow of energy from one organism to another.

9. Food Webs
Food web – a group of interconnected food chains.

10. Ecological Pyramids
Ecological pyramid – a diagram that shows the amount of energy or matter and each trophic level in a food web or food chain.
Energy pyramids – only show the amount of energy available.

11. Trophic Levels Primary producer– lowest trophic level (plants)
Primary consumer – 2nd trophic level (herbivores)
Secondary consumer – 3rd trophic level (omnivores and/or carnivores)
Tertiary consumer/apex consumer – 4th trophic level (omnivores/carnivores)
Each level depends on the one below it for energy.

13. Ecological Pyramids Energy Biomass Numbers
Only about 10 percent of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.
Biomass
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called biomass.
Numbers
Ecological pyramids can also be based on the numbers of individual organisms at each trophic level.

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