1. S. Dickinson Biology HHS
Ecology
S. Dickinson
Biology HHS

2. Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment/surroundings

3. Interactions and Interdependence
The living world is a household
Biosphere is the part of the earth in which all life exists
Interactions produce interdependence
Interdependence contributes to change

4. Levels of Organization
Species/Individual – can breed and produce fertile offspring (already have)
Population – groups of same species in same area
Community – different populations that live in an area
Ecosystem – collection of organisms and their environment
Biome – group of ecosystems with same climate
Biosphere – earth

5. Look at Figure 3-2
Can a group of rabbits and a group of field mice make up the same population in an ecosystem? Why/Why not?
No, because individuals that make up a __________ must be of the same ________.

6. Biomes
Could a biome in Brazil near the equator be the same as a biome in northern Canada? Explain.
No, because those two biomes would have different climates and different dominant communities

7. Ecological Methods Observing Experimenting Modeling
Since ecological phenomena occur over long periods of time or on large spatial scale, need modeling because difficult to study

8. Big Idea Essential Question
Matter and energy flow through living and nonliving systems
Essential Question
How do organisms at each trophic level get the nutrients and energy they need to function?

9. Energy Flow
One of the most important factors that determines the system’s capacity to sustain life

10. Producers (already have)
Sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth
Some organisms rely on the energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds
Mineral water

11. Consumers (already have)
Cannot harness energy directly from the physical environment
Need to eat other organisms for energy

12. Feeding Relationships (already have)
Energy flows from sun to heterotrophs through autotrophs
Food chains show one way flow of energy
How energy stored by producers can be passed through an ecosystem
Food webs show all feeding relationships in an ecosystem
Producers make up the first trophic level
Each consumer relies on the trophic level below it.

13. Look at Figure 3-8 How is a food web different from a food chain?
A food web contains many overlapping food chains, so it is much more complex than a single food chain

14. Ecological Pyramids
In energy pyramids, only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level
The other 90% is lost as heat

15. Symbiosis Scenarios At the lab tables you have scenarios.
It is your group’s job to sort these scenarios according to their appropriate symbiotic relationship.
When you think you have it, call me over to check you.
GOOD LUCK!

16. Cycles of Matter Matter is recycled within and between ecosystems
Matter is not used up, but transformed

17. Recycling in the Biosphere
Matter is recycled within and between ecosystems
Energy flows one way
Biological systems transform matter
Biogeochemical cycles connect biological, geological, and chemical aspects of the biosphere

18. Biogeochemical Cycles
Pass the same molecules around again and again within the biosphere
How elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed

19. Pg. 74
How can a molecule that’s swallowed by a dung beetle “combine into” – or become part of – the body tissue of a tree shrew and then an owl?

20. The tree shrew takes in the molecule when it eats the dung beetle, then an owl takes in the molecule when it eats the tree shrew.

21. Review: Water Cycle
Water moves between the ocean, atmosphere, and land through transpiration, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, seepage, and root uptake
Figure 3-11

22. Fig pg. 75
What are two ways that water can enter the atmosphere?
Evaporation and transpiration

23. What process moves water from the air to the ground?
Precipitation

24. What are two routes by which water might make its way to the ocean?
Runoff and Seepage

25. Nutrient Cycles
Every living organism needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions
Like water, nutrients are passed between organisms and the environment

26. Carbon Cycle Carbon is key ingredient of living tissue
Carbon can take on many forms in many compounds; ex. Calcium carbonate
Also a component of carbon dioxide

27. Four Processes that Move Carbon Through its Cycle
Biological processes, ex. Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, take up and release carbon and oxygen
Geochemical processes, ex. Erosion and volcanic activity, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and oceans

28. Mixed biogeochemical processes, ex
Mixed biogeochemical processes, ex. Burial and decomposition of dead organisms and their conversion under pressure into coal and petroleum, store carbon underground
Human activities, ex. Mining, cutting and burning forests, and burning fossil fuels, release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

29. Figure 3-13
Be able to “translate” diagrams pictures, labels, and arrows into complete sentences

30. Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen is required to make amino acids
Used to build proteins
Nitrogen in many forms occurs naturally in the biosphere
Nitrogen gas – 78% of earth’s atmosphere
Ammonia – nitrogen containing substance
Nitrate and nitrite ions – in wastes produced by many organisms and in dead and decaying organic matter

31. Nitrogen Fixation Bacteria convert nitrogen gas into ammonia
Live in soil and on the roots of plants called legumes

32. Other Bacteria Bacteria in general
Convert ammonia into nitrates and nitrites used by plants to make proteins
Then eaten by consumers and so on
Bacteria in general
Some cause disease
Some live inside and help with digestion
Some decompose
Some are producers

33. Denitrification Decomposers return nitrogen to soil as ammonia
Some bacteria take ammonia and use it to convert nitrates into nitrogen gas

34. Figure 3-14
Be able to “translate” diagrams pictures, labels, and arrows into complete sentences

35. Nutrition Label FYI
What types of information are given on the nutrition label?
Serving size, total number of servings in container, specific nutrients, amount of the nutrient in one serving, percentage of daily value each amount represents
What do you think a “daily value” is?
How much of a nutrient a person should take in each day
What does percentage of daily value mean?
How much daily value is in one serving of the vitamin

36. Skittles

37. TICKET OUT