1. Ecology Unit: The Biosphere Chapter 3

2. What is Ecology? Ecology – the study of interactions among organisms and their environment Biosphere – area of the planet in which all life exists Factors within an environment: a. Abiotic – nonliving b. Biotic - living

3. Levels of Organization Species – Individuals that can breed with one another. (ex: Mallard duck) Population – All the individuals of the same species in a given area. (ex: all the ducks in a pond)

4. Community - all the populations that live together in an area What populations can you see in this picture?

5. Ecosystem – the abiotic and biotic factors in a given area. Examples of ecosystems: (they don’t have to be huge!) Rotting Log Koi Pond Mountain A hillside Clump of Dirt A field A maple tree A puddle

6. Biome – a large area that has a particular climate, and particular species of plants and animals that live there.

7. Biosphere - the part of the earth that supports life; Contains all biomes.

8. Section 3-1 Figure 3-2 Ecological Levels of Organization Ecological Levels of Organization

9. Energy Flow Section 3-2

10. Energy Flow and Producers Sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth Autotrophs – organisms that can use sunlight or chemicals to make their own food. Ex: plants, bacteria, algae *also known as: PRODUCERS The two ways to manufacture food internally: 1. Photosynthesis 2. Chemosynthesis

11. Consumers Heterotrophs - Organisms that rely on other organisms to get their food. **a.k.a CONSUMERS Types of Consumers: –Herbivores –Carnivores –Omnivores –Detritivores/Decomposers What do these consumers eat?

13. Feeding Relationships Food Chains – simple chain of organisms transferring energy by eating and being eaten. Trophic Levels – a step in a food chain or web Food Webs – complex network of many food chains in an ecosystem.

14. Why does it matter which way the arrows go?

16. Ecological Pyramids A pyramid diagram showing the relative amounts of energy at each trophic level in a food chain. Three Types: 1. Energy pyramid – amount of energy per trophic level. 2. Biomass pyramid – amount of living organic matter per trophic level. 3. Pyramid of numbers – Number of organisms per trophic level.

17. How much energy is available at each level? Energy Pyramid 10%! Most of the lost energy is in form of HEAT! Q: If primary consumers have 870 kcal of energy available, how much will the secondary consumers?

18. Biomass Pyramid 2 different Pyramid of Numbers