1. The Biosphere – Part 1
Biology 1

2. What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
The biosphere contains combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists (includes land, water and air/atmosphere)

3. Levels of Organization

4. Energy Flow The sun is the main source of energy for our planet
The sun makes life possible for humans, animals, plants, fungi, bacteria and other single cell organisms

5. Energy Flow Energy is the ability to do work
All living things need energy to survive
Energy transfer is never 100% efficient
Energy is lost through heat
More energy is lost as energy is transferred through the system

6. Energy Flow Energy flows through the ecosystem by changing forms
Two main forms of energy are chemical and mechanical
Chemical energy is stored energy in bonds and the energy is released when the bonds are broken
Mechanical energy is energy of movement

7. Producers Producers are organisms capable of creating their own energy
The process is called photosynthesis
Plants are generally our main source of producers
Plants use the sun's energy to create sugars

8. Producers
Chemosynthesis occurs when organisms (usually bacteria) use chemical energy to produce energy as opposed to the sun

9. Primary Consumers Primary consumers eat plants
If a primary consumer eats only plant they are called herbivores
When a primary consumer eats plants, energy is transferred from the plant to the consuming organism
Energy is transferred in the form of chemical energy
Energy is lost through heat

10. Secondary Consumers
Secondary consumers eat organisms that are primary consumers
If an animal only eats other animals they are called carnivores
The total amount of energy is less with the transfer from primary to secondary consumer
That means there is less energy available to secondary consumers and even less to tertiary consumers (secondary consumers that eat other secondary consumers)

11. Decomposers and Detritivores
Decomposers – an organism that breaks down nutrients in the environment
Examples: bacteria and fungi
Detritivores feed on the remains of dead plant and animal material
Examples: earthworms, snails, crabs

12. Food Chains
A food chain shows the transfer of energy from one organisms to another

13. Energy Pyramid A energy pyramid shows how much energy is transferred
In an energy pyramid there are more organisms at the bottom and fewer at the top
Each level is called a trophic level

14. Food Webs
Food webs show how energy is transferred in an ecosystem

15. Food Webs
The greater number of organisms in a food web the more stable the environment is
Usually, the warmer the environment the greater number of plants and animals and the cooler, the less number

16. Predator-Prey Relationships
Predators
Are usually at the top of the food chain
The bigger the predator the greater the chance are becoming endangered
There is less energy available at the top of the food chain

17. Predator-Prey Relationships
Are eaten by the predators
The predator-prey relationship will cycle

18. Other Relationships
Symbiotic relationship: two organisms living together as one organism
Mutualistic: relationship between two species where both benefit

19. Other Relationships
Commensalism: relationship where one species benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitic: relationship where one species benefits and the other is harmed

20. Water Cycle
Like energy water is transferred throughout the environment
Water can pass through several forms in the water cycle
Infiltration: when water is absorbed by the soil
Groundwater: water that is located underground

21. Water Cycle Water can pass through several forms in the water cycle
Runoff: water that does not absorb into the ground, but runs off into stream, lakes and reservoirs
Surface water: water that located on the surface (streams, lakes, ponds, oceans, etc)
Evaporation: surface water that is heated by the sun and changes from a liquid to a gas and escapes into the atmosphere

22. Water Cycle Water can pass through several forms in the water cycle
Transpiration: water that is evaporated from plants
Water is constantly changing forms in the environment

23. Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the molecule of life – everything living contains carbon molecules
Plants use carbon molecules during photosynthesis to create carbohydrates (or energy)

24. Carbon Cycle
When primary consumers eat plants or secondary consumers eat other organisms the carbon is transferred
When organisms die (plants or animals) the carbon is broken down and used again

25. Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen in the form of NH4+ or NO3- is used by plants to grow
Plants use these molecules during the growing season and often times fertilizer needs to added to soil because it gets used up before it can be replaced naturally
Lightening, bacteria and other processes help to put nitrogen into the soil