1. The study of the interactions among organisms and their interrelationships with the physical environment.

2. The Biosphere The region of the earth that supports life. The biosphere includes the soil below the earth’s surface and the atmosphere above it that support various life forms.

3. Abiotic Factors are… pH …the NON LIVING parts of an ecosystem. * Non living does not mean dead! Abotic factors were never alive to start with!

4. Biotic Factors are…. …all of the living parts of an ecosystem. Fungus!

5. Ecosystems are self-sustaining if: 1.There is a constant supply of energy. 2.There is a cycling of materials. 3.There are organisms to cycle the necessary materials.

6. Ecosystem Community Population All of the living and non-living factors in an area. All of the biotic (or living) factors in an area. All of ONE species in an area.

7. Limiting Factors Any factors that limit the size of a population. Amount of Water Space Available Availability of Food Temperature Availablity of Mates ETC.

8. Competition Limited natural resources results in competition. Why is that actually a good and healthy thing for an ecosystem?

9. Habitat v. Niche Habitat is where an organism lives. The earthworm live in the soil! Niche is an organism’s job (or role) in the ecosystem. The worm aerates the soil and provides food for birds.

10. Autotrophic Organisms Autotrophs can synthesize organic compounds from inorganic raw materials. (translation: they undergo photosynthesis to make their own food) Less common, but way cool are organisms that undergo chemosynthesis. What does that mean?

11. Heterotrophic Organisms Heterotrophs must obtain their nutrients from their environment. This snake ate a full grown sheep!

12. Saprophytes Saprophytes are decomposers that recycle nutrients in dead organic matter back to the soil for the plants to reabsorb. A dung beatle! (Dung is poop incase you didn’t know that was funny!) Yummy!

13. Food Chain v. Web

15. Pyramids... …of another kind!

16. Trophic Levels Pyramid Producers This shows what organisms eat. Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumer

17. Biomass Pyramid This pyramid shows the actual mass of each trophic level. 500,000 pounds of biomass Note! These numbers are pulled out of my hindparts…not completely accurate!! 50,000 pounds of biomass 500 pounds of biomass DECREASING BIOMASS

18. Energy Pyramid This pyramid shows how much of the original energy from the sun is available at each level. Point to ponder…Does the mouse get fat so the snake has a juicey meal? If not, why does the mouse eat so much? 100% of the sun’s energy goes to the producers. 10% is passed to the primary consumers. 1% is passed to the secondary consumer. This is called the “Rule of 10%”. Ten percent of the energy gained is passed along to the next trophic level.

19. Habitat: The environment an organism lives in. Niche: An organisms role in the ecosystem. Like eating Krabby Patties Like Bikini Bottom Real Example: a worm aerates the soil, provides food for some birds, eats some microbes, etc. Real Example: Javalinas habitat is in the hot, arid desert.

20. Symbiotic Relationships Any nutritional relationship between two organisms in which at least ONE organism benefits.

21. Commensalism (+,0) One organism benefits, the other is not affected. Example: Sharks and Pilot Fish. The Pilot Fish stay near the sharks and feed off their scraps. The shark is unaffected.

22. Mutualism (+,+) Both organisms benefit. Example: The Oxpecker and the Rhino. The Oxpecker gets a free meal by eating the insects off of the Rhino and the Rhino get rid of the parasites that feed on it!

23. Parasitism (+,-) One organism benefits and the other is harmed. Example: A tick biting a dog. The tick benefits from the nutrients in the dogs blood, but the dog is harmed (irritation, disease).

24. Predator/Prey (+, ) One organism benefits, the other is DEAD! Ouch. Pretty much self explanatory!

26. Succession The change in an ecosystem over time. Pioneer Organisms Climax Community As flora succession proceeds, how is fauna succession impacted? Where do I fit in?

27. Water Cycle

29. Carbon/Oxygen Cycle

31. Nitrogen Cycle

32. Nitrates: (NO3) compounds used to make proteins Free Nitrogen: Nitrogen in the atmosphere Legumes: a type of plant that has “nitrogen fixing bacteria” in nodules on their roots 1. Free Nitrogen 2. Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria 3. Nitrates 4. Plant Proteins 5. Animals eat plants, make animal proteins 6. Plants & Animals die 7. Decomposer Bacteria: convert nitrogenous waste into ammonia 8. Nitrifying Bacteria: convert ammonia into Nitrates 9. AND..Denitrifying Bacteria convert Nitrates into Free Nitrogen!

34. Human Population Growth

35. Thanks for listening! Isn’t bio grand??