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The Biosphere What is Ecology? & Energy Flow Symbiosis • Two organisms are closely associated with each other – At least one receives benefits from the relationship – Helps to gain a competitive advantage • Three types of symbiosis Symbiosis • Mutualism – Both organisms benefit – Both provide an advantage • Ex: Anemone and Clownfish – Clownfish is protected by the stinging cells of the anemone – Anemone gets algae cleaned off it by the clown fish and absorbs nutrients from the clown fish's waste Symbiosis • Commensalism – One organism benefits, the other is not affected • Ex: Whale and Barnacles – The whale provides a home for the barnacles, and the barnacles do not bother the whale. Symbiosis • Parasitism – One organism benefits, the other is harmed • Ex: Tapeworm and human – Tapeworm feeds on the digested materials in the intestines, takes nutrition away from the host • Host: what the parasite lives off of Energy Flow - Producers • Autotrophs = plants, some algae and certain bacteria capture energy and use that energy to produce their own food. – Plants = the primary autotrophs found on the land. – Algae = The primary autotrophs found in aquatic (water) environments such as oceans, lakes, ponds. – Cyanobacteria = photosynthetic bacteria found in certain wet environments. • Autotrophs are producers! Energy Flow - Producers • Photosynthesis = process of using energy in sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. Energy Flow - Producers • Chemosynthesis = When organisms use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates. • Performed by many types of bacteria – Methanogens produce methane. – Halophiles live in high salt water concentrations. – Thermoacidophiles live in acidic, sulfur rich, high temperature environments. Energy Flow - Consumers • Heterotrophs = organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply. • Heterotrophs are consumers! Energy Flow - Consumers • Herbivores = An organism that obtains energy by eating plants. • Carnivores = An organism that obtains energy by eating other animals. • Omnivores = An organism that eats both plants and animals. Energy Flow - Consumers • Detritivores = Organisms that feed off dead and decaying animal or plant material (detritus). – Examples: earthworms, termites, slugs, snails, maggots. • Decomposers = Breaks down organic matter into inorganic matter. – Examples: fungi and bacteria. Feeding relationships - Food Chains • Food chain = A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. Feeding relationships - Food Webs • Food web = links all of the food chains in an ecosystem together. Feeding relationships - Food Webs • Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level. – 1st trophic level = producers – 2nd, 3rd, 4th… trophic levels = Consumers Ecological Pyramids • Ecological pyramid = diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. – Energy pyramid – Biomass pyramid – Pyramid of numbers Ecological Pyramids = Energy Pyramid • Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level. • Energy is used for respiration, movement, reproduction. • Some energy is lost as heat. Ecological Pyramids = Biomass • Biomass = Total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. • Represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level. • Expressed in grams.