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Ecology Continued Introducing … Energy Flow! Let’s take a step back. What is Ecology? • Any guesses? • Definition: The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment. Levels of Organization Organism • _____________ = one individual that is made of at least • • • • • one cell, requires energy, grows and develops, reproduces, and responds to it’s environment Species _____________ = a group of organisms that are similar enough that they can breed. Population _____________ = groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. Community = assemblages of the different _____________ populations that live together in a defined area. Ecosystem _____________ = a collection of all the organisms that live together in a particular place as well as their nonliving or physical environment. Biome _____________ = a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities. Another way to organize organisms is in an Ecological Pyramid • Definition: diagram that shows the amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food web or food chain. • Energy Pyramid: only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level. – How is energy transferred? Energy Flow Energy Pyramid Ecological Pyramids Continued • Biomass Pyramid: shows the total amount of living tissue (biotic matter) available at each trophic level. – REMEMBER: Each trophic level harvests only about one tenth of the energy from the level below, it can also only support about one tenth the amount of living tissue. Biomass Pyramid Ecological Pyramids Continued • Numbers pyramid: shows the number of species at each trophic level. Energy Flow • Energy flow through an ecosystem in one direction, • • from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (consumers). Sunlight is the main source of energy for life ___________ on Earth This energy is harnessed by ___________, which Plants are examples of autotrophs Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage All energy comes from the sun Prairie Ecosystem Energy Flow Step 1 = Autotrophs • What does autotroph mean? – Make food for self • Also known as producers • Plants are the most familiar autotrophs • Lesser known autotrophs use chemical energy to make carbohydrates – Ex. bacteria Energy Flow Step 2 = Heterotrophs • Also known as consumers • What does heterotroph mean? – Rely on other organisms for their energy and food Heterotrophs (Consumers) Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage All energy comes from the sun Prairie Ecosystem Different Categories of Heterotrophs Herbivores obtain energy by eating plants • _________ Carnivores eat animals for energy • _________ Omnivores get energy from both plants • _________ and animals • _________ Detritovores feed on the remains of plants, animals and other dead matter for energy Another Way to Categorize Heterotrophs • Primary Consumers = eat autotrophs • Secondary Consumers = eat primary consumers • Tertiary Consumers = secondary consumers • Scavengers = eat dead things • Decomposers = break down dead organic matter and release minerals back to soil • Let’s add these to our Energy Pyramid… Decomposers Bacteria, Fungus, Insects Scavengers Eagle, Coyote Secondary Consumers Primary Consumers Hawk, Badger, Eagle, Rattlesnake Prairie Dog, Bison, Mice Autotrophs (Producers) Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage All energy comes from the sun Prairie Ecosystem Trophic Relationships • What does tropic mean? – Eating/feeding • Food Chains are a series of steps in which • • organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten. Food webs show the complex interactions within an ecosystem. Each step in a food chain or web is called a trophic level. Producers make up the first step, consumers make up the higher levels. Food Chains vs. Food Webs Cycles of Matter • Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and between ecosystems. • These cycles are the Water cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorus cycle. NON-RENEWABLE resources (cannot be – These are ___________ created or destroyed) Biomagnification – What is it?
