Download Ecosystem

Ecology
What is the biosphere and how is
it organized?
Biosphere
Area of the earth
where life exists;
extends from ocean
depths to a few
kilometers above
land
Biomes
An extensive area of similar climate and
vegetation; there are six terrestrial biomes
and three aquatic biomes.
Ecosystem
A physically distinct,
self-supporting unit of
interacting organisms
and their
environment.
Ex. Forest or pond
Ecosystem
Four important
processes:
1. Production of
energy (usually
from sunlight)
2. Energy transfer
3. Decomposition
4. Reuse of
nutrients
Ecosystem
Includes biotic and
abiotic factors
Biotic - living things
Abiotic - nonliving
things
Ex. Temperature, light,
nutrients
Fill It In …
Simple picture of an ecosystem (label a
biotic and abiotic factor):
Communities & Populations
Communities - all the ecosystems
interacting biotic factors
Communities may be broken down into
smaller units called populations
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Simple picture of a community:
Communities & Populations
Populations - a group
of individuals that
belong to the same
species and occupy
the same area and
share common
resources
Fill It In …
Simple picture of a population:
Communities & Populations
Each population has
a specific niche,
which means total
way of life.
The niche includes
habitat, place in
food web,
competition,
interrelationships,
and resource needs
(temperature, water)
Communities & Populations
A community may
have 1000’s of
populations (tropical
rainforest) or
relatively few
(tundra)
Check Yourself!
1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from
highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level
(niche).
2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and
a community?
3. What four essential processes would be found in
an ecosystem?
a.
c.
b.
d.
Check Yourself!
1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from
highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level
(niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM
-> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL
(NICHE)
2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and
a community?
3. What four essential processes would be found in
an ecosystem?
a.
c.
b.
d.
Check Yourself!
1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from
highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level
(niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM
-> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL
(NICHE)
2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and
a community? ECOSYSTEM = BIOTIC & ABIOTIC
FACTORS (LIVING & NONLIVING); COMMUNITY
= BIOTIC FACTORS ONLY (ONLY LIVING)
3. What four essential processes would be found in
an ecosystem?
a.
c.
b.
d.
Check Yourself!
1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from
highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level
(niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM
-> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL
(NICHE)
2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and
a community? ECOSYSTEM = BIOTIC & ABIOTIC
FACTORS (LIVING & NONLIVING); COMMUNITY
= BIOTIC FACTORS ONLY (ONLY LIVING)
3. What four essential processes would be found in
an ecosystem?
a. ENERGY PRODUCTION c. DECOMPOSITION
b. ENERGY TRANSFER
d. REUSE OF
NUTRIENTS
SKIP TO PAGE 200
How do living things interact
in a community?
Competition - a
struggle for
resources among
organisms.
Ex. Nesting space
for birds
Fill It In …
Picture of competition:
How do living things interact
in a community?
Predation
Predators are
organisms that
consume other
organisms
Ex. Zebra eating grass
(?)
Prey are organisms
that are being
consumed.
Ex. Earthworm being
eaten by a bird
How do living things interact
in a community?
Symbiosis - two
organisms of different
species living together
in a close, permanent
relationship; 3 types
3 types of symbiosis:
Mutualism - two
organisms benefit
each other (+,+)
Ex. Termite and
protozoan
Ex. Lichen - an alga
and a fungus
3 types of symbiosis:
Parasitism - one
organism benefits
and the other is
harmed (+,-)
Ex. Tapeworm and
human
Ex. Mistletoe and
tree
3 types of symbiosis:
Commensalism one organism
benefits and the
other is unaffected
(+,0)
Ex. Clownfish and
sea anemone
Ex. Whale and
barnacles
Fill It In …
Fill in the correct type of symbiosis for the
following symbols:
+,+ __________________
+,- ___________________
Check Yourself!
1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a
“struggle for resources”?
2. In your backyard, you observe a snake
entering your birdfeeder. Who is the
predator and who is the prey?
3. What is symbiosis?
Check Yourself!
1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a
“struggle for resources”?
COMPETITION
2. In your backyard, you observe a snake
entering your birdfeeder. Who is the
predator and who is the prey?
3. What is symbiosis?
Check Yourself!
1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a
“struggle for resources”?
COMPETITION
2. In your backyard, you observe a snake
entering your birdfeeder. Who is the
predator and who is the prey?
PREDATOR = SNAKE; PREY = BIRD
3. What is symbiosis?
Check Yourself!
1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a
“struggle for resources”?
COMPETITION
2. In your backyard, you observe a snake
entering your birdfeeder. Who is the
predator and who is the prey?
PREDATOR = SNAKE; PREY = BIRD
3. What is symbiosis? CLOSE, PERMANENT
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO
ORGANISMS