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UNIT II
Chapter 3
The Biosphere
I. What is Ecology
A. Interactions and Interdependence
1. Ecology -scientific study of interactions
among organisms and between organisms and
their environment or surroundings.
2. 1866- German Biologist Ernst Haeckel
coined the term Ecology
• (from Greek oikos, meaning “house”)
1.  Biosphere- where all life exists, land; water;
air, etc.
a. 8 kilometers above Earth’s surface,
b. 8 kilometers below surface of the ocean
2. Interdependence of life on Earth contributes to
an ever-changing, dynamic biosphere
2). Living things affected by both physical
environment and by other living things
a). Abiotic factors- nonliving parts of an
organisms environment (air currents,
temperature, light, soil, etc.)
b). Biotic factors- all living organisms that inhabit
an environment
B.  Levels of Organization
1. ecologists ask questions about events and
organisms that range in complexity from a
single individual to the entire living planet.
2. Species- group of organisms so similar to
one another that they can breed and
produce fertile offspring
3. Populations- group of individuals that
belong to same species and live in the same
area
4. Communities- group of different
populations that live together in a defined
area.
5. Ecosystem- collection of all the organisms
that live in a particular place, together with
nonliving, or physical, environment.
6. Biomes- geographical region containing
several ecosystems that have same climate
and dominant communities (climax
communities)
7. Biosphere- portion of the planet where
life exists.
Ecological Methods
•  1. Regardless of the tools, modern
ecological research is conducted according
to 3 basic approaches
•  Observing
•  Experimenting
•  Modeling. All these approaches rely on the
application of scientific methods to guide ecological
inquiry.
1.  Observing- what species, what numbers,
and other complex interactions
2.  Experimenting- testing hypotheses natural
settings or lab (natural simulations)
3.  Modeling- explain and comprehend
complex phenomena ie.. Global
warming… data gathered collectively from
observations and testing.
II.  Energy Flow- 3-2
1.  Sunlight is the main energy source for life on earth
a. Of all sun reaching Earths surface… 0.1% is
used by living things
b. ½ of 0.1% is used for photosynthesis
purpose and the other ½ is used for
producing ATP (energy compound)
.
2. Some organisms rely on the energy stored inside
inorganic chemical compounds
3. Autotrophs/Producers- have the ability to capture
energy from sunlight or chemicals to make food
(usually glucose)
a. Only plants, some algae, certain bacteria
b.  Plants algae and bacteria have chlorophyll
c.  Chemical synthesis also occurs in the deep
ocean were light is unavailable
4.  Energy from the sun- Photosynthesis
a. use light (solar) energy to power chemical
reactions that convert C02 and H2O into O2 and
energy rich carbohydrates (sugars and
starches)
b. CO2 + H2O ---- O2 + C6H12O6
c. Principal autotrophs
* Land-Plants
* Freshwater and upper layers of
ocean- algae
* Salt marshes and tidal flatscynobacteria (cyno-blue)
Life without light- chemosynthesis- use chemical
energy to produce carbohydrates
a. Some autotrophs produce food in the absence of light
b. Convert H2S into chemical energy
c. Principal chemosynthesis
1). Performed by several
types of bacteria
2Tidal marshes in remote
places: volcanic vents,
deep-ocean vents, hot
springs
A.  Consumers/Heterotrophs
1. organisms that rely on other organisms for their
energy and food supply
a. Herbivores- obtain
energy by eating only
plants
b. Carnivores- eat animals
(snakes, dogs, owls, etc.)
c. Omnivores- eat both
plants and animals (e.g.
humans)
d. Detritivores- animal and
plant remains
Dead material = detritus
Decomposers…bacteria and fungi
3. Feeding Relationships
a. Energy flows through ecosystem in one
direction (from sun or inorganic compounds to
autotrophs (producers) and then to various
heterotrophs (consumers)
1). Food chains- series of steps in which
organisms transfer energy by eating and
being eaten
1). Food Web- feeding
relationship among
the various
organisms in an
ecosystem from a
network of complex
interactions.
2).Trophic levelseach step in food
chain or web
a. Diagram
Producers make
up first level,
then consumers
D. Ecological pyramids
1. Ecological pyramids- diagram that shows the
relative amounts of energy or matter contained
within each trophic level in a food chain or web.
2. Energy pyramid- only part of
the energy that is passed onto
each trophic level
a. As a general rule only
about 10% of the energy that
is available within a trophic
level is available to organisms
at the next trophic level. The
rest is lost as heat into the
environment.
b.  The more steps that exist between a
producer and a top level consumer in an
ecosystem, the less energy that remains
from the original amount captured.
c.  1/10th solar energy captured by grasses
ends in stored in cow’s tissues. 1/10th of
the cows stored energy is transferred to
humans etc…
3. Biomass pyramid- amount of living tissue within a
given trophic level.
a.  Expressed in grams of organic matter/unit area
b.  Represents the amount of potential food available
for each trophic level in an ecosystem.
(biomass- grams of organic matter per unit area)
c.  Pyramid of numbers- expresses number of
individual organisms at each trophic level. Doesn’t
always take on a traditional pyramid shape
because of the size of organisms contributing to
any one category
III. Cycles of Matter- unlike energy, matter is
recycled within and between ecosystems
A. Matter is recycled within and
between ecosystems; it is
not used up but transformed
B. Matter and nutrients move
by way of biogeochemical
cycles.
1. The Water Cycle
a. precipitation- movement of water in the form of
rain, sleet , or snow from the atmosphere to the earth
b. evaporation- movement of water in the form of
vapor from the earth to the atmosphere
c. transpiration- movement of water in the form of
vapor from plants to the atmosphere
d. runoff- movement of water along the surface of
the ground
e. seepage- movement of water into the soil
2. Nutrient cycles- cycling of nutrients (minerals and
other chemicals) that sustain life.
a. Nutrients are frequently in short supply
b. Nutrient cycling keeps many chemicals from
reaching toxic concentrations
c. Three main nutrient cycles
1). Carbon cycle a. key ingredient in all living things.
b. Less than 1% actively circulates
c. Created by biological processesphotosynthesis, respiration, decomposition and
burning of fossil fuels.
Geochemical processes- release CO2 by
volcanoes
Mixed biogeochemical- burial of carbon-rich
remains and conversions into coal and fossil
fuels by pressure of overlying earth
Human activity- mining, burning of fossil fuels,
cutting down/burning forests
2). Nitrogen cycle- a. all organisms require nitrogen
to make amino acids (which are used to make
proteins)
b. Makes up 78% atmosphere
c. Ammonia, nitrate ions, and nitrite ions are found
in waste products
d. Certain bacteria that live in the soil and on roots
covert N 2 into NH 3 thru the process called nitrogen
fixation.
e. Decomposers return nitrogen to the soil as
ammonia when organisms die
f. Bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas in a
process called denitrification, which releases it into
the atmosphere
3). Phosphorus cycle- essential because forms part
of ATP molecule needed by all living things
a). Important part of DNA and
RNA
b). Does not enter the
atmosphere; remains in
rock, minerals, & ocean
sediment until released thru
weathering and erosion.
4. Nutrient limitation
a. Primary productivity is the rate at which
produces create matter
b. Limiting nutrient is scarce or
cycles slowly; limits the growth
of organisms in an ecosystem
Extensive bloom of green algae
covers the shoreline of Tule Lake
in California
Chapter 3
The Biosphere
The branch of biology dealing with interactions
among organisms and between organisms and their
environment is called
a.
economy.
b.
modeling.
c.
recycling.
d.
ecology.
The branch of biology dealing with interactions
among organisms and between organisms and their
environment is called
a.
economy.
b.
modeling.
c.
recycling.
d.
ecology.
The part of Earth in which all living things exist is
called the
a.
biome.
b.
community.
c.
ecosystem.
d.
biosphere.
The part of Earth in which all living things exist is
called the
a.
biome.
b.
community.
c.
ecosystem.
d.
biosphere.
All of the members of a particular species that live in
one area are called a(an)
a.
biome.
b.
population.
c.
community.
d.
ecosystem.
All of the members of a particular species that live in
one area are called a(an)
a.
biome.
b.
population.
c.
community.
d.
ecosystem.
Green plants are
a.
producers.
b.
consumers.
c.
herbivores.
d.
omnivores.
Green plants are
a.
producers.
b.
consumers.
c.
herbivores.
d.
omnivores.
What is the original source of almost all the energy in
most ecosystems?
a.
carbohydrates
b.
sunlight
c.
water
d.
carbon
What is the original source of almost all the energy in
most ecosystems?
a.
carbohydrates
b.
sunlight
c.
water
d.
carbon
The algae at the beginning of the food chain in
Figure 3-1 are
a.
consumers.
b.
decomposers.
c.
producers.
d.
heterotrophs.
The algae at the beginning of the food chain in
Figure 3-1 are
a.
consumers.
b.
decomposers.
c.
producers.
d.
heterotrophs.
An organism that produces its own food supply from
inorganic compounds is called a(an)
a.
heterotroph.
b.
consumer.
c.
detritivore.
d.
autotroph.
An organism that produces its own food supply from
inorganic compounds is called a(an)
a.
heterotroph.
b.
consumer.
c.
detritivore.
d.
autotroph.
Which of the following organisms does NOT require
sunlight to live?
a.
chemosynthetic bacteria
b.
algae
c.
trees
d.
photosynthetic bacteria
Which of the following organisms does NOT require
sunlight to live?
a.
chemosynthetic bacteria
b.
algae
c.
trees
d.
photosynthetic bacteria
An organism that cannot make its own food is called
a(an)
a.
heterotroph.
b.
chemotroph.
c.
autotroph.
d.
producer.
An organism that cannot make its own food is called
a(an)
a.
heterotroph.
b.
chemotroph.
c.
autotroph.
d.
producer.
In which way are green plants in a sunny mountain
meadow and sulfur bacteria in a deep-sea volcanic
vent alike?
a.
They both use photosynthesis to make their
own food.
b.
They both produce carbohydrates and oxygen
c.
They both use chemosynthesis to produce
their own food.
d.
They both produce carbon and hydrogen.
In which way are green plants in a sunny mountain
meadow and sulfur bacteria in a deep-sea volcanic
vent alike?
a.
They both use photosynthesis to make their
own food.
b.
They both produce carbohydrates and
oxygen
c.
They both use chemosynthesis to produce
their own food.
d.
They both produce carbon and hydrogen.
Organisms that break down and feed on wastes and
dead organisms are called
a.
decomposers.
b.
omnivores.
c.
autotrophs.
d.
producers.
Organisms that break down and feed on wastes and
dead organisms are called
a.
decomposers.
b.
omnivores.
c.
autotrophs.
d.
producers.
What is an organism that feeds only on plants
called?
a.
carnivore
b.
herbivore
c.
omnivore
d.
detritivore
What is an organism that feeds only on plants
called?
a.
carnivore
b.
herbivore
c.
omnivore
d.
detritivore
All the interconnected feeding relationships in an
ecosystem make up a food
a.
interaction.
b.
chain.
c.
network.
d.
web.
All the interconnected feeding relationships in an
ecosystem make up a food
a.
interaction.
b.
chain.
c.
network.
d.
web.
The total amount of tissue of all the organisms in a
food chain is called the
a.
organic mass.
b.
trophic mass.
c.
energy mass.
d.
biomass.
The total amount of tissue of all the organisms in a
food chain is called the
a.
organic mass.
b.
trophic mass.
c.
energy mass.
d.
biomass.
What is an ecological model of the relationships that
form a network of complex interactions among
organisms in a community from producers to
decomposers?
a.
food web
b.
an ecosystem
c.
food chain
d.
a population
What is an ecological model of the relationships that
form a network of complex interactions among
organisms in a community from producers to
decomposers?
a.
food web
b.
an ecosystem
c.
food chain
d.
a population
What animals eat both producers and consumers?
a.
herbivores
b.
omnivores
c.
chemotrophs
d.
autotrophs
What animals eat both producers and consumers?
a.
herbivores
b.
omnivores
c.
chemotrophs
d.
autotrophs
What is the term for each step in the transfer of
energy and matter within a biological community?
a.
energy path
b.
food web
c.
trophic level
d.
food pyramid
What is the term for each step in the transfer of
energy and matter within a biological community?
a.
energy path
b.
food web
c.
trophic level
d.
food pyramid
A bird stalks, kills, and then eats an insect. Based on
its behavior, which ecological terms describe the
bird?
a.
herbivore, decomposer
b.
producer, heterotroph
c.
carnivore, consumer
d.
autotroph, herbivore
A bird stalks, kills, and then eats an insect. Based on
its behavior, which ecological terms describe the
bird?
a.
herbivore, decomposer
b.
producer, heterotroph
c.
carnivore, consumer
d.
autotroph, herbivore
A snake that eats a frog that has eaten an insect that
fed on a plant is a
a.
first-level producer.
b.
first-level consumer.
c.
second-level producer.
d.
third-level consumer.
A snake that eats a frog that has eaten an insect that
fed on a plant is a
a.
first-level producer.
b.
first-level consumer.
c.
second-level producer.
d.
third-level consumer.
Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism
can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the
remaining energy, some is used for the organism’s
life processes, and the rest is
a.
used in reproduction.
b.
stored as body tissue.
c.
stored as fat.
d.
eliminated as heat.
Only 10 percent of the energy stored in an organism
can be passed on to the next trophic level. Of the
remaining energy, some is used for the organism’s
life processes, and the rest is
a.
used in reproduction.
b.
stored as body tissue.
c.
stored as fat.
d.
eliminated as heat.
Which type of pyramid shows the amount of living
tissue at each trophic level in an ecosystem?
a.
a numbers pyramid
b.
an energy pyramid
c.
a biomass pyramid
d.
a food pyramid
Which type of pyramid shows the amount of living
tissue at each trophic level in an ecosystem?
a.
a numbers pyramid
b.
an energy pyramid
c.
a biomass pyramid
d.
a food pyramid
The repeated movement of water between Earth’s
surface and the atmosphere is called
a.
the water cycle.
b.
the condensation cycle.
c.
precipitation.
d.
evaporation.
The repeated movement of water between Earth’s
surface and the atmosphere is called
a.
the water cycle.
b.
the condensation cycle.
c.
precipitation.
d.
evaporation.
Which of the following is NOT recycled in the
biosphere?
a.
water
b.
nitrogen
c.
carbon
d.
energy
Which of the following is NOT recycled in the
biosphere?
a.
water
b.
nitrogen
c.
carbon
d.
energy
What is the process by which organisms convert
nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia?
a.
nitrogen fixation
b.
excretion
c.
decomposition
d.
denitrification
What is the process by which organisms convert
nitrogen gas in the air to ammonia?
a.
nitrogen fixation
b.
excretion
c.
decomposition
d.
denitrification
How is carbon stored in the biosphere?
a.
in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
b.
underground as fossil fuels and calcium
carbonate rock
c.
in the oceans as dissolved carbon dioxide
d.
all of the above
How is carbon stored in the biosphere?
a.
in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
b.
underground as fossil fuels and calcium
carbonate rock
c.
in the oceans as dissolved carbon dioxide
d.
all of the above
Nitrogen fixation is carried out primarily by
a.
humans.
b.
plants.
c.
bacteria.
d.
ammonia.
Nitrogen fixation is carried out primarily by
a.
humans.
b.
plants.
c.
bacteria.
d.
ammonia.
Which of the following has a direct role in the
nitrogen cycle?
a.
bacteria
b.
legumes
c.
decomposers
d.
all of the above
Which of the following has a direct role in the
nitrogen cycle?
a.
bacteria
b.
legumes
c.
decomposers
d.
all of the above
Biogeochemical cycling ensures that
a.
human activity will have no effect on them.
b.
cells well not become limited in any one
nutrient.
c.
nutrients will not become scarce in any part of
the biosphere.
d.
many nutrients will not reach toxic
concentrations in the biosphere.
Biogeochemical cycling ensures that
a.
human activity will have no effect on them.
b.
cells well not become limited in any one
nutrient.
c.
nutrients will not become scarce in any part of
the biosphere.
d.
many nutrients will not reach toxic
concentrations in the biosphere.
The event that can occur after a lake receives a
large input of a limiting nutrient is
a.
an algal bloom.
b.
algae begin to die and decomposers take over.
c.
nitrogen compounds are recycled.
d.
the concentration of oxygen drops below the
necessary level.
The event that can occur after a lake receives a
large input of a limiting nutrient is
a.
an algal bloom.
b.
algae begin to die and decomposers take over.
c.
nitrogen compounds are recycled.
d.
the concentration of oxygen drops below the
necessary level.
Which is most likely to be a limiting nutrient in a
freshwater pond?
a.
phosphorus
b.
nitrogen
c.
carbon
d.
potassium
Which is most likely to be a limiting nutrient in a
freshwater pond?
a.
phosphorus
b.
nitrogen
c.
carbon
d.
potassium
If a nutrient is in such short supply in an ecosystem
that it affects an animal's growth, the
a.
animal becomes a decomposer.
b.
substance is a limiting nutrient.
c.
nutrient leaves the food chain.
d.
ecosystem will not survive.
If a nutrient is in such short supply in an ecosystem
that it affects an animal's growth, the
a.
animal becomes a decomposer.
b.
substance is a limiting nutrient.
c.
nutrient leaves the food chain.
d.
ecosystem will not survive.
Levels of Organization
Objective: Students will design poster showing the
different examples of the six levels of organization
Time: 30 minutes
Procedure:
1.  Form groups of 4 students per group
2.  Obtain poster board or newsprint to draw poster. You may
use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to design your
poster
3.  Study Figure #21 (page 64) showing 6 levels of
organization in the biosphere
4.  The teacher will give each group a different biome to focus
on.
5.  Design and draw an illustration showing different
examples of Levels of Organization
6.  Display posters and present to class