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The Biosphere The study of interactions among organisms and their environment Ecology Levels of organization Energy flow Producers Consumers Autotrophs Heterotrophs Herbivore Consumes plants The Biosphere Plants Algae Decomposersbreak down organic matter into inorganic matter Must consume other organisms for their energy Carnivore Consumes animals · Species = a group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring. · Population = groups of organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same area. · Community = different populations that live together in a defined area. · Ecosystem = community of organisms including their non-living physical environment. · Biome = group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities · Biosphere = Parts of the planet where life exists OmnivoreConsumes both plants and animals Use photosynthesis (sun energy) to make their own food Cyanobacteria Some bacteria such as thermophiles (heat loving bacteria) Use chemosyntheis (chemical energy) to make their own food Dentrivores Organisms that feed on dead and decaying plant and animal material (ex. worms, maggots, termites) 1 The Biosphere Ecology Feeding relationships Food Web - links all of the food chains in an ecosystem together Food chain - A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten Each step in a food chain or food web is called a trophic level 1st trophic level = producers 2nd, 3rd, 4th.....trophic levels = consumers The Biosphere 2 The Biosphere · 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. Ecology Energy Pyramid Ecological pyramids Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of numbers Based on the number of organisms The Biosphere · 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. 3 The Biosphere Ecology Water cycle Cycles of matter · Evaporation = The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas. · Transpiration = Evaporation of water from leaves. · Condensation = The process by which water changes from a gas to a liquid. · Precipitation = Rain, snow, sleet or hail. · Runoff = Water that drains or flows off the surface of the land. · Seepage = The movement of water through the soil Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen fixation Dentrification · Carbon is cycled by four main processes. · Biological processes - photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition. · Geochemical processes - erosion, volcanic activity. · Biogeochemical processes - dead organisms convert into petroleum and coal. · Human activities - mining, cutting and burning forests, burning fossil fuels. · Bacteria in the soil takes nitrogen gas from the atmosphere and converts it into ammonia (NH3) · Other bacteria in the soil convert the ammonia into nitrate (NO3-) and nitrite (NO2-) · Producers use nitrate and nitrite to make proteins. · Consumers then eat the producers and use the nitrogen to make their own proteins. The Biosphere · Bacteria in the soil convert nitrates into nitrogen gas. · The nitrogen gas is then released into the atmosphere. 4