Download Ecology Unit: Part 1 The Biosphere

Ecology Unit:
The Biosphere
Chapter 3
What is Ecology?
• Ecology – the study of interactions among
organisms and their environment
• Biosphere – area of the planet in which all
life exists
• Factors within an environment:
a. Abiotic – nonliving
b. Biotic - living
Levels of Organization
Species – Individuals that can breed with
one another. (ex: Mallard duck)
Population – All the individuals of the same
species in a given area. (ex: all the ducks
in a pond)
Community - all the populations
that live together in an area
What populations can you see in this
picture?
Ecosystem – the abiotic and biotic
factors in a given area.
Examples of ecosystems: (they don’t have to be huge!)
Rotting Log
Koi Pond
Mountain
A hillside
Clump of Dirt
A field
A maple tree
A puddle
Biome – a large area that has a particular
climate, and particular species of plants
and animals that live there.
Biosphere - the part of the earth that
supports life; Contains all biomes.
Figure 3-2 Ecological Levels of
Organization
Ecological Levels of Organization
Section 3-1
Energy Flow
Section 3-2
Energy Flow and Producers
• Sunlight is the main energy source for life on
earth
• Autotrophs – organisms that can use sunlight
or chemicals to make their own food. Ex: plants,
bacteria, algae
*also known as: PRODUCERS
• The two ways to manufacture
food internally:
1. Photosynthesis
2. Chemosynthesis
Consumers
• Heterotrophs - Organisms that rely on
other organisms to get their food.
**a.k.a CONSUMERS
• Types of Consumers:
– Herbivores
– Carnivores
– Omnivores
– Detritivores/Decomposers
What do these
consumers eat?
Feeding Relationships
• Food Chains – simple
chain of organisms
transferring energy by
eating and being eaten.
• Trophic Levels – a step
in a food chain or web
• Food Webs – complex
network of many food
chains in an ecosystem.
Why does it
matter which
way the
arrows go?
Ecological Pyramids
• A pyramid diagram showing the relative
amounts of energy at each trophic level in a food
chain.
• Three Types:
1. Energy pyramid – amount of energy per
trophic level.
2. Biomass pyramid – amount of living organic
matter per trophic level.
3. Pyramid of numbers – Number of
organisms per trophic level.
Energy
Pyramid
Most of
the lost
energy is
in form of
HEAT!
Q: If primary
consumers have 870
kcal of energy
available, how much
will the secondary
consumers?
How much
energy is
available
at each
level?
10%!
Biomass Pyramid
2 different
Pyramid of
Numbers