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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