Download Ecosystems Anne Muns

ECOLOGY
Ecosystem
• All of the organisms living in an area and the
non-living features of their environment.
In this
ecosystem,
name some
biotic and
abiotic
factors.
Nonliving and Living Components
of Ecosystems
• Ecosystems consist of nonliving (abiotic) and
living (biotic) components.
Figure 3-10
Energy and matter flow through
ecosystems
Autotrophs (plants/producers) are
organisms that can make their own food
through the process of photosynthesis.
Autotrophs use solar energy and convert it
into usable organic compounds such as
glucose.
Heterotrophs must consume other
organisms for energy. They can NOT
make their own food.
The energy stored in their chemicals bonds is used to
carry out daily life functions.
Photosynthesis
Heat lost
through
respiration
Heat lost Heat lost
through
through
respiration respiration
Heat lost
through
respiration
Nutrients
returned to
environment
Producer
Primary
Consumer
Secondary
consumer
Tertiary
consumer
Decomposer
Decomposers
• Help break down organic
wastes and dead organisms
and return the raw
materials to the
environment
• Bacteria and fungi
Habitat
• The location or environment where an
organism lives.
• A habitat provides 4 important things for an
organism: shelter, water, food, and space
• Examples of habitats are forests, meadows,
rivers, and marshes.
Niche
•
•
•
•
The role of the organism in its habitat.
The organisms job and function
Example 1: I am teacher, friend, shopper, etc
Example 2: a squirrel is nut consumer, food for
cats, etc.
Biomass
• The total mass of living matter in a
given space.
Wheat
Mouse
Snake
Owl
A food chain, shown above, shows one path
the energy can take. A food web is a
collection of several food chains, linked
together.
Organism
Any living thing that is selfsufficient, can grow and
reproduce.
Species
• A group of like organisms capable of
interbreeding and producing fertile offspring.
• Some examples would be humans, lions,
zebra, and giraffes.
• Animals, Plants, and Microorganisms all have
different species.
Population
• All the organisms in an ecosystem that belong
to the same species.
Community
• All of the populations in an ecosystem.
Ecosystem
A community of different species interacting
together & with the chemical & physical
factors making up its non-living
environment.
Biosphere
The sum of all the ecosystems;
anywhere on earth that supports
life
Producers
• An organism that uses solar energy to
manufacture its food.
• Contains 100% of available energy
Primary Consumer (herbivore)
• An organism that feeds directly on
all or parts of plants.
• Contains 10% of available energy.
Secondary Consumer
(carnivore or omnivore)
• An organisms that feeds on primary
consumers.
• Contains 1% of available energy.
Tertiary Consumer (carnivore)
• Animals that feed on other
carnivores. Ex. hawks, lions, bass,
and sharks
• These top predators contain only
0.1% of available energy.
Quaternary Consumer
• An animal that feeds on tertiary
consumers.
• These are usually scavengers or
detritivores and contain only
0.01% of available energy.
Limiting Factor
• Anything that restricts the number of
individuals in a populations
• Limiting factors can be biotic (living) or abiotic
(non-living) components of an environment.
• Examples would be competition for food from
other organisms (biotic) or temperature
changes (abiotic).
• Natural disaster such as drought or
hurricane can also be limiting.
A food (or energy) pyramid
shows that the greatest
amount of energy in the
ecosystem is stored in the
producers.
There are very few tertiary
consumers in ecosystems
because it takes a lot of
energy feed one.
10% Rule
• We assume that 90% of the energy at each
energy level is lost because the organism
uses the energy. (heat)
• It is more efficient to eat lower on the
energy pyramid. You get more out of it!
• This is why top predators are few in number
& vulnerable to extinction.
Energy Flow in an Ecosystem: Losing
Energy in Food Chains and Webs
• Only 10 % of
energy is
transferred to the
level above it.
90% of energy at
each level is lost
as HEAT!
Figure 3-19
Biological
MagnificationToxins(poisons) can
build up in the food
chain.
The higher an animal
is on the food
pyramid, the more
poision he has
consumed.
Carrying Capacity- the number of
organisms that an environment can
support.
Some changes may
cause a population to
increase.
At some point during
population growth,
resources become
limited and the
population slows in
growth and becomes
stabilized.
What did the rabbit population do in June?
What happened in August?
What did the deer population do in 1925?
What caused the carrying capacity to fall?
Symbiosis: Organisms can have dependent
relationships with one another.
Mutualism(+,+)- both or organisms benefit from the
relationship.
Ants protect the aphids and
aphids supply “honeydew”
for ants to eat
The flower provides food
for the insect and the
insect pollinates the
flower
Algae and Fungus (+, +)
If the fungus and alga are compatible, they can make a
lichen.
Mutualism (+, +)
The ants harvest “honeydew” as a food source from the
aphids and in exchange provide aphids with protection.
Mutualism (+, +)
The Nile Crocodile has leaches removed and the Plover
receives a meal and is not harmed
http://www.warrenphotographic.co.uk/mdh/00955.htm
Commensalism (+,0) – one organism
benefits, the other is not effected.
Algae growing in the
sloth’s hair is eaten by
a moth, but the sloth
is not bothered.
The Cattle Egret eats
insects that cattle stir up
while grazing, the cattle are
not affected
Spanish moss grows on
trees receiving light and
nutrients from the air.
The tree is not helped or
harmed.
Pilot Fish and Shark (+, O)
Pilot fish feeds on scraps and is not preyed on by the
shark.
Shrimp and Sea Anemone (+,O)
Shrimp receives protection and food scraps, anemone is
not affected
Parasitism(+,-): one organism benefits, the
other is harmed. The tick receives food, the
dog is bitten.
Brown-headed Cowbird
Tapeworm and Human (+,-)
The tapeworm is a parasite and feeds on the nutrients
inside the human intestinal tract.
Virus and Human (+,-)
Virus requires a human host to survive and human is
harmed.
Parasitism (+, -)
The flea feeds on a dog.
The flea is the predator and the dog is its prey.
Parasitism(+, -)
The Catalpa Worm is parasitized by tiny wasp larvae. The adult
wasps sting the caterpillar, injecting their eggs. The eggs hatch
and larvae emerge and spin cocoons.
Predation
• An organisms that captures & feeds on
parts or all of another animal.
Prey
• An organisms that is captured & serves
as a source of food for another animal.
Predator/Prey Cycle