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Ecology
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What is ecology? Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment (soil, water, climate…) ECO = LOGY = house the study of
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LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION
Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere
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Biosphere The biosphere contains the combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists, including land, water and atmosphere.
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Energy Flow
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ENERGY FLOW Every organism needs… …ENERGY!!!
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ENERGY FLOW What are autotrophs?
Organisms that capture energy from the sun or chemicals to produce their own food.
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ENERGY FLOW What is a producer?
Organisms that first capture energy (Autotrophs) FIRST TROPHIC LEVEL
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ENERGY FLOW During photosynthesis, autotrophs use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert CO2 and water into oxygen and high energy sugars (glucose).
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PRODUCERS LAND: Plants UPPER LAYERS OF OCEAN: Algae
TIDAL FLATS/SALT MARSHES: Photosynthetic bacteria / cyanobacteria
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CHEMOSYNTHESIS Chemosynthesis is the process by which organisms use CHEMICAL energy to PRODUCE carbohydrates. Making food without sunlight! Example: Bacteria
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ENERGY FLOW If AUTOTROPHS are called PRODUCERS, because they make their own food, what are HETEROTROPHS called?
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CONSUMERS Organisms that consume plants or other organisms to obtain energy. All organisms that are NOT producers!!! (Heterotrophs) Three categories Primary Secondary Tertiary
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PRIMARY CONSUMERS Herbivores Examples SECOND TROPHIC LEVEL
Eat plants or other primary producers Examples Cows Horses Rabbits Some Insects SECOND TROPHIC LEVEL
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SECONDARY CONSUMERS Carnivores Omnivores THIRD TROPHIC LEVEL
Animals that eat animals Examples: tigers, wolves, snakes Omnivores Animals that are herbivores and carnivores Examples: bears, humans THIRD TROPHIC LEVEL
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TERTIARY CONSUMERS Carnivores that consume other carnivores
Known as “top carnivores” Example: A hawk that eats a snake A lion that eats a hyena FOURTH TROPHIC LEVEL
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DETRITOVORES Decomposes organic material and returns the nutrients to the soil, water and air (making it available for other organisms). Examples: mites, earthworms, snails, crabs
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DECOMPOSERS Break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms
They cause decay Decomposition of bodies and wastes releases nutrients back into the environment to be recycled by other organisms. Examples: bacteria, fungi
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SCAVENGERS Do not kill their food—they search for a source of food that is already dead “Clean-up” the ecosystem Examples: buzzards
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FEEDING RELATIONSHIPS
Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE direction: Sun (or inorganic chemicals) Autotrophs/Producers Heterotrophs/Consumers
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FOOD CHAIN A food chain is a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten. It is how energy moves through an ecosystem!
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FOOD WEB A food web is a network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem.
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FOOD CHAIN vs. FOOD WEB A food web will link together all of the food chains in a particular ecosystem…
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A terrestrial food chain
A marine food chain A terrestrial food chain
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TROPHIC LEVELS A trophic level is a step in a food chain or food web.
Different organisms are on different levels depending on their source of energy. Where does energy come from? SUN
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TROPHIC LEVELS 1st TROPHIC LEVEL Producers 2nd TROPHIC LEVEL
Primary Consumers 3rd TROPHIC LEVEL Secondary Consumers 4th TROPHIC LEVEL Tertiary Consumers
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TROPHIC LEVELS A consumer in a food chain depends on the trophic level below it for energy.
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Ecological Pyramids
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ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS An ecological pyramid is a diagram that show the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level of a food chain or food web.
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ECOLOGICAL PYRAMIDS Only part of the energy stored in a trophic level is passed on to the next because organisms use much of the energy they con
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ENERGY PYRAMID All energy originates from the sun (or inorganic chemicals). Sunlight (radiant energy) is converted to digestible energy by plants during photosynthesis.
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ENERGY PYRAMID When the plants are eaten, the energy is transferred to animals to sustain life. Energy is transferred up the food chain.
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THE RULE OF TENS Only 10% of the energy in a trophic level is passed on to the next level…90% of the energy is lost—where does it go? Given off as HEAT!!
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BIOMASS PYRAMID Biomass is the total amount of living tissue within a trophic level. Represents the amount of potential food available at each trophic level.
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PYRAMID OF NUMBERS Shows relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level.
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LIMITATIONS OF TROPHIC LEVELS
Why can there not be too many links to one food chain?
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Each trophic level can support about one-tenth the amount of living tissue as the level below it, because only 10% of the energy is passed up!!!
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A few more things…
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HABITAT The area where an organism lives Includes both biotic and abiotic factors
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Biotic vs. Abiotic Biotic Bio- means: life Tic- means: pertaining to
Biotic factors are the living organisms in a habitat! Abiotic Bio- means: life Tic- means: pertaining to A- means: no, not Abiotic factors are all the physical aspect of a habitat! Examples: soil, water, weather
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Abiotic Factors Water Air Soil Heat Light
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