Ecology

The Biosphere

Earth that supports living things, includes air, land, and water

Nonliving environment: Abiotic factorsAir currentsTemperatureMoisture LightSoil

The Biosphere

Living organisms in an environment:

Biotic factors Depend on others directly or indirectly for:

• Food• Shelter• Reproduction• Protection

Levels of Organization

1.) Organism 2.) Population

Group of organisms in same species (same area, same time)

InterbreedCompetition

Levels of Organization

3.) CommunityInteracting populations

(certain area, certain time)Change in 1 population causes change in

another population

Levels of Organization 4.) Ecosystem

Interacting populations in a biological community and its abiotic factors

2 types:• Terrestrial ecosystems

(land: forest, meadows, logs)• Aquatic ecosystem (water: ponds, lakes, and

streams); marine 70% of Earth’s surface

Levels of Organization

5.) BiosphereThe Earth including all of its abiotic

and biotic factors.

Levels of Organization

Organisms in an Ecosystem

Habitat: place organism lives

Niche: organism’s job

Survival Relationships

Predator-prey relationships (temporary)

& Symbiosis (Symbiotic relationships)

living together; close association between organisms of different species

Permanent or long-lasting

Survival Relationships

Three types of symbiosisMutualism…Commensalism…Parasitism…

Symbiotic Relationships

MutualismBoth species benefitExample: ants and acacia trees

Ant protects the tree from animals Tree nectar and home for ants

Mutualism

Symbiotic Relationships

CommensalismOne species benefits, the other not harmed

or benefitedExample: Spanish moss and trees

Spanish moss: hangs on tree (habitat) Trees: nothing happens to them

Commensalism

Symbiotic Relationships

ParasitismHarm 1 species & benefits the otherHarm but not usually kill host

Ticks, lice, tapeworms, some bacteriaCowbirds –lay eggs in other birds nest, their

young survive instead of other bird’s young

Parasitism

Defense Strategies

Mimicry – Camouflage –

Nutrition and Energy Flow

Chapter 2.2Page 46 - 63

Flow of Energy

Ultimate source of energy for life: SUN The producers Autotrophs

Use photosynthesis to convert light energy into chemical energy

Examples: plants & green algae

Flow of Energy The consumers Heterotrophs

Feeds on other organismsHerbivore feeds only on plantsCarnivore feed only on other heterotrophs;

meatScavengers eat dead animalsOmnivores eat both autotrophs (plants) &

heterotrophs (animals)Decomposers break down and release

nutrients from dead organisms

Flow in Ecosystems

Energy is released into environment as heat as you move through the levels

Models used to study the flow:Food ChainFood Web

Food Chain

Food chain: nutrients and energy move from autotrophs to heterotrophs to decomposersBerries Mice Black bearTrophic level: feeding step in the passage of

energy and materialsOne possible route for transfer of matter and

energy

Food Chains

Food Webs

Shows all possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community

Ecological Pyramids

Shows how energy flows through an ecosystem

Amount of available energy decreases at each succeeding trophic level

Total energy transfer to each level: 10%Biomass: total weight of living matter at

each trophic level

Directions: On page 41, Table 2.1 lists a variety of ecosystems that exist in our biosphere (earth). Choose one of these ecosystems that you are familiar with and create an illustration of a typical food web (pg 5) AND food chain (pg 7) that contains examples of consumers and producers from each trophic level. BE CREATIVE! Draw pictures, use color, use headings!

In your BIN, pages 5 & 7, you’ll create a food web and food chain.

Cycles of Nature

Water Cycle *** Carbon Cycle*** The Nitrogen Cycle Phosphorous Cycle

The Water Cycle

All life depends on water. The water cycle explains how water is

recycled throughout the biosphere. Evaporation, condensation,

precipitation, and transpiration are all important processes that move water throughout this cycle.

The Nitrogen Cycle

All life on earth is based on carbon molecules. Framework for macromolecules (polymers)

Autotrophs take in carbon dioxide to produce sugar which heterotrophs eat.

Heterotrophs breath out CO2 which autotrophs take in…and the cycle continues.

BACTERIA FIX NITROGEN!!