© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

IntroducingIntroducing

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

the study of the relationships the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic between biotic and abiotic

factors in environmentsfactors in environments

the study of the relationships the study of the relationships between biotic and abiotic between biotic and abiotic

factors in environmentsfactors in environments

ecoeco (G) root home, (G) root home, abodeabode

ecoeco (G) root home, (G) root home, abodeabode

log, -o, ylog, -o, y (G) suffix study (G) suffix study ofof

log, -o, ylog, -o, y (G) suffix study (G) suffix study ofof

EcologyEcologyEcoEco

logylogy

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

EcosystemEcosystem

includes all includes all abioticabiotic and and bioticbiotic factors factors in one particular environmentin one particular environment

includes all includes all abioticabiotic and and bioticbiotic factors factors in one particular environmentin one particular environment

Biotic Biotic FactorsFactorsBiotic Biotic

FactorsFactorsthe living parts the living parts of an ecosystemof an ecosystemthe living parts the living parts of an ecosystemof an ecosystem

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors

the nonliving the nonliving parts of an parts of an ecosystemecosystem

the nonliving the nonliving parts of an parts of an ecosystemecosystem

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

Biotic FactorsBiotic FactorsBioBio

bio(s), bio(t)bio(s), bio(t) (G) root (G) root lifelife

bio(s), bio(t)bio(s), bio(t) (G) root (G) root lifelife

include plants, animals, fungi, include plants, animals, fungi, microorganismsmicroorganisms

include plants, animals, fungi, include plants, animals, fungi, microorganismsmicroorganisms

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic FactorsAAinclude air, water, soil, include air, water, soil,

temperature, wind, source of temperature, wind, source of energy (usually sun)energy (usually sun)

include air, water, soil, include air, water, soil, temperature, wind, source of temperature, wind, source of

energy (usually sun)energy (usually sun)a, ana, an (G) prefix not, without(G) prefix not, withouta, ana, an (G) prefix not, without(G) prefix not, without

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organizationsmallest smallest unit of unit of living living thingsthings

smallest smallest unit of unit of living living thingsthings

group of group of similar cells similar cells organized organized to work to work togethertogether

group of group of similar cells similar cells organized organized to work to work togethertogether

group of group of different different kinds of kinds of tissues tissues working working togethertogether

group of group of different different kinds of kinds of tissues tissues working working togethertogether

group of group of organs organs working working togethertogether

group of group of organs organs working working togethertogether

one one individual individual

living thingliving thing

one one individual individual

living thingliving thing

all all organisms organisms

of the same of the same kind living kind living in one areain one area

all all organisms organisms

of the same of the same kind living kind living in one areain one area

all all interacting interacting populations populations

in an in an ecosystem ecosystem

all all interacting interacting populations populations

in an in an ecosystem ecosystem

all living all living and and

nonliving nonliving things things

interacting interacting within a within a

certain area certain area

all living all living and and

nonliving nonliving things things

interacting interacting within a within a

certain area certain area

large region large region with typical with typical plants and plants and

animals animals that that

includes includes several several

ecosystems ecosystems

large region large region with typical with typical plants and plants and

animals animals that that

includes includes several several

ecosystems ecosystems

cell

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

ProducerAutotrophs

Rely on sun to create food.Examples

• Plants

• Algae

• Microorganisms

Source of all food in the ecosystem

6H2O + 6CO2 C6H12O6+ 6O2

Contain the most energy based on the 10% rule

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

Consumer

• AKA Heterotrophs

4 categories: • Herbivore - Eat mainly

plants. Prefix Herb=grass or herb Suffix vore = to eat

• Omnivore – Eat both plants & animals. Prefix Omni = all

• Carnivore – Eat mainly

animals. Latin carnis

= flesh

• Scavenger – Eat dead organisms

http://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/iText/products/0-13-064376-9/ch17/videoBlank.html?/ebook/products/0-13-064376-9/video/sx02vtlngoro.mov

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

Decomposer• Break down waste and dead organisms i.e.

absorbing nutrients return raw materials to the environment

• Important in recycling nutrients!!!

• Usually found on ground or low areas

Examples:

Bacteria

Fungi

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

plantsplants

herbivores

carnivores

carnivores

FOOD CHAINSFOOD CHAINS

ProducersProducers

Primary Primary consumersconsumers

SecondarySecondaryconsumersconsumers

Tertiary consumers

But in real ecosystems, who eats who is MUCHMUCH more complicated…instead of food chains, ecologists usually talk about FOOD WEBSFOOD WEBS

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

The transfer of energy from sun producer primary consumer

secondary consumer tertiary consumer can be shown in a FOOD

CHAIN.

© 2006 Plano ISD, Plano, TX

• Are interconnected food chains

• They show the feeding relationships in an ecosystem

Food Webs: