Ecology

the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment

Levels of Ecology

• Biosphere• Biome• Ecosystem• Community• Population• Organism

Ecosystem

All of the different species living together (community) in an area (habitat)– Abiotic Factors- nonliving (weather, soil composition, winds,

temperature, etc.)– Biotic Factors- living (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi)

Taxonomy Examples from the Northern Deciduous Forest

Acer saccharum

Acer rubrum

Alces alces

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Food Chains

Food Webs

Some thought questions…

• What is your favorite food?• How is it made?• Where does it come from?

The SUN!!!

• Energy for photosynthesis

• Plants make sugars from carbon dioxide, water and sunlight.

Energy flow in Ecosystems

The original source of all energy is the sun!

• Autotrophs– Producers- make

energy for others

• Heterotrophs– Consumers- consume

others for energy– Decomposers- break

down organic matter for energy

Heterotrophs may be– Herbivores- consume

plants or algae– Carnivores- consume

animal flesh– Omnivores- consume

plants and animal flesh

– Detritivores- consume dead organisms or wastes

Group Food Web Practice

• http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_web.htm

• What do you spend energy on?–Growth–Maintenance–Repair

Only 10% of the energy captured by an organism is transferred to the organism that eats the first organism.

herbivore

decomposer

Energy flows through ecosystems, but matter cycles

through ecosystems• The sun is a

constant source of energy

• Matter needs to get reused– There is no new

source of carbon or water on earth

The Water Cycle

Evaporation

Condensation

Precipitation

Surface Runoff

Infiltration (ground water)

The Carbon Cycle

• Industry, power plants, and vehicles release CO2.

• Plants consume CO2 in photosynthesis.

• Living things release CO2 during cellular respiration.

• Fossil fuels are made from the carbon in the tissues of dead plants and animals.

http://www.vtaide.com/png/carbonCycle.htm

Ecological Succession

• dominant organisms in an area change over time

Primary Succession

• Starts from bare rock • Lichen live on bare

rock. • Lichen create enough

soil for mosses

Secondary succession

• Begins after an area has been disturbed

Photosynthesis

“making from light”

Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts

Chemical formula for Photosynthesis

Respiration

The Working Cell:

Energy from Food

Food Stores Chemical Energy

Chemical Energy– Potential energy

stored in the bonds of chemical compounds

ATP Provides Energy For Cellular Work

Types of Work– Growth– Maintenance– Repair

Breathing and Cellular Respiration

• Cellular respiration is an aerobic process– requires O2

• Breathing delivers O2 and releases CO2

Cellular Respiration

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration