The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Name: _____Class key_______

Period: ________________________

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Chapter 2 assignments

Pages/Sections Date Assigned Date Due

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Ecology

o __ecology__ studies how living __organisms__ & their

_environments_ __interact__ because...

o __Everything__ is __connected__ to everything else.

o ___Ecology___ ≡ the study of _interactions _ that take

place between _ organisms’ _ and their _environments.

Topic: What is Ecology?

Objective: Describe and define ecology in biology and Earth.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

__Biosphere__ ≡ the portion of ___Earth____ that supports

___Living___ things.

o The __biosphere__ is the ___largest___ level of

organization; it is planet Earth.

o ___living___ things are ___affected___ by

____both____ the physical or __non-living__

environment and by other ___living___ things.

Topic: The Biosphere

Objective: Describe the biosphere concept in biology and Earth.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Abiotic and Biotic factors

o ___abiotic___ factors ≡ The __non-living__ parts of

an organism’s environment.

Examples: _air & water_ currents,

_temperature_, __moisture__, ___light___, and

soil.

Often __determines__ which __organisms__

survive _____in_____ a particular

__environment__.

o ___Biotic___ factors ≡ All the ___living___ organisms

that ___inhabit___ an environment.

Topic: Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Objective: Describe and define ecology in biology and Earth.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

All __organisms__ ___depend___ on others directly or

indirectly for ____food____, ___shelter___,

__reproduction__, or __protection__.

Levels of Organization

1. __Organism__ ≡ An __individual__ ___living___ thing that is

made of ___cells____, ____uses____ energy,

__reproduces__, ___responds___, ___grows___, and

___develops__.

Topic: Levels of Organization

Objective: Describe the basic ecosystem levels of Earth.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

2. _population_ ≡ a ___group___ of __organisms__, all of the

same ___species___, which __interbreed__ and live in the

same area at the same time; _competition_ occurs.

3. __Biological__ _community_ ≡ made up of _interacting_

_populations_ in a certain area at a certain time.

A ___change___ in one __population__ in a

__community__ ___may______ cause

___changes___ in the other _populations_.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

4. __Ecosystem__ ≡ Populations of __organisms__ and

__resources__ that __interact__ with each other in a given

____area____ and with the ___abiotic___ components of

that ____area____.

5. ___Biome____ ≡ A ___group____ of _ecosystems_ (Chptr 3)

6. The __Biosphere__ ≡ the entire ____thin____ layer of

____land____ (lithosphere), ____air_____ (atmosphere),

and ___water____ (hydrosphere) that surrounds

___Earth____.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Habitat

o A ___habitat___ ≡ the ___place____ where an

__organism__ lives out its life.

o __habitats__ can __change___ due to both

___natural__ and ____human___ causes.

o Niche

___Niche___ ≡ the ____role____ or position a

___species___ has in its _environment_ —how it

____meets___ its specific ___needs____ for food

and shelter, how and where it __survives__, and

where it __reproduces__ in its environment.

Topic: Habitat and Niche

Objective: Describe organism habitats and niches.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

___Niche___ includes all its _interactions_ with the

___biotic___ and ___abiotic___ parts of its

__habitat__.

It is thought that ____two_____ species

___can’t____ ____exist___ for long in the same

community if _their niches_ are the _same_.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Symbiosis

o __symbiosis__ ≡ the _relationship_ in which there is a

___close___ and __permanent__ association

__between__ organisms of ___different___

___species___.

o ___three___ kinds of __symbiosis__ are: _mutualism_,

_commensalism_, and _parasitism_.

1. _mutualism_ ≡ ____both____ species ___benefit____.

Topic: Symbiosis

Objective: Describe and define symbiosis in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

2. _commensalism_ ≡___one___ species __benefits__ and

the ___other____ species is ___neither___

___harmed___ ____nor_____ ___helped___.

3. _parasitism_ ≡ a member of _____one____ species

derives ___benefit___ at the ___expense___ of

__another__ species (the host): usually ____harms___

but __doesn’t__ ____kill____ host.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Predation

o __Predators__ ≡ ____seek____ out, kill, and

__consume__ other _organisms_.

o ____prey____ ≡ __animals__ that predators eat.

Topic: Predation

Objective: Describe and define predation in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Notes page:

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Name: ________________ Period: ____________________

Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.

Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.

Check for Understanding

1. Describe the difference between an ecosystem and the biosphere.

a. ____________________________________________

2. How is an organisms’ niche different than their habitat?

a. ____________________________________________

3. Compare and/or contrast two types of symbiosis.

a. ____________________________________________

b. ____________________________________________

4. Describe the difference between parasitism and predation.

a. ____________________________________________

____________________________________________

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Page intentionally blank

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Nutrition and Energy Flow

o The ultimate ___source___ of the ___energy___ for life

is the ____Sun_____.

The __producers__: _Autotrophs_ ≡ An organism that uses

___light____ energy or energy stored in __chemical__

compounds to ____make____ energy-rich __compounds__

(Plants-_photosynthesis_).

Topic: Nutrition and Energy Flow

Objective: Describe how energy flows in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The _consumers_: _Heterotrophs_ ≡ An _organism_ that

___cannot___ ____make____ its own ____food____ and

___feeds____ on ____other___ organisms.

o Heterotrophs ___depend___ on _autotrophs_ for

___nutrients___ and ___energy___.

o __heterotrophs__ display a __variety__ of

___feeding___ relationships.

1. __herbivore__ ≡ feeds____ only____ on

___plants___.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

2. __carnivore__ ≡ ____kill____ and ____eat_____ only

other __animals__.

3. __omnivore__ ≡ ____eat_____ both ____plants___ &

___animals___.

4. __scavenger__ ≡ ____eat____ ___animals___ that

have already ____died____.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

5. __decomposers__ ≡ ___break___ down the

___complex___ compounds of ___dead___ and

decaying ___plants___ and ___animals___ into

simpler molecules that can be more easily absorbed.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Notes page:

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Food chains

o Feeding _relationships_

____most___ food chains ____start___ with

___energy___ from the _____Sun____.

___first___ level of all food chains is

__autotrophs__.

Most food ___chains___ usually go up only __four

or five__ levels.

____All____ levels ___connect___ to

__decomposers__.

Topic: Food Chains & Feeding

Objective: Describe how food energy flows in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Food ___chains___: the __stepwise__ flow of ___energy____

and ___nutrients___ through an __ecosystem__.

o ____from___ producers (_autotrophs_).

o ____to______ herbivores (primary _consumers_).

o ____to______ carnivores (_secondary_ and higher-level

__consumers__.

Berries → mice → black bear.

Topic: Food Chains & Feeding

Objective: Describe how food energy flows in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Loss of energy

o ____loss____ of ___energy____ between ___levels___

of food ____chain___.

o To ___where____ is the energy ____lost____? The cost

of ___living___!

Topic: Food Chains & Energy

Objective: Describe how food energy is lost in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

o ___Trophic___ levels represent ____links___ in the

___chain___.

o Each __organism__ in a food ___chain____ represents a

feeding ____step____, or trophic level, in the

___passage___ of ____energy___ and __materials__.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Food webs

o Food ____web_____ ≡ ___network___ of

interconnecting food ___chains___.

o Food ____web_____ is a more __realistic__ view of the ___trophic___ structure of an __ecosystem__ than a food chain.

Topic: Food Webs & Feeding

Objective: Describe how food energy flows in ecosystems.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Name: ________________ Period: ____________________

Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.

Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.

Check for Understanding

1. Explain why the Sun is the ultimate energy source for Earth.

a. ____________________________________________

2. Describe the difference between scavengers and decomposers.

a. ____________________________________________

3. Is the first level of all food chains plants? Explain.

a. ____________________________________________

4. Why does a food web show energy flow better than a food chain?

a. ____________________________________________

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Page intentionally blank

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Notes page:

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Energy and trophic levels: Ecological pyramids

o Ecological pyramids ≡ illustrate that the amount of

___energy___ available __decreases__ at each

succeeding trophic ___level____.

o The ____total___ energy ___transfer___ from one

trophic level to the next is only about ____ten_____

___percent___ because organisms ____fail____ to

___capture__ and eat _____all____ the food

____energy___ available at the trophic level

____below___ them.

___Biomass___ ≡ the total __amount__ of ___living___

___matter___ at each trophic level.

Topic: Ecological Pyramids

Objective: Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Food chain pyramid

o ____loss____ of ____energy___ between levels of food

chain can ____feed____ ____fewer___ animals in each

____level___.

o ___energy___ ____flows___ through but __nutrients__

___cycle___.

o __nutrients__ must be __recycled__ to be available for the next generation.

Topic: Food Chain Pyramids

Objective: Describe how energy flows through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Decomposers

o Decomposers ___return___ ___nutrients___ to the soil

____after___ organisms ____die_____.

____fungi___

___bacteria___

__nutrients__ cycle ___around___ through

__decomposers__.

Topic: Decomposers

Objective: Describe how decomposers act at every level.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Cycles of matter

o About ____96%_____ of ____your____ body is made

up of just four elements:

o __oxygen__, ___carbon___, ___hydrogen___,

___nitrogen__.

o ____65%_____ of the ____human___ body is Oxygen.

o Earth’s __atmosphere__ is mostly __nitrogen__ &

___oxygen___.

o __elements__ move within __circles__ in _ecosystems_

and very little leaves or enters.

Topic: Cycles of Matter

Objective: Describe how matter cycles through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Water cycle

o ___water___ can ___enter___ the __atmosphere__ two

ways:

o __evaporation__ - liquid to gas.

o __transpiration__ - from plants.

o Water __evaporates__ /__transpires__ then

__condenses__ to rain/snow and runs off.

o _____Sun____ powers the water ____cycle___.

Topic: The Water Cycle

Objective: Describe how water flows through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Carbon cycle

Most ___carbon___ on Earth is ___found____ in

___living___ organic compounds, the ___oceans___, and

____rocks___.

____plants___ use ____CO2_____ and ___sunlight___ to

make ____energy___.

_____ CO2____ and ____ energy ___ are released when

carbohydrates are __consumed__.

Topic: The Carbon Cycle

Objective: Describe how carbon flows through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Nitrogen cycle

o Nitrogen is the most common atmospheric gas, but

____most____ organisms ___cannot___ use gaseous

__nitrogen__ directly.

o Legumes (peanuts, beans, and clover) have colonies of

__nitrogen__ -___fixing__ ___bacteria__ in nodules on

their roots to create ammonia (NH3) that the

___plants___ can ____use_____.

Topic: The Nitrogen Cycle

Objective: Describe how nitrogen flows through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

The Phosphorous cycle

o __phosphorous__ is important in many biological

__processes__ and __proteins__.

o __phosphorous__ can be ___stored___ in ___rocks___

(like carbon), but only slowly returns to the ecosystem.

Topic: The Phosphorous Cycle

Objective: Describe phosphorous’ flow through an ecosystem.

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Name: ________________ Period: ____________________

Carefully remove this sheet from your packet to hand in.

Work silently and alone to complete this graded exercise.

Check for Understanding

1. What percent of the energy in food passes on to the next level, and why is it that amount?

a. ____________________________________________

2. Explain why decomposers are so important to ecosystems.

a. ____________________________________________

3. What are the four most common elements in the human body?

a. ____________________________________________

4. Where is carbon found on Earth?

a. ____________________________________________

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Page intentionally blank

The Living Environment ’14-‘15 Unit 1 Ecology – Unit 2 Principles of Ecology-class key Mr. Murdoch

Notes page: