Ecology NotesPart 1

What is Ecology?• Ecology: the study of interactions between

living things, and between living things and their environment.

Factors in Ecosystems:1. Biotic Factors – all the living

things that interact or come into contact with an organism.

Biotic factors of a Bullfrog:

Plants it eats as a tadpole

Herons who eat frogs

Red Legged Frog who competes with it for food

Insects eaten by bullfrogs

Factors in Ecosystems:2. Abiotic Factors – All the physical or

non-living things that have an effect on an organism.

Examples:•Temperature

•Humidity

•Precipitation

•Elevation

•Wind

•Available Nutrients

•Soil Type

•Sunlight

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic!

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic or Abiotic?

Abiotic!

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic!

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic or Abiotic?

Abiotic!

Biotic or Abiotic?

Biotic or Abiotic?

Abiotic!

All organisms are what…biotic or abiotic?

All organisms are what…biotic or abiotic?

Biotic!

What are all the biotic and abiotic things in this picture?

What are all the biotic and abiotic things in this picture?

Watch Planet Earth Clip

While watching the movie, write down 3 biotic factors that you see and 3 abiotic factors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52RE2WXN4xA&feature=related

Energy Flow

• Sunlight is the main source of Energy for life on Earth.

- Of all the sun that reaches Earth, only 1%of it is used by living things

• Producers: living things that get their energy from the Sun or from thermal vents. They can make their own food.

Energy Flow• Some examples of producers are:

- Photosynthetic bacteria- Chemosynthetic bacteria- Algae - Protista- Kelp - Grass- Trees - Flowers

Energy Flow

• If an organism does not get it’s energy directly from the sun, nor from thermal vents, they must get energy by CONSUMING something else.

• Consumers: organisms that eat other organisms for their energy and food supply.

Energy Flow

• Some examples of Consumers are:

Herbivores: eat only plants.

Carnivores: eat only other animals.

Omnivores: eat plants and animals.

Scavengers: animals that consume the carcasses of other animals

Decomposers: feed by chemically breaking down decaying plants

and animals.

Energy Flow• Energy flows through an ecosystem in one

direction:

Sun producers consumers

Feeding Relationships• Food Chain: a series of energy transfers

where organisms are eating and being eaten.

Feeding Relationships

• Most feeding relationships in an ecosystem are more complex than just 1 food chain.

• Food Web: a complex network of feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem.

Food Web

Feeding Relationships

• Each step in a food chain or food web is called a Trophic Level

- Producers make up the first trophic level- Consumers make up the second, third,

and all the higher levels. - Each consumer depends on the trophic

level below it for energy

Trophic Levels

Ecological Pyramids• Ecological Pyramid: a diagram that shows the

relative amounts of energy contained within each trophic level in a food chain.

• Only about 10% of the energy available in one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.

Ecological Pyramid

6,000 kcal

600 kcal

60 kcal

6 kcal

Formative Quiz:1. What are biotic factors?2. What is an example of a biotic factor in your

environment?3. What are abiotic factors? 4. What is an example of an abiotic factor in your

environment? 5. Give an example of an abiotic factor interacting

with a biotic factor. 6. Give an example of a biotic factor interacting with

a biotic factor.7. Give an example of an abiotic factor interacting

with another abiotic factor.