Ecology Ecology Relationship of organisms with each other and

their environment Relationship of organisms with each other and

their environment

Organism Organism individual of a species individual of a species

Population Population

Community Community Groups of populations

Ex. Coral reef is home to a variety of living organisms

Groups of populations

Ex. Coral reef is home to a variety of living organisms

Ecosystems Ecosystems Includes the

abiotic factors and biotic factors in an area

ex. Coral reef ecosystem has many species

Abiotic

Temperature

Water

Light

Includes the abiotic factors and biotic factors in an area

ex. Coral reef ecosystem has many species

Abiotic

Temperature

Water

Light

With your neighbor, label as many biotic and abiotic factors as you can in the picture below.

Biosphere Biosphere

Sum of all Earth’s Ecosystems

I. Energy FlowI. Energy FlowI. Energy FlowI. Energy Flow

A. A. ProducersProducers Make their own Make their own

food through food through photosynthesis photosynthesis

Ex. Plants, algaeEx. Plants, algae

A. A. ProducersProducers Make their own Make their own

food through food through photosynthesis photosynthesis

Ex. Plants, algaeEx. Plants, algae

B. B. ConsumersConsumers Feed on other Feed on other

organisms, organisms, cannot make cannot make their own their own foodfood

Example: Example: deer, deer, humans, humans, mouse, lion, mouse, lion, insectsinsects

B. B. ConsumersConsumers Feed on other Feed on other

organisms, organisms, cannot make cannot make their own their own foodfood

Example: Example: deer, deer, humans, humans, mouse, lion, mouse, lion, insectsinsects

C. C. DecomposersDecomposers Break down dead organisms, recycling Break down dead organisms, recycling

chemicals chemicals Example: fungi, bacteria, certain insects like Example: fungi, bacteria, certain insects like

earthworms and centipedes. earthworms and centipedes.

C. C. DecomposersDecomposers Break down dead organisms, recycling Break down dead organisms, recycling

chemicals chemicals Example: fungi, bacteria, certain insects like Example: fungi, bacteria, certain insects like

earthworms and centipedes. earthworms and centipedes.

D. Energy enters ecosystems as LIGHT is converted to CHEMICAL ENERGY by producers and exits the ecosystem as HEAT.

D. Energy enters ecosystems as LIGHT is converted to CHEMICAL ENERGY by producers and exits the ecosystem as HEAT.

II. Food ChainII. Food ChainII. Food ChainII. Food Chain

A.A. Trophic levelsTrophic levels Feeding level, represents Feeding level, represents position in food chain/food position in food chain/food

webweb

A.A. Trophic levelsTrophic levels Feeding level, represents Feeding level, represents position in food chain/food position in food chain/food

webweb

B. Food Chain pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another

You always start with PRODUCERS on the left/bottom of a food chain.

B. Food Chain pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another

You always start with PRODUCERS on the left/bottom of a food chain.

C. Producer --> Primary Consumer--> Secondary Consumer--> Tertiary

Consumer

D. Decomposers are found at EACH trophic level.

C. Producer --> Primary Consumer--> Secondary Consumer--> Tertiary

Consumer

D. Decomposers are found at EACH trophic level.

III. Food WebIII. Food Web

A. Definition: pattern of feeding relationships.A. Definition: pattern of feeding relationships.

B. Draw a simple food webB. Draw a simple food web

IV. Three Kinds of Ecological IV. Three Kinds of Ecological PyramidsPyramids

IV. Three Kinds of Ecological IV. Three Kinds of Ecological PyramidsPyramids

A. Energy pyramidA. Energy pyramid DescriptionDescription: : diagram representing energy diagram representing energy

loss from one trophic level to the nextloss from one trophic level to the next

10% Rule- an average of 10% of the available 10% Rule- an average of 10% of the available energy at a trophic level is converted to energy at a trophic level is converted to biomass in the biomass in the nextnext higher trophic level. higher trophic level.

A. Energy pyramidA. Energy pyramid DescriptionDescription: : diagram representing energy diagram representing energy

loss from one trophic level to the nextloss from one trophic level to the next

10% Rule- an average of 10% of the available 10% Rule- an average of 10% of the available energy at a trophic level is converted to energy at a trophic level is converted to biomass in the biomass in the nextnext higher trophic level. higher trophic level.

DiagramDiagram

B. Biomass PyramidB. Biomass Pyramid DescriptionDescription: represents the actual : represents the actual

dry mass of organisms at each dry mass of organisms at each trophic leveltrophic level

B. Biomass PyramidB. Biomass Pyramid DescriptionDescription: represents the actual : represents the actual

dry mass of organisms at each dry mass of organisms at each trophic leveltrophic level

C.C. Pyramid of NumbersPyramid of Numbers DescriptionDescription: the number of : the number of

individual organisms in each individual organisms in each trophic level of an ecosystemtrophic level of an ecosystem

C.C. Pyramid of NumbersPyramid of Numbers DescriptionDescription: the number of : the number of

individual organisms in each individual organisms in each trophic level of an ecosystemtrophic level of an ecosystem

V. Chemical CyclesV. Chemical Cycles

A. Basic plan Producers Consumers Decomposers

A. Basic plan Producers Consumers Decomposers

B. Carbon-Oxygen Cycle B. Carbon-Oxygen Cycle COCO22 Used for photosynthesis Used for photosynthesis Product of photosynthesis isProduct of photosynthesis is sugar and oxygensugar and oxygen During cellular respiration, sugar is During cellular respiration, sugar is

broken down in presence of oxygen, broken down in presence of oxygen, and and COCO22 is release into air is release into air

BURN FOSSIL FUELS RELEASE CO2 BURN FOSSIL FUELS RELEASE CO2

COCO22 Used for photosynthesis Used for photosynthesis Product of photosynthesis isProduct of photosynthesis is sugar and oxygensugar and oxygen During cellular respiration, sugar is During cellular respiration, sugar is

broken down in presence of oxygen, broken down in presence of oxygen, and and COCO22 is release into air is release into air

BURN FOSSIL FUELS RELEASE CO2 BURN FOSSIL FUELS RELEASE CO2

C. NITROGEN CYCLEC. NITROGEN CYCLEC. NITROGEN CYCLEC. NITROGEN CYCLE Nitrogen found in amino acids, Nitrogen found in amino acids,

which make proteins & DNAwhich make proteins & DNA 80% of it is in atmosphere 80% of it is in atmosphere

( N( N22)) Nitrogen Fixation-Nitrogen Fixation- certain certain

bacteria bacteria ““fixfix”” nitrogen gas N nitrogen gas N2 2 into into

ammonium ammonium NH3

BACTERIA- Found near peas, BACTERIA- Found near peas, beans, alfalfabeans, alfalfa

Nitrogen found in amino acids, Nitrogen found in amino acids, which make proteins & DNAwhich make proteins & DNA

80% of it is in atmosphere 80% of it is in atmosphere ( N( N22))

Nitrogen Fixation-Nitrogen Fixation- certain certain bacteria bacteria

““fixfix”” nitrogen gas N nitrogen gas N2 2 into into ammonium ammonium NH3

BACTERIA- Found near peas, BACTERIA- Found near peas, beans, alfalfabeans, alfalfa

Nitrification-Nitrification- other bacteria convert other bacteria convert ammonium into nitrate ammonium into nitrate NO3

–

Producers absorb the ammonium and nitrates from the soil and use them to build amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids ( DNA) .

Nitrification-Nitrification- other bacteria convert other bacteria convert ammonium into nitrate ammonium into nitrate NO3

–

Producers absorb the ammonium and nitrates from the soil and use them to build amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids ( DNA) .

Consumers eat plants with NitrogenConsumers eat plants with Nitrogen Decomposers release Nitrogen Decomposers release Nitrogen

Consumers eat plants with NitrogenConsumers eat plants with Nitrogen Decomposers release Nitrogen Decomposers release Nitrogen

Some bacteria turn the Nitrogen back into a gas (N2) Denitrification

D. WATER CYCLED. WATER CYCLED. WATER CYCLED. WATER CYCLE Transpiration-Transpiration- water evaporated from water evaporated from

leaves of plantsleaves of plants Evaporation-Evaporation- turning of liquid water into a turning of liquid water into a

gas going to atmospheregas going to atmosphere Precipitation-Precipitation- condensing of gas into liquid condensing of gas into liquid

or even solid form to fall back to Earthor even solid form to fall back to Earth

Transpiration-Transpiration- water evaporated from water evaporated from leaves of plantsleaves of plants

Evaporation-Evaporation- turning of liquid water into a turning of liquid water into a gas going to atmospheregas going to atmosphere

Precipitation-Precipitation- condensing of gas into liquid condensing of gas into liquid or even solid form to fall back to Earthor even solid form to fall back to Earth

IV. Human Effects on Ecosystems

IV. Human Effects on Ecosystems

A. Deforestation- clearing of forests for agriculture,

lumber, & other uses--> eliminates plants that absorb CO2.

A. Deforestation- clearing of forests for agriculture,

lumber, & other uses--> eliminates plants that absorb CO2.

B. Greenhouse EffectB. Greenhouse Effect

Atmospheric gases trap heat- CO2, methane

Atmospheric gases trap heat- CO2, methane

C. Global WarmingC. Global Warming

Overall rise in Earth’s average temperature

Overall rise in Earth’s average temperature

D. EutrophicationD. EutrophicationIncr. nitrogen levels in water from fertilizers lead to growth of algae-- algae die off, bacteria that feed on algae use up available oxygen

Incr. nitrogen levels in water from fertilizers lead to growth of algae-- algae die off, bacteria that feed on algae use up available oxygen

E. Acid RainE. Acid Rain

Smokestacks release nitrogen & sulfur compounds in air that combine with water to form acids

Smokestacks release nitrogen & sulfur compounds in air that combine with water to form acids

F. Water impactsF. Water impacts

Transpiration brings a lot of water back to atmosphere, but now, less trees!

Transpiration brings a lot of water back to atmosphere, but now, less trees!

H. PollutionH. PollutionAddition of negative substances into the environment

Addition of negative substances into the environment

I. Biological magnificationI. Biological magnification

Pollutants become more concentrated in successive trophic levels

Pollutants become more concentrated in successive trophic levels

J. Ozone shield damageJ. Ozone shield damage

CFCs and aerosoles destroying ozone--> incr. UV intensity

CFCs and aerosoles destroying ozone--> incr. UV intensity

VII. Why Diversity MattersVII. Why Diversity Matters Biodiversity all variety of life on Earth

Threats to biodiversity - Habitat Destruction - Introduced species - Overexploitation

Biodiversity all variety of life on Earth

Threats to biodiversity - Habitat Destruction - Introduced species - Overexploitation

VIII. Conservation BiologyVIII. Conservation Biology

A. Focus on hotspotsB. Understanding an organism’s

habitatC. Balance demands for resources

A. Focus on hotspotsB. Understanding an organism’s

habitatC. Balance demands for resources