ECOLOGYMrs. Lambert’s class

Biogeochemical CyclesAbiotic vs. Biotic FactorsAutotrophs vs. HeterotrophsFood Chains/WebsTrophic Levels10% Energy Transfer

Today we are going to understand how all living things are important for a stable environment.

ECOLOGY

The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

BIOTIC VS. ABIOTIC FACTORS Ecosystems are influenced by a combination of

biological and physical factors. Biotic factors – living factors; the ecological

community. Abiotic factors – non-living factors; rain, sunlight,

etc. Together, the biotic and abiotic factors determine

the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the ecosystem in which the organism lives.

COMPARING BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS

Section 2: Ecology of Organisms

AUTOTROPHS VS. HETEROTROPHSWhich is which in the picture?

WHICH ARE YOU?

Autotroph vs. HeterotrophThis classification system divides organisms by

the way take in energy…1.Autotrophs – organisms that can capture

energy from sunlight or chemicals2.Heterotrophs- organisms that rely on other

organisms for their energy and food supply (ex. Has to eat something else, can’t energy solely from chemicals nor the sun.)

THUS, YOU ARE A HETEROTROPH!

PRODUCERS VS. CONSUMERS Autotrophic organisms are considered to

be producers because they produce their own food. Example: Plants.

Heterotrophic organisms consume the plants so they are called consumers. (There are primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers, all named depending how many steps or trophic levels it is away from the producer level.)

Producers (or primary producers) are autotrophic organisms because they produce their own food. Example Plants.

3 Types of consumers1. Primary consumers= one step away from

the producers2. Secondary consumer= two steps away

from the producers3. Tertiary consumer=three steps away from

the producers

COMPARING CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS

Section 3: Energy Transfer

SUNLIGHT IS THE MAIN ENERGY SOURCE FOR LIFE ON EARTH.

How do producers make their own energy?Plants undergo photosynthesis to produce

food from sunlight.Some bacteria and algae produce energy

from chemicals through chemosynthesis

PHOTOSYNTHESIS Plants use carbon dioxide, water and

sunlight to produce carbohydrates (sugar), oxygen, and water.

6 CO2 + 12H2O C6H1206 + O2 + H2OThe process that removes carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere and adds oxygen to the atmosphere.

THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF

HETEROTROPHSTypes of consumers…

Can you name them??

1. HERBIVORES Obtain energy by eating only plants.

Examples: Sheep, cattle, horses, etc.

2. CARNIVORESObtain energy from eating only

animals.

3. OMNIVORESObtain energy from eating both -plants and animals.

They eat within more than one trophic level!

AH…….. “THE CIRCLE OF LIFE”

Detritivores– obtain energy from dead matter Yum!ex: Earthworms, vultures

Decomposers – obtain energy by breaking down organic matter (“write in”) …and recycle compounds back into the soil and atmosphere.

ex: Bacteria & fungi

FOOD CHAIN Is a series of steps in which organisms

transfer energy by eating and being eaten.

Food chains show the one-way flow of energy in an ecosystem.

Example: algae zooplankton small fish squid

shark What is the producer in the food chain

above? Algae!

MRS. LAMBERT’S CRAZY FOOD CHAIN… (READ LIKE THE POEM: THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A FLY…..)

~There were these old bacteria that decomposed an owl!~Oh, so fowl to decompose an owl. ………but they didn’t die.~They decomposed the owl who swallowed a snakethank goodness it wasn’t Monty, …for my class’s sake.~He swallowed the snake who ate the rat. Fancy that to swallow a rat!…but he didn’t die.~He swallowed the rat who ate the wisteria (flower) …. which grew from the rich soil made by those bacteria!~So this brings us from the start to the end, just to ago back round again… …There were these old bacteria that decomposed and owl….

(*grin…. I tried. Ha ha. Love: Mrs. L)

FOOD WEBS Feeding relationships that are more

complex than a single chain. A food web links all the food chains in

an ecosystem together.

FOOD WEBS

TROPHIC LEVELS Each step in a food chain or food web is

called a trophic level.1st level – producers2nd and higher levers – consumersEach consumer depends on the trophic level

below it for energy.

THE 4 TROPHIC LEVELSOnly 10% of the energy in a trophic level is

transferred to the next, higher level. This explains why there are fewer organisms as you increase in levels.

ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID A diagram that shows the

amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level. Energy pyramid – only about

10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next level.

Biomass pyramid – the amount of living tissue (organic matter) within a given level.