Unit 1: EcologyUnit 1: Ecology

Learning Goal #1: Summarize how Learning Goal #1: Summarize how energy flows through an ecosystem.energy flows through an ecosystem.

Energy Flow Energy Flow

At the core of every organism’s interaction At the core of every organism’s interaction with the environment is its need for energy to with the environment is its need for energy to power life’s processes.power life’s processes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_RBHfjZsUQ&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Energy FlowEnergy Flow

What is energy used for?What is energy used for?

How do organisms gain energy?How do organisms gain energy?

Energy in must Energy in must EQUEALEQUEAL Energy out Energy out

ProducersProducers

Sunlight is the main energy source for life on Earth.Sunlight is the main energy source for life on Earth. Only 1% of the sun’s energy that reaches the Earth is used by Only 1% of the sun’s energy that reaches the Earth is used by

living things.living things.

Some types of organisms rely on the energy stored in Some types of organisms rely on the energy stored in inorganic chemical inorganic chemical

compounds.compounds. Mineral water flows undergroundMineral water flows underground

or boils out of hot springs and or boils out of hot springs and

undersea vents loaded with undersea vents loaded with

chemical energy.chemical energy.

AutotrophsAutotrophs

Organisms that capture energy Organisms that capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and from sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce use that energy to produce food.food. Plants, some algae, and certain Plants, some algae, and certain

bacteria.bacteria. Use the energy to take simple Use the energy to take simple

inorganic molecules and make inorganic molecules and make complex organic molecules.complex organic molecules.

Also called producers.Also called producers. They make their own food.They make their own food.

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis

Autotrophs use light energy to power chemical Autotrophs use light energy to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.

ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis

Organisms use chemical Organisms use chemical energy to produce energy to produce carbohydrates.carbohydrates. They use the chemical They use the chemical

energy stored in energy stored in chemical bonds.chemical bonds.

This can be done in the This can be done in the absence of light.absence of light.

Consumers Consumers

Organisms that rely on other Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food organisms for their energy and food supply.supply. Also called heterotrophs.Also called heterotrophs.

Herbivores: Eat only plants.Herbivores: Eat only plants. Carnivores: Eat only animalsCarnivores: Eat only animals Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals.Omnivores: Eat both plants and animals. Detritivores: Feed on plant and animal Detritivores: Feed on plant and animal

remains and other dead matter.remains and other dead matter. Decomposers: Break down organic matter.Decomposers: Break down organic matter.

Feeding RelationshipsFeeding Relationships

Energy flows through Energy flows through an ecosystem in one an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds or inorganic compounds to autotrophs and then to autotrophs and then to various heterotrophs.to various heterotrophs.

Food ChainFood Chain

A series of steps in A series of steps in which an organisms which an organisms transfer energy by transfer energy by eating and being eating and being eaten.eaten.

Food WebFood Web

A food web links A food web links all the food chain all the food chain in an ecosystem in an ecosystem together.together.

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/27997-http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery/27997-assignment-discovery-the-food-web-video.htm assignment-discovery-the-food-web-video.htm

Trophic levelsTrophic levels

Each step in a food Each step in a food web or food chain.web or food chain. Producers make up Producers make up

the 1st trophic level.the 1st trophic level. Consumers make up Consumers make up

the 2nd, 3rd or the 2nd, 3rd or higher trophic higher trophic levels.levels.

Consumers Consumers depend on the depend on the levels below them levels below them for energy.for energy.

Ecological Pyramids Ecological Pyramids

A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy A diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within a trophic level in a food or matter contained within a trophic level in a food chain or food web.chain or food web.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJplkrliUEg&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJplkrliUEg&feature=related&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid

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

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid

Biomass is the total Biomass is the total amount of living tissue amount of living tissue within a given trophic within a given trophic level.level. A biomass pyramid A biomass pyramid

represents the amount of represents the amount of potential food available potential food available for each trophic level in for each trophic level in an ecosystem.an ecosystem.

Balance Between Energy Balance Between Energy Expended and Energy ObtainedExpended and Energy Obtained

Adaptations for Energy Adaptations for Energy Conservation:Conservation:HibernationHibernation

MigrationMigrationAnimals travelAnimals travel

long distances long distances during seasons during seasons when when resources resources are scarce.are scarce.

Adaptations for Energy Conservation

DormancyDormancy

Plants loose Plants loose leaves and reduce leaves and reduce cellular functions cellular functions until enough solar until enough solar energy increases energy increases in spring.in spring.

Adaptations for Energy Conservation

Energy for Food Production in Energy for Food Production in Industrialized vs Non-industrialized Industrialized vs Non-industrialized

CountriesCountries

Industrialized CountriesIndustrialized Countries

Expend more energy on Expend more energy on food food production through use of production through use of farming equipment, fertilizers, farming equipment, fertilizers, and pesticides.and pesticides.

Non-industrialized Non-industrialized CountriesCountries

Use more human Use more human and animal labor and animal labor for farming.for farming.