Download - Biology Unit 2 - Cabarrus County Schools
Biology Unit 2ECOLOGY
Ecology
Study of how organisms interact with their
environment.
Uses both qualitative and quantitative
information.
Qualitative data comes from observing
organisms.
Quantitative data comes from measurements
taken in field experiments.
The Biosphere
The portion of the Earth that supports living
things.
Extends from high in the atmosphere to the
bottom of the oceans.
Home to a diverse group of organisms and a
wide range of climates.
The Nonliving Environment
Known as abiotic factors.
Includes air currents, temperature, moisture,
light, and soil.
We include these factors because they can
have a great effect on the life of an organism.
The Living Environment
All living things are called biotic factors.
All organisms depend on each other directly or
indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or
protection.
Levels of Organization
Ecologists study:
Individuals
Individuals interacting with their own species
Organisms interacting with different species
Organisms interacting with abiotic factors
Organisms interacting with all 3.
Because of this, they need to organize the different
types of interaction.
Levels of Organization Cont’d
Ecologists organize the living world into the
following levels:
Individuals
Populations
Communities
Ecosystems
Populations
A group of organisms, all the same species, that
interbreed and live in the same area at the
same time.
Members of a population may compete with
each other for food, water, mates, and other
resources.
Communities
Made up of multiple populations interacting with
each other in a certain area in a certain time.
A change in one population in a community
may cause changes in other populations within
the community.
Ecosystem
Made up of the interacting populations in a
biological community and includes the abiotic
factors.
There are 2 major types of ecosystems.
Terrestrial (on land)
Aquatic ( in water)
Discuss with your seat partner:
Try to come up with as many different
ecosystems as you can!
Organisms In Ecosystems
Most organisms have a specific place where
they live out their lives. This is called a habitat.
They also have unique strategies or adaptations
that allow them to be successful in their habitats.
This is called a Niche.
Predator-Prey Relationships
When multiple populations live together there will
ultimately be predator-prey relationships.
In a predator-prey relationship one animals eats another
for energy.
Once the energy runs out, the predator must find more
prey to get more energy.
Survival Relationships
Studies show that most organisms survive
because of their relationships with other species.
These are called symbiotic relationships.
There are 3 recognized symbiotic relationships:
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Mutualism
Both species benefit
Example: Ant and Acacia Tree
The ants protect the tree from insects that will eat
it and the tree provides the ants with a home.
Commensalism
One species benefits and the other is not
affected.
Example: Spanish moss
Spanish moss grows on tree branches. The trees
are not harmed but the moss benefits from
having a habitat.
Parasitism
Beneficial to one species and harmful to the
other.
Ex: Cowbird
Most parasites have found away to take from
their host without causing death.
If the host were to die, the parasite would likely
die as well.
Wolf Article
Go to my website and click the link for the wolf article.
Sign in as a student. Password: cmhsscience1
Click on digital issue and scroll to the article titled “gone fishing”
Answer the questions on your worksheet
Unit 2 Notes Part 2: How Organisms
Obtain Energy
The Producers: Autotrophs
All energy used for life on Earth comes from the SUN.
Autotrophs convert the energy from the sun to sugar.
All plants as well as some algae are autotrophs.
All heterotrophs depend on autotrophs for energy either
directly or indirectly.
Heterotrophs are also called consumers.
Consumers: Heterotrophs
Organism that has to eat other organisms for food.
Heterotrophs that eat only autotrophs: Herbivores
Heterotrophs that kill and eat heterotrophs: Carnivores
Heterotrophs that eat dead animals: Scavengers
Heterotrophs that eat plants and animals: Omnivores
Decomposers
Some organisms such as bacteria and fungi are
known as decomposers.
They break down dead plant matter so that they
can be reabsorbed into the soil.
This is called nutrient recycling.
Food Chains
A food chain is a simple model scientists use to show
how matter and energy move through an ecosystem.
In a food chain, we use arrows to indicate direction of
energy.
Food Webs
Food chains are just a model of a single
relationship between a small group of organisms
A more accurate model of energy flow through
an ecosystem is a food web.
Food webs consist of multiple food chains and
show the big picture of energy flow.
Food Web Example
Trophic Level
Each level of a food chain is called a trophic
level.
They go in this order: Producer, primary
consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary
consumer etc…..
Trophic levels represent the passage of energy
and materials.
The Energy Pyramid
As you move up through trophic levels, both
energy and biomass are lost.
Energy is lost through metabolizing food.
As energy decreases less biomass is supported.
Biomass is the weight of all the living things on
that trophic level.
The Energy Pyramid
Calculating Biomass
Calculate the biomass of the secondary
consumer if you start out with 25,000 Kg of
producers.
Nutrient Cycling
Unlike energy, we have a finite amount of
Water, Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus on our
planet.
So, we recycle these nutrients over and over
again.
The Water Cycle
Our planet “stores” water in the ocean
The water evaporates into the atmosphere,
precipitates, and falls back to the earth.
Water that is not absorbed by organisms runs off
and the process begins again.
Plants release water by Transpiration
The Water Cycle
The Carbon Cycle
All life on Earth is based on Carbon molecules.
Carbon cycle starts with autotrophs.
Autotrophs use the carbon to grow and make
energy.
Heterotrophs eat autotrophs and also use
carbon to grow and make energy..
The Carbon Cycle
What are some ways that carbon gets put back
into the ecosystem?
The Carbon Cycle
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is essential for plant growth as well as making
up many chemicals that we need.
Nitrogen is obtained through soil by plants and through
eating by autotrophs.
When plants and animals die or produce waste, nitrogen
fixing bacteria in the soil allow nitrogen back into the
atmosphere.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
All organisms require phosphorus.
Obtained same way as nitrogen.
There are 2 phosphorus cycles; short and long.
Short Phosphorus Cycle
Plants and animals produce waste and die.
This phosphorus is returned to the soil to be used
again.
Long Phosphorus Cycle
Phosphorus from dead animals leaches into
streams.
Phosphates settle and become locked in rocks.
Geologic processes uplift rocks over millions of
years.
Phosphorus erodes back into soil.
Phosphorus Cycle