What is Ecology?What is Ecology?the study of interactions between organisms the study of interactions between organisms

and their environmentand their environment

The Environment The Environment includes Living and includes Living and

Nonliving parts Nonliving parts BIOTICBIOTIC –the living parts of the environment –the living parts of the environment

(animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists, etc.)(animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists, etc.)

ABIOTICABIOTIC –the nonliving parts of the –the nonliving parts of the environment (air, water, rocks, soil, light, etc.)environment (air, water, rocks, soil, light, etc.)

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization Ecologists study Ecologists study

several different levels several different levels of organization:of organization: SpeciesSpecies PopulationPopulation CommunityCommunity EcosystemEcosystem BiomeBiome BiosphereBiosphere

SpeciesSpecies

Group of similar Group of similar organisms that can breed organisms that can breed and produce fertile and produce fertile offspringoffspring

Group of organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same area

PopulationPopulation

A population of bullfrogs in a pond

CommunityCommunity group of different populations that live in the same group of different populations that live in the same

areaarea

EcosystemEcosystem

Community of organisms that live together and Community of organisms that live together and interact with the abiotic environmentinteract with the abiotic environment

BiomeBiome Group of ecosystems with similar climate and Group of ecosystems with similar climate and

dominant communitiesdominant communities

Tropical rain forest

Tropical dry forest

Tropical savanna Temperate woodlandand shrubland

Desert

Temperate grassland

Boreal forest(Taiga)

Northwesternconiferous forest

Temperate forest

Mountains andice caps

Tundra

BiosphereBiosphere The biosphere refers to the portion of the planet in The biosphere refers to the portion of the planet in

which all of life exists:which all of life exists: LandLand WaterWater AirAir

Energy Flow in an Energy Flow in an EcosystemEcosystem

Autotrophs vs. HeterotrophsAutotrophs vs. Heterotrophs

AutotrophsAutotrophs – make – make their own foodtheir own food so so they are called they are called PRODUCERSPRODUCERS

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs – get – get their food from their food from another source so another source so they are called they are called CONSUMERSCONSUMERS

Two main types of Producers Two main types of Producers (Autotrophs)(Autotrophs)

Get energy from sunlightGet energy from sunlight The main source of energy The main source of energy

for life on earthfor life on earth PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis

Get energy from chemicals Get energy from chemicals Some organisms rely on the Some organisms rely on the

energy stored in inorganic energy stored in inorganic compoundscompounds

ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis

Types of ConsumersTypes of ConsumersHerbivores- only eat plants Carnivores - only eat animals

Omnivores- eat plants AND animals

Detritivores and Decomposers

Feeds on plant and animal remains

How does How does EnergyEnergy flow flow through an Ecosystem?through an Ecosystem?

Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE directiondirection

Feeding RelationshipsFeeding Relationships Food ChainFood Chain – steps of – steps of

organisms transferring organisms transferring energy by eating and energy by eating and being eatenbeing eaten

Food WebFood Web – network of – network of the interconnected food the interconnected food chains in an ecosystemchains in an ecosystem

Make your Own Food Web!Make your Own Food Web!

Go to the link below.Go to the link below. Scroll to bottom and click on, “creating a Scroll to bottom and click on, “creating a

possible food web”.possible food web”. Type your full name in the box.Type your full name in the box. Drag organisms & arrows to form your web.Drag organisms & arrows to form your web. Print your completed web to turn into your Print your completed web to turn into your

teacher.teacher.Click here to make your

own Food Web

What are trophic levels?What are trophic levels? Each step in a food chain or food web is a Each step in a food chain or food web is a trophic trophic

levellevel.. Producers make the first trophic level.Producers make the first trophic level. Consumers make up the second, third, or higher Consumers make up the second, third, or higher

trophic levels.trophic levels. A A primary consumerprimary consumer eats the 1st trophic level. eats the 1st trophic level. A A secondary consumersecondary consumer eats the 2nd trophic level. eats the 2nd trophic level. A A tertiary consumertertiary consumer eats the 3rd trophic level. eats the 3rd trophic level. A A quaternary consumerquaternary consumer eats the 4th trophic level. eats the 4th trophic level.

Ecological Pyramids Ecological Pyramids

Energy Pyramid

Biomass Pyramid

Pyramid of Numbers

A graphical representation of the trophic levels in an ecosystem

Energy Pyramid v. Biomass PyramidEnergy Pyramid v. Biomass Pyramid Energy pyramid represents the amount of energy Energy pyramid represents the amount of energy

available in each trophic level.available in each trophic level. Only about 10% of the energy stored in an organism is Only about 10% of the energy stored in an organism is

transferred to the next trophic leveltransferred to the next trophic level The more levels that exist between producers and top-level The more levels that exist between producers and top-level

consumers in an ecosystem, the less energy that remains consumers in an ecosystem, the less energy that remains from the original amountfrom the original amount

Biomass pyramid represents the total amount of living tissue available within each trophic level of a food chain It represents the amount of potential food available for

each trophic level (grams of organic matter per unit area) Typically, the greatest biomass is at the bottom of the

pyramid.

Pyramid of Biomass - Pyramid of Biomass - amount of amount of potential food potential food availableavailable for each trophic level for each trophic level