EcologyEcologyA Review from Last Year A Review from Last Year

What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

•EcologyEcology is the study of interactions is the study of interactions among organisms and between among organisms and between organisms and their environment.organisms and their environment.

•BiosphereBiosphere contains the combined contains the combined portions of the planet in which life portions of the planet in which life exists, including land, water, and air exists, including land, water, and air or atmosphere.or atmosphere.

Introduction to EcologyIntroduction to Ecology

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

• SpeciesSpecies is a group of organisms so similar to one is a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed.another that they can breed.

• PopulationPopulation are groups of individuals that belong are groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.to the same species and live in the same area.

• CommunitiesCommunities are assemblages of the different are assemblages of the different populations that live together ina defined area.populations that live together ina defined area.

• EcosystemEcosystem is a collection of all the organisms that is a collection of all the organisms that live together in a particular place as well as their live together in a particular place as well as their nonliving or physical environment.nonliving or physical environment.

• BiomeBiome is a group of ecosystems that have the is a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.same climate and similar dominant communities.

Energy FlowEnergy Flow

• Sunlight is the main source of energy for Sunlight is the main source of energy for life on Earth.life on Earth.

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

• Autotrophs (producers) use energy from Autotrophs (producers) use energy from the environment to fuel assembly of the environment to fuel assembly of simple compounds into complex organic simple compounds into complex organic molecules. molecules.

Energy FlowEnergy FlowAutotrophsAutotrophs

• The best know autotrophs are those that The best know autotrophs are those that harness the power of the sun through harness the power of the sun through photosynthesis. They use this energy to photosynthesis. They use this energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose.oxygen and glucose.

• The second type of autotrophs use The second type of autotrophs use chemical energy to make carbohydrates. chemical energy to make carbohydrates. This is performed by several types of This is performed by several types of bacteria. bacteria.

Energy FlowEnergy FlowConsumersConsumers

• Heterotrophs (consumers) rely on other Heterotrophs (consumers) rely on other organisms for their energy and food.organisms for their energy and food.

• HerbivoresHerbivores obtain energy by eating plants. obtain energy by eating plants.• CarnivoresCarnivores eat animals. eat animals.• OmnivoresOmnivores eat both plants and animals. eat both plants and animals.• DetritivoresDetritivores feed on the remains of plants, feed on the remains of plants,

animals and other dead matter.animals and other dead matter.• DecomposersDecomposers breaks down organic matter. breaks down organic matter.

Introduction to Energy FlowIntroduction to Energy Flow

Feeding RelationshipsFeeding Relationships

• Energy flow through an ecosystem in one Energy flow through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to direction, from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (consumers).heterotrophs (consumers).

• Food ChainsFood Chains are a series of steps in which are a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.eaten.

• Food websFood webs show the complex interactions within show the complex interactions within an ecosystem.an ecosystem.

• Each step in a food chain or web is called a Each step in a food chain or web is called a trophic level. Producers make up the first step, trophic level. Producers make up the first step, consumers make up the higher levels.consumers make up the higher levels.

Food Webs & Food ChainsFood Webs & Food Chains

Ecological PyramidsEcological Pyramids

• An ecological pyramid is a diagram that An ecological pyramid is a diagram that shows the relationship amounts of shows the relationship amounts of energy or matter contained within each energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food web or food trophic level in a food web or food chain.chain.

• Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid only 10% of the energy only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.trophic level.

Pyramids ContinuedPyramids Continued

• Biomass pyramidsBiomass pyramids show the total amount show the total amount of living tissue available at each trophic of living tissue available at each trophic level. This shows the amount of tissue level. This shows the amount of tissue available for the next trophic level.available for the next trophic level.

• Numbers pyramid shows the number of Numbers pyramid shows the number of species at each trophic level.species at each trophic level.

• Because each trophic level harvests only Because each trophic level harvests only about one tenth of the energy from the about one tenth of the energy from the level below, it can support only about one level below, it can support only about one 1010thth the amount of living tissue. the amount of living tissue.

PyramidsPyramids

Cycles of MatterCycles of Matter

• Unlike the one-way flow of energy, Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.between ecosystems.

• These cycles are the water cycle, These cycles are the water cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.nitrogen cycle and phosphorus cycle.

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Water CycleWater Cycle

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Oxygen Carbon CycleOxygen Carbon Cycle