What is Ecology?Chapter 3.1 & 3.2

Ecology

• Study of INTERACTIONS among:– Organisms– Organisms and their surroundings

Biosphere

• Largest “ecology”• Contains all life on Earth. • A web of connections

Levels of Organization

1. Species = group of organisms that are similar, can breed, and produce FERTILE OFFSPRING

2. Populations = groups of individuals that are part of same species & live in same area

Levels of Organization

3. Communities = groups of different populations

4. Ecosystem = different organisms + their environment

5. Biome = group of ecosystems that have similar climates

Abiotic vs Biotic

Abiotic = non living things in ecosystem

Ex: water, light

Biotic = living things in ecosystem Ex: plants, species

PRACTICE

The picture represents individual animals that can breed and produce fertile offspring with each other. These are called a _______________.

PRACTICE

A group of individuals from the same species is called a ______________.

PRACTICE

Groups of populations living together is called a __________________.

PRACTICE

Groups of populations and their environment is a ______________________________.

PRACTICE

Groups of similar ecosystems are _________.

PRACTICE

1. Can a biome near the equator be the same as a biome in Northern Canada? Explain.

2. Can a group of rabbits and a group of mice make up the same POPULATION? Explain.

3. Can a rabbit and a moose be part of the same SPECIES? Explain.

PRACTICE1. Write definitions for:Species abioticPopulation bioticCommunity ecosystembiome2. Draw examples for each definition3. Color your pictures

Ecological MethodsObserving – observe species, populations,

ecosystems

Experimenting – experiment to test hypothesis

Modeling – use models to test complex theories

Energy Flow

Do YOU need energy?

What do you need energy to do?

Energy Flow

Do animals or plants need ENERGY?

Where does our energy come from?

The Sun

SUNLIGHT! The main source of energy for life Only use 1%

Producers

PRODUCERS

Also called AUTOTROPH

S

Use energy from SUN to make food

Some use chemical energy

to make food

PhotosynthesisCO2 + H2O

glucose

Chemosynthesis

Producers

Consumers

CONSUMERS

Also called HETEROTROPHS

Herbivores(eat plants)

Omnivores(eat

everything)

Carnivores(eat meat)Detritivores

(eat decomposing

plants)

Decomposers(decompose

everything)

Consumers

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

What type of consumer?

Feeding Relationships

Energy moves in ONE DIRECTION:

Sun autotrophs heterotrophs

Food Chains

• Series of steps where energy is transferred by organisms through eating or being eaten.

Ex: grass (producer) deer (consumer) wolf (carnivore)

Food Webs

• Links all food chains together

Trophic Levels:• Each step in a food webProducers make up 1st trophic levelConsumers make up 2nd, 3rd, higher levelsEach level depends on the one below it for

energy

Food Webs

Food Webs

Food Webs

PRACTICEYou will EACH draw out a food web that connects at

least 5 different food chains. Your food web must include:

• A specific biome (ex: marine, grassland, forest)• 1 producer• Primary consumer • Secondary consumer• Decomposer• Label consumers as

herbivores/carnivores/omnivores

Ecological Pyramid

• Shows amounts of energy or matter in a food web

Energy Pyramid

• Shows how much energy passes from one trophic level to the next

• Only 10% of energy is transferred from level to level

Energy Pyramid

Biomass Pyramid

• Total amount of living tissue• Shows amount of potential food

available

Biomass Pyramid

Number Pyramid

• Shows number of individual organisms in ecosystem

PRACTICE

10,000 cal of energy