UNIT 2 INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY - Teacher … Factors The LIVING factors in an environment. Biotic...

UNIT 2INTRODUCTION TO ECOLOGY

Part 1 - Review

Alternate Text - links

Intro and factors that affect sustainability

(Pre-Ecology Assignment – Class #1)

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mpurba/C7.pdf (P. 274)

http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mpurba/C8.pdf P. 348

You Can Make a Difference – Fair Trade Products STSE

Review

Ecology

Ecosystem

Habitat

Niche

Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors

Species

Organism

Population

Community

Producers

Consumers

Herbivore

Carnivore

Omnivore

Scavenger

Decomposers

Food Chain

Food Web

Trophic Level

Pyramid of energy

ECOLOGY

The study of the interrelationships

between organisms , and between those

organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and the

physical environment in which they live.

Habitat

the natural home or environment

of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Niche

The place or function of a given organism within

its ecosystem.

Example:

Biotic Factors

The LIVING factors in an environment.

Biotic factors include both:

the ORGANISMS AND

the interactive RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN organisms

Examples:

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

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Biotic Interactions - clarification

1. Symbiosis

(Mutualism +,+)

(Commensalism +,0)

(Parasitism +, -)

2. Competition

Interspecific – competition between members of

different species

Intraspecific - competition between members

of the same species

Abiotic Factors

The NON-LIVING FACTORS which affect life in an ecosystem.

Examples:

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

___________________________

Identify abiotic and biotic factors……

Species

a group of living organisms consisting of

similar individuals capable of exchanging

genes or interbreeding.

Organism

an individual animal, plant, or single-

celled life form. Any living thing.

Population

Describes members of the SAME SPECIES living in the

same ecosystem or habitat

Example: Caribou herd in Labrador

Community

Describes ALL POPULATIONS of the variety of species

in the same ecosystem or habitat.

Example: George’s Lake Community

PRODUCERS

Also known as AUTOTROPHS (“self-feeders”)

Organisms that CAN produce their own food and oxygen through

PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

Examples:

Plants (phytoplankton)

Algae

CONSUMERS

Also known as HETEROTROPHS (“other-feeders”)

Organisms that CANNOT produce their own food and feed on

OTHER organisms to survive.

Organisms that get oxygen through CELLULAR RESPIRATION.

TYPES OF CONSUMERS:

HERBIVORE

Eats plants

Ex: __________________________

CARNIVORE

Eats other consumers

Can be either a PREDATOR or a SCAVENGER (or both)

Ex: __________________________

OMNIVORE

Eats plants AND animals

Ex: __________________________

DECOMPOSERS

Also known as DETRITIVORES or SAPROBES

Organisms that get their nutrients by breaking down

DETRITUS (decaying plant and animal material)

FOOD CHAIN

A diagram that defines ONE SINGLE CHAIN of feeding

relationships in an ecosystem – ARROWS SHOW THE FLOW OF

ENERGY.

Starts with PRODUCERS

Why do food chains usually only go up as high as the

third order, or tertiary consumer?

Energy decreases as it is passed up the food chain, and

the top levels have the least energy, so they are limited in

levels.

FOOD WEB

A diagram that defines ALL OF THE POSSIBLE FOOD CHAINS in an ecosystem.

Ex:

Bill Nye – Food chain/Web

Trophic Level

the feeding position in a food chain such as primary producers, herbivore,

primary carnivore, etc.

PYRAMID OF ENERGY A pictorial representation of the flow of energy.

Energy is measured in Joules (J).

PRODUCERS always have the most energy (bottom of pyramid).

TOP CARNIVORES always have the least energy (top of pyramid).

About 10 % of the total energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next.

That is, 90% is lost due to processes such as:

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Energy Flow Worksheet

Example: