Ecology

ECOLOGY - the study of interactions among organisms with each other and with environment

Understanding Ecology1. Ecological Methods

2. Levels of Organization

3. Feeding Relationships

4. Recycling in Biosphere

Ecological Methods

How can we study ecological relationships?

1. Observing – usually 1st step• Field study• Tagging/Counting

2. Experimenting – test hypothesis• Field study• Smaller artificial environments

3. Modeling – use math/formulas to help predict• Use current and past data to project trends• Often continually tested and modified

Ecological methods - how do we study it?

ObservingExperimentingModeling

Models are created by humans to make predictions.

Sometimes, you must be cautious in how a model interprets data....

Imagine graphing a person's height as they age.  One could predict that by the time they were age 30, they would be 22 feet tall.   

However, the model would need to account for the slowing of growth after adolescence.

Levels of Organization

• ____________– Group of organism

that can have fertile offspring

Levels of Organization

• Species– Group of organism

that can have fertile offspring

Levels of Organization

• Populations– Groups of ________

_________________

Levels of Organization

• Populations– Groups of individuals

of the same species in the same area

A population is always composed of same-species organisms

Levels of Organization

• _______________– Different populations

that live in a defined area

Levels of Organization

• Community– Different populations

that live in a defined area

Levels of Organization• Ecosystem

– Includes all __________ (living) AND _________ (nonliving) things that are in the same area

Levels of Organization• Ecosystem

– Includes all Biotic (living) AND Abiotic (nonliving) things that are in the same area

Levels of Organization• Biome

– _____________________ that have the same climate and similar communities

Levels of Organization• Biome

– Ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities

Levels of Organization

• _____________– The Earth itself

(11 miles up, 11 miles down)

Levels of Organization

• Biosphere– The Earth itself

(11 miles up, 11 miles down)

Levels of Organization

What is in your backyard community?

Feeding RelationshipsDescribes relationships among Trophic Levels

What is the ultimate source of energy

that drives ALL food webs?

*SUNLIGHT is the main source of energy*

Photosynthesis - uses light energy to make "food"

Feeding Relationships

Terms to understand

1. Producer (_____________)

2. Consumer (_____________)• Herbivores – • Carnivores – • Omnivores – • Detritivores – • Decomposers –

3. Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers

Feeding Relationships

Terms to understand

1. Producer (Make their own food)

2. Consumer (Need to eat their food)• Herbivores – Eats only plant material• Carnivores – Only eats meat• Omnivores – Eats both plants and animals• Detritivores – Eats decaying plant and animals• Decomposers – Breaks down and recycles dead

material

3. Primary, secondary and tertiary consumers

FOOD CHAINS AND FOOD WEBS - illustrate the flow of energy in an ecosystem

*Note the direction of the arrows, they indicate where the energy is going when

one organism consumes another.

Each step in a chain or web is called a TROPHIC LEVEL

Feeding Relationships

Producer

Primary Consumers

Secondary Consumers

Tertiary Consumers

Identify:

Primary Consumers

Secondary Consumers

Tertiary Consumers

Find the Omnivore.

Feeding Relationships1. Energy Pyramid – ____________________

___________________________________

-Main Point – only 10% of energy is passed on to higher

energy levels

What happens to the other 90% of energy?

Feeding Relationships1. Energy Pyramid – Pyramid that shows the

amount of energy in each trophic level

-Main Point – only 10% of energy is passed on to higher

energy levels

What happens to the other 90% of energy?

Feeding Relationships

Popcorn Race

1. Each individual group member must race around obstacle with popcorn in hands

2. Popcorn must be transferred to each partner

3. Any lost popcorn may NOT be picked up

4. Be fast and try to keep as much popcorn as possible

Feeding Relationships2. Biomass Pyramid – describes amount of

living material (food) available at each trophic level

Why would using corn (ethanol) as a fuel not be the best choice

for our society?

Design a Food Web

• Pick a habitat you are familiar with

• Make a list of at least 30 organisms and group them into producers, herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and decomposers

• Construct a food web using all of your organisms– Be sure to have your food web show clear

trophic levels for your consumers