Ecology

Ecology:The study of living things and the way they live in

their environment.

Ecosystem

All the living and non-living things in a particular area.

Biotic Factors: Living

Abiotic Factors: Non-living

Environment:

The set of living and non-living things that make up a region.

Habitat:

The place where an animal or plant lives.

Big Mac

All the energy within our food originates from the sun – transferred through food chains...

It comes from the sun

Food Chains

A food chain shows what eats what in a particular habitat.

The arrow points in the direction of the energy flow.

e.g.

Food Chains

Producer:•Makes their own food from carbon dioxide and water using the energy from sun.Primary Consumer:•Eats (Consumes) producers Secondary Consumer:•Eats primary consumers

Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer

Food Chains

Energy is passed along the food chain.

Producer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer

Food Chains

Decomposer: a living organism that helps to break down dead organisms.

Food Webs

Just like food chains except in most habitats, more than one organism normally eats/is eaten by other organisms.

• Therefore, food webs are food chains which interlinks with each other.

• Identify 3 food chains in this food web.

Food Webs

Herbivore:Animal that eats only plants.

Carnivore:Animal that eats other animals.

Omnivore:Animal that eats plants and other animals.

Food WebsScavenger:

an animal that eats decaying animals and plants

Question

Write down the names of the:Top predator:Producer:Consumers:primary consumer:tertiary consumer: Herbivores:Carnivores:

Question

Write down the names of the:Top predator: HawkProducer: Marsh Grass, CattailConsumers: Grasshopper, Cricket, Shrew, Frog, Snake, HawkPrimary consumer: Grasshopper, CricketTertiary consumer: Snake, HawkHerbivores: Grasshopper, CricketCarnivores: Shrew, Frog, Snake, Hawk

What is another name for a primary consumer?

Fox & Sun

Explain as fully as you can why a fox is reliant on the Sun...

Fox & Sun

Producers (e.g. grass) grow via photosynthesis, getting their energy from the Sun

This energy is used to allow the producer to grow (increase in biomass), eventually being passed on to consumers (e.g. a rabbit) when they eat it

When a fox eats the consumer energy is again passed on, so completing the energy chain from Sun to producer to consumer to secondary consumer (fox)

Sun → Grass → Rabbit → Fox