Ecology

The study of the interaction of living things with their environment.

Biotic (Living) Factors

BacteriaProtistsPlantsAnimalsFungi

Abiotic (Non-Living) Factors

WaterGasesWeatherTemperatureSoil

BiosphereEcosystemCommunityPopulationOrganismOrgan systemOrganTissueCell

Levels of Organization

Most inclusive M

ost Exclusive

The Ecosystem

Habitat ~ Area in which a particular organism lives (where an organism lives). Niche (pronounced “nitch”)~ The job an organism carries out in its ecosystem (how an organism lives).

Obtaining FoodAutotroph: make their food

Producer– Ex. Plant

Heterotroph: eat their foodDecomposer

– Ex. Bacteria

Consumer• Herbivore: eat autotrophs

– Ex. Cow• Carnivore: eat heterotrophs

– Ex. Lion• Omnivore: eat both

– Ex. Humans

• Scavenger: eat leftovers– Ex. Hyenas

The Sun

Source of all energy in the biosphere.

Food Chain: A series of steps in an ecosystem showing the TRANSFER OF ENERGY (represented by an arrow) by organisms

Producer: An organism that produces food through photosynthesisPrimary (1°) consumer: The organisms that consume the producer in a food chain.Secondary (2°) consumer: The organisms that consume the primary consumer in a food chain.Tertiary (3°) consumer: The organisms that consume the secondary consumer in a food chain.

Grass→Rabbit→Fox→Mountain Lion

Energy Pyramid

Trophic Levels: different levels in the food chain10% Rule: only 10% of the energy in an organism can be passed to the organism consuming it, the other 90% is lost as heat

Which way would the arrow go?

Zebra Lion Koala Bear Leaf

Which way would the arrow go?

Food WebShows all of the possible food chains in an ecosystem.Arrows always point toward the consumer (the direction of energy flow).Identify a food chain with:

3 trophic levels4 trophic levels