Introduction to Introduction to EcologyEcology

What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

Study of organism interactions with other Study of organism interactions with other organisms and the environmentorganisms and the environment

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Habitat & NicheHabitat & NicheHabitatHabitat is the is the

place a plant or place a plant or animal lives animal lives

NicheNiche is an is an organism’s total organism’s total way of lifeway of life

What shapes an What shapes an Ecosystem?Ecosystem?

Biotic factorsBiotic factors: all living organisms within : all living organisms within an ecosysteman ecosystem ie – animals, fungus, plants, bacteriaie – animals, fungus, plants, bacteria

Abiotic factorsAbiotic factors: physical and non-living : physical and non-living factors within an ecosystemfactors within an ecosystem ie – soil type, sunlight, temperature, ie – soil type, sunlight, temperature,

precipitation precipitation

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What are the Simplest What are the Simplest Levels?Levels? AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

SpeciesSpecies PopulationPopulation CommunityCommunity EcosystemEcosystem BiomeBiome BiosphereBiosphere

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11stst Level of Organization Level of Organization Organism:Organism:

An individual An individual living thing that living thing that is made of is made of cells, cells, uses energy, uses energy, reproduces, reproduces, responds, grows, responds, grows, and developsand develops

Ex: 1 zebraEx: 1 zebra

PopulationPopulation

Groups of the same species that live in Groups of the same species that live in one particular areaone particular area

Ex: all elephants that live in the African Ex: all elephants that live in the African savannasavanna

CommunityCommunity

Groups of different populations that live Groups of different populations that live in a particular area.in a particular area.

Ex. All living things found in the African Ex. All living things found in the African savanna such as elephants, giraffes, lions, savanna such as elephants, giraffes, lions, grasses, trees, etcgrasses, trees, etc

EcosystemEcosystem

All living AND non-living components to a All living AND non-living components to a particular areaparticular area

Ex. All the animals of the African savanna Ex. All the animals of the African savanna plus the climate such as temperature, plus the climate such as temperature, precipitation and soil typeprecipitation and soil type

BiomeBiome

Group of ecosystems that have the same Group of ecosystems that have the same climate and communitiesclimate and communities

Ex: SavannaEx: Savanna

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66thth Level of Organization Level of Organization

Biosphere:Biosphere:The portion The portion of Earth that of Earth that supports life.supports life.

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What level of What level of Organization?Organization?

Species/Species/PopulationPopulation

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Energy Flow Energy Flow Through an Through an EcosystemEcosystemFood Chains, Food Webs, Food Chains, Food Webs, Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

Energy FlowEnergy Flow

Main source of Energy – SUNMain source of Energy – SUN

Autotrophs/Producers – use sunlight or Autotrophs/Producers – use sunlight or chemicals to produce organic chemicals to produce organic compoundscompounds

6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2

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The The energy that is not energy that is not used by producersused by producers can be passed on to can be passed on to organisms that organisms that cannot make their cannot make their own food.own food.

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Heterotrophs/consumers – must take in Heterotrophs/consumers – must take in organic compounds in order to make organic compounds in order to make energyenergy

Primary Consumers or Herbivores – only eat plantsPrimary Consumers or Herbivores – only eat plants Secondary Consumers or Carnivores – only eat animalsSecondary Consumers or Carnivores – only eat animals Tertiary/Quartenary Consumers or Omnivores – eat both Tertiary/Quartenary Consumers or Omnivores – eat both

plants and animalsplants and animals Detritivores – eat dead materialDetritivores – eat dead material Decomposers – break down organic matterDecomposers – break down organic matter

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

Shows the amount of energy contained Shows the amount of energy contained at each levelat each level

Three types:Three types: Energy pyramidsEnergy pyramids Biomass pyramidsBiomass pyramids Pyramids of numbersPyramids of numbers

Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

Organisms need energyOrganisms need energy They get energy from foodThey get energy from food Use energy in respiration, movement , Use energy in respiration, movement ,

reproductionreproduction Only 10% of energy is passed from one Only 10% of energy is passed from one

trophic level to the nexttrophic level to the next

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Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

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Energy Pyramids ShowEnergy Pyramids Show Amount of available Amount of available energy energy decreasesdecreases down down the food chainthe food chainIt takes a large number It takes a large number of producers to support a of producers to support a small number of primary small number of primary consumersconsumers

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid

Biomass – total amount of living tissue Biomass – total amount of living tissue within a trophic levelwithin a trophic level Grams of organic matter/unit areaGrams of organic matter/unit area

Shows amount of potential foodShows amount of potential food

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid

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Food Chains Show Food Chains Show Available EnergyAvailable Energy

Pyramid of NumbersPyramid of Numbers

Shows the number of Shows the number of individual organisms individual organisms in each trophic levelin each trophic level

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The The transfer of energytransfer of energy from the from the sunsun to to producerproducer to primary consumer then to primary consumer then to higher order to higher order consumersconsumers can be shown in acan be shown in a FOOD FOOD CHAIN.CHAIN.

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Food Webs:Food Webs:

Are Are interconnected interconnected food chainsfood chainsThey show the They show the feeding feeding relationships in relationships in an ecosysteman ecosystem

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Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Identify the Producers, Consumers, & Decomposers:Decomposers:

Count the Count the Food Food

Chains!Chains!