EcologyEcology Study of the relationships between Study of the relationships between

organisms and their environmentsorganisms and their environments• Their interactions with each otherTheir interactions with each other• Their ability/methods of obtaining Their ability/methods of obtaining

energy to surviveenergy to survive• Evolutionary trendsEvolutionary trends

Distribution of organisms in the Distribution of organisms in the environmentenvironment

Organisms are not distributed evenly Organisms are not distributed evenly in a given areain a given area

Biosphere: levels of organizationBiosphere: levels of organization

Aquatic BiomesAquatic Biomesmake up the largest part of the biospheremake up the largest part of the biosphere

Aquatic biomesAquatic biomesare stratifiedare stratified

Aquatic BiomesAquatic Biomeslook up the major characteristics of eachlook up the major characteristics of each

LakesLakes RiversRivers EstuariesEstuaries Intertidal zonesIntertidal zones Coral reefsCoral reefs Oceanic pelagicOceanic pelagic Abyssal zonesAbyssal zones

Terrestrial BiomesTerrestrial Biomesgeographic distribution based on climategeographic distribution based on climate

Terrestrial BiomesTerrestrial Biomeslook up the major characteristics of eachlook up the major characteristics of each

Tropical forestTropical forest SavannaSavanna DesertDesert Polar and high-mountain icePolar and high-mountain ice ChaparralChaparral Temperate grasslandTemperate grassland Temperate deciduous forestTemperate deciduous forest Coniferous forestConiferous forest Tundra (arctic and alpine)Tundra (arctic and alpine)

EcosystemsEcosystemscontained within biomescontained within biomes

biotic and abiotic componentsbiotic and abiotic components Biotic = livingBiotic = living Abiotic = environmental factorsAbiotic = environmental factors

Abiotic components of ecosystemsAbiotic components of ecosystems

SunlightSunlight TemperatureTemperature MineralsMinerals RainfallRainfall TemperatureTemperature Water chemistry/soil chemistryWater chemistry/soil chemistry

Biotic components of an ecosystemBiotic components of an ecosystem

ProducersProducers DecomposersDecomposers Primary consumersPrimary consumers Secondary consumersSecondary consumers Tertiary consumersTertiary consumers

PopulationPopulation Group of individuals of a single Group of individuals of a single

species occupying the same areaspecies occupying the same area• characterized by a specific density (# characterized by a specific density (#

per unit area) and dispersion (spacing)per unit area) and dispersion (spacing)• Size of population is limited by both Size of population is limited by both

biotic and abiotic factorsbiotic and abiotic factors

CommunityCommunity Group of populations in a specific Group of populations in a specific

areaarea• Communities vary in diversityCommunities vary in diversity• Populations within a community are Populations within a community are

linked by competition, predation, linked by competition, predation, mutualism and commensalismmutualism and commensalism

CommunityCommunity

Food WebsFood Webs

How do organisms obtain energy to survive and function in their environments??

Food WebsFood Webs

Food WebsFood Webs Describe trophic structure within Describe trophic structure within

communitycommunity Food webs are made up of multiple Food webs are made up of multiple

food chainsfood chains

Food ChainsFood Chains

Food WebFood Web

EcosystemsEcosystems All of the organisms in a community All of the organisms in a community

and all of the abiotic factors that and all of the abiotic factors that affect themaffect them

Range in sizeRange in size Multiple ecosystems make up a Multiple ecosystems make up a

biomebiome

Ecosystems: energy flowEcosystems: energy flow

Ecosystems: energy flowEcosystems: energy flow

Ecosystem: nutrient cyclingEcosystem: nutrient cyclingEarth’s carbon cycleEarth’s carbon cycle

Ecosystems: nutrient cyclingEcosystems: nutrient cyclingThe nitrogen cycleThe nitrogen cycle

Primary ProductionPrimary Production The sun is the ultimate source of The sun is the ultimate source of

energy in an ecosystemenergy in an ecosystem The amount of light energy The amount of light energy

converted to chemical energy by an converted to chemical energy by an ecosystem’s autotrophs is called ecosystem’s autotrophs is called “Primary Production”“Primary Production”

Gross Primary ProductionGross Primary Production Amount of light energy converted to Amount of light energy converted to

chemical energy by photosynthesis chemical energy by photosynthesis per unit timeper unit time

Net Primary ProductionNet Primary Production Equal to the gross primary Equal to the gross primary

production MINUS the amount of production MINUS the amount of energy used by primary producers energy used by primary producers for cell respirationfor cell respiration

Is important because it represents Is important because it represents the amount of stored chemical the amount of stored chemical energy available to consumers in an energy available to consumers in an ecosystemecosystem

Primary production: limitsPrimary production: limits In aquatic ecosystems:In aquatic ecosystems:

• LightLight• NutrientsNutrients

In terrestrial ecosystems:In terrestrial ecosystems:• TemperatureTemperature• Availability of waterAvailability of water• NutrientsNutrients• LightLight

Secondary ProductionSecondary Production Amount of chemical energy in Amount of chemical energy in

consumer’s food that is converted consumer’s food that is converted into their own new biomass during a into their own new biomass during a given period of timegiven period of time

Secondary productionSecondary production

Food energy available to Food energy available to humanshumans