Transcript Ecology - Anoka-Hennepin School District 11

Ecology
Chapters 34-38
What is ecology?
 Study of how
organisms interact
with each other and
their physical
environment
 Greek origin “oikos” 
meaning house
Key Terms
 Biosphere – part of planet in which all life
exists (includes water, land, air)
 Ecosystem – most complex system a biologist
studies
 Consists of a community and a habitat
 Community – populations of different species
that live in one area
 Ex: animals, plants, fungi, etc. in a forest
 Habitat – physical location where a
community lives
 Ex: soil and water that make up a forest
Different factors that shape
ecosystems…
 Biotic factors – living influences on
ecosystems
 Interactions with birds, trees,
mushrooms, etc.
 Abiotic factors – non-living influences
on ecosystems
 Temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity
Energy Flow
 Food Chains
 Shows simplest feeding relationships
between organisms
 Grass  mouse  snake  hawk
Energy Flow, cont’d.
 Food Webs
 Complex diagram showing how ALL organisms
are connected in a habitat
Trophic Levels
 Number of steps away from the sun in food
chains/webs
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Level 1 = Plants/producers
Level 2 = Primary consumer/herbivore
Level 3 = Secondary Consumer/ carnivore
Level 4 = Tertiary Consumer/ top carnivore
Level 5
Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Trophic
Level
Example