Transcript What is Ecology?

What is Ecology?
Chapter 3.1 & 3.2
Ecology
• Study of INTERACTIONS among:
– Organisms
– Organisms and their surroundings
Biosphere
• Largest “ecology”
• Contains all life on Earth.
• A web of connections
Levels of Organization
1. Species = group of organisms that are similar,
can breed, and produce FERTILE OFFSPRING
2. Populations = groups of individuals that are
part of same species & live in same area
Levels of Organization
3. Communities = groups of different
populations
4. Ecosystem = different organisms + their
environment
5. Biome = group of ecosystems that have
similar climates
Abiotic vs Biotic
Abiotic = non living things in
ecosystem
 Ex: water, light
Biotic = living things in ecosystem
 Ex: plants, species
PRACTICE
The picture represents individual
animals that can breed and produce
fertile offspring with each other.
These are called a
_______________.
PRACTICE
A group of individuals from the same species is
called a ______________.
PRACTICE
Groups of populations living
together is called a
__________________.
PRACTICE
Groups of populations and their
environment is a
______________________________.
PRACTICE
Groups of similar ecosystems are
_________.
PRACTICE
1. Can a biome near the equator be the
same as a biome in Northern Canada?
Explain.
2. Can a group of rabbits and a group of
mice make up the same POPULATION?
Explain.
3. Can a rabbit and a moose be part of the
same SPECIES? Explain.
PRACTICE
1. Write definitions for:
Species
abiotic
Population
biotic
Community
ecosystem
biome
2. Draw examples for each definition
3. Color your pictures
Ecological Methods
Observing – observe species, populations,
ecosystems
Experimenting – experiment to test hypothesis
Modeling – use models to test complex theories
Energy Flow
Do YOU need energy?
What do you need energy to
do?
Energy Flow
Do animals or plants need
ENERGY?
Where does our energy come
from?
The Sun
SUNLIGHT! The main source of energy for life
 Only use 1%
Producers
Also called
AUTOTROPHS
Use energy
from SUN to
make food
PRODUCERS
Some use
chemical energy
to make food
Photosynthesis
CO2 + H2O 
glucose
Chemosynthesis
Producers
Consumers
Herbivores
(eat plants)
Omnivores
(eat
everything)
Also called
HETEROTROPHS
CONSUMERS
Decomposers
(decompose
everything)
Detritivores
(eat
decomposing
plants)
Carnivores
(eat meat)
Consumers
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
What type of consumer?
Feeding Relationships
Energy moves in ONE DIRECTION:
Sun  autotrophs  heterotrophs
Food Chains
• Series of steps where energy is transferred by
organisms through eating or being eaten.
Ex: grass (producer)  deer (consumer)  wolf
(carnivore)
Food Webs
• Links all food chains together
Trophic Levels:
• Each step in a food web
Producers make up 1st trophic level
Consumers make up 2nd, 3rd, higher levels
Each level depends on the one below it for
energy
Food Webs
Food Webs
Food Webs
PRACTICE
You will EACH draw out a food web that connects
at least 5 different food chains. Your food web
must include:
• A specific biome (ex: marine, grassland, forest)
• 1 producer
• Primary consumer
• Secondary consumer
• Decomposer
• Label consumers as
herbivores/carnivores/omnivores
Ecological Pyramid
• Shows amounts of energy or matter
in a food web
Energy Pyramid
• Shows how much energy passes
from one trophic level to the next
• Only 10% of energy is transferred
from level to level
Energy Pyramid
Biomass Pyramid
• Total amount of living tissue
• Shows amount of potential food
available
Biomass Pyramid
Number Pyramid
• Shows number of individual
organisms in ecosystem
PRACTICE
10,000 cal
of energy