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Ecology. Chapter 3. What is Ecology?. Section 3-1. Ecology. Ecology is the study of organisms and their interaction with the environment. An organism is any living thing Examples: Humans, animals, plant, bacteria. Ecology. The Biosphere
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Ecology Chapter 3
What is Ecology? Section 3-1
Ecology • Ecology is the study of organisms and their interaction with the environment. • An organism is any living thing • Examples: Humans, animals, plant, bacteria
Ecology • The Biosphere • The biosphere is the combined portions of the planet where life exists, including land, air, water, or atmosphere. • It extends from about 8 kilometers above the earth’s atmosphere to about 11 kilometers below the surface of the water
Levels of organization • To understand the relationships within the biosphere, ecologists ask questions about events and organisms that range in complexity from a single individual to the entire population • INDIVIDUAL • POPULATION • COMMUNITY • ECOSYSTEM • BIOME • BIOSPHERE
Important vocabulery • -Species (individual)group of similar organisms can breed and produce fertile offspring • -Populations- group of individuals of same species that live in the same area • -Communities- group of populations that live together in a defined area • -Ecosystem- collection of all organisms in a particular place includes nonliving or physical environment • -Biome- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominate communities • -Biosphere- all portions of living planet
BBECPS THINK OF A MNMOMIC TO REMEMBER THE LEVELS
Bad Boys Escapes Community Prison Suddenly BBECPS What’a your mnmonic?
Biological Methods • Regardless of the tools they use, scientists conduct modern ecological research using three basic approaches • 1. Observing • -What species live here? • -How many species? • 2. Experimenting • -test hypotheses • -set up experiment in lab or field • 3. Modeling • -make models • -predictions • -test further with observations and experiments
Energy flow Section 3-2
The sun is the main source of energy for life on earth • HOWEVER, there are some organisms that rely on other sources of energy • These organisms use energy stored in inorganic (bonds that do not contain carbon) chemical compounds • A good example of these types of organisms are those found deep in the ocean near thermal vents • The organisms use the chemical energy that is loaded in the water surrounding the vent PRODUCERS
Autotrophs • A groups of organisms that can use the energy in sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into Glucose (food) • Autotrophs are also called Producers because they produce all of the food that heterotrophs use • Without autotrophs, there would be no life on this planet • Ex. Plants, Algae, and certain Bacteria
Break down the WORD • Auto - SELF • Troph - FOOD
Autotrophs • Chemotrophs • Autotrophs that get their energy from inorganic substances, such as salt • Live deep down in the ocean where there is no sunlight • Ex. Bacteria and Deep Sea Worms
How do they make their own food? PHOTOSYNTHESIS CHEMOSYNTHESIS • PHOTO – light • SYNTHESIS – to make • Harness solar energy to produce food • Where? • On land ---plants main autotrophs • In water --- upper layers of water • CHEMO – chemical • SYNTHESIS – to make • Harness chemical energy to produce food with the absence of light • Where? • On land – mainly bacteria in hot springs • In water – deep ocean floor volcanic vents
CONSUMERS • Many organisms cannot make their own food. The ONLY way to obtain energy is from other organisms…….these organisms are called consumers or heterotrophs • Definition- organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply • HETERO – other • TROPH - food
There are different sub-types of consumers • Herbivores • Omnivores • Carnivores • Detritivores • Decomposers
Different sub-types of consumers • Consumers/heterotrophs • 1. Scavengers/Detritivores – feed on the tissue of dead organisms (both plans and animals) • DETRITIUS- dead matter VORES – to consume • Ex. – Vultures, Crows, and Shrimp
Sub-types of consumers • Consumers/heterotrophs • 2. Herbivores – eat ONLY plants • HERBI – a plant VORE – to consume • Ex. – Cows, Elephants, Giraffes
Sub-types of consumers • Consumers/heterotrophs • 3. Carnivores – eat ONLY meat • CARNI – MEAT VORE – to consume • Ex. – Lions, Tigers, Sharks
Sub-types of consumers • Consumers/heterotrophs • 4. Omnivores – eat BOTH plants and animals • OMNI – all vore- to consume • Ex. – Bears and Humans
Feeding relationships • Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from the sun to producers then to consumers
Transfer of Energy • When a zebra eats the grass, it does not obtain all of the energy the grass has (much of it is not eaten) • When a lion eats a zebra, it does not get all of the energy from the zebra (much of it is lost as heat)
Transfer of Energy • The two (2) previous examples of energy transfer show that no organism EVER receives all of the energy from the organism they just ate • Only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next – this is called the 10% law
Trophic Levels • Energy moves from one organisms to another when it is eaten • Each step in this transfer of energy is know as a trophic level • The main trophic levels are producers, consumers, and decomposers
Food Chains • The energy flow from one trophic level to the other is know as a food chain • A food chain is simple and direct • It involves one organism at each trophic level • Primary Consumers – eat autotrophs (producers) • Secondary Consumers – eat the primary consumers • Tertiary Consumers – eat the secondary consumers • Decomposers – bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle the material back into the environment
Food Web • Most organisms eat more the JUST one organism • When more organism are involved it is know as a FOOD WEB • Food webs are more complex and involve lots of organisms
Ecological Pyramids • Diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
Ecological Pyramid • An ecological pyramid shows the relationship between consumers and producers at different trophic levels in an ecosystem (see diagram to right) • The Pyramid shows which level has the most energy and the highest number of organisms
Three Main Types of Ecological Pyramids ENERGY BIOMASS NUMBERS
Energy Pyramid • Only about 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level
Pyramid of BIOMASS • The total mass of the organic matter (living matter) at each trophic level is called biomass • Biomass is usually expressed in grams per unit area • Biomass is just another term for potential energy – energy that is to be eaten and used.
Ecological Pyramid • Which level has the most energy? • Which level has the most organisms? • Which level has the least organisms? • Which level has the least energy?
Cycles of matter Section 3-3
Cycles of energy • Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and in between ecosystems
Water Cycle • Organisms need water for metabolism (all chemical reactions) Water is necessary for photosynthesis • Plants absorb water into their roots • Animals drink water or consume it in their food • Evaporation – water changes into gas • Transpiration – water evaporation from leaves
Steps of the Water Cycle • 1. Water evaporates from lakes, rivers, oceans, etc.. • 2. Plants give off water in a process called transpiration • 3. Water condenses in the atmosphere and falls back to earth in the form of precipitation • 4. The water runs off back into lakes, rivers, etc. • 5. The cycle repeats
Steps of the Water Cycle • Ways to return water to the environment • 1. respiration • 2. excretion (animal wastes) • 3.transpiration (plants) • 4. precipitation
Carbon Cycle • Carbon is found in the environment as carbon dioxide • Carbon dioxide is needed for photosynthesis • Carbon dioxide is returned to the environment in 3 ways • 1. respiration • 2. decomposition • 3. the burning of fossil fuels.
