Ecology

The relationships between organisms and their environment…

Ecosystems

The community of organisms that live in a particular area (biome) along with their nonliving surroundings or environment.

EcosystemsEcosystems can be

as small as a drop of water or as large as a forest.

Living Things Depend on Their Environment/Biome.

Each animal must have a specific temperature and specific food to survive.

What do ecologists call living and non-living things? Abiotic: Non-Living Things in an

Ecosystem

Biotic: Living Things in

an Ecosystem

Examples of Abiotic Things that you can

see and feel Things that you

cannot see, touch or feel

TemperatureAir

How Energy flows through Ecosystems

Producers, Decomposers, and Consumers all play an important role in ecosystems.

What is a Producer? Plants are the most

common producer in an ecosystem

Producers can make their own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.

What is a Consumer? Consumers must get

their energy from eating other organisms

Consumers are classified by their position in a food chain

Cows are considered primary consumers because they eat grass

How would human beings be classified?

Decomposers Decomposers break dead

plant and animal matter down into simpler compounds.

Decomposers are considered the “clean up crew” of an ecosystem.

These mushrooms are feeding off of dead plant matter.

Decomposers release the last bit of energy from once-living matter.

Classifications of Consumers Quaternary Consumers: eat tertiary consumers

(Hawk) Tertiary Consumers: eat secondary consumers

(Snake) Secondary Consumers: eat primary consumers

(Mouse) Primary Consumers: eat producers (Grasshopper) Primary Producer: make their own food (Grass)

Food Chain The feeding

relationship between producers and consumers in an ecosystem

It shows only “one” possible pathway for energy.

Food Web This shows many

possible pathways for energy.

Each consumer and producer captures and uses energy

A few definitions…… Herbivore: A consumer that eats plants Carnivore: A consumer that eats meat Omnivore: A consumer that eats both plants and

meat. Niche: An organism’s job or role in an

ecosystem. Scavenger: Eats only dead animals Parasite: An organism that lives on or in another Host: An organism that is infected by a parasite.

What is a Biome? A region on Earth that has a particular

climate with certain types of plants, vegetation, and animals.

Types of Biomes Desert Grasslands Temperate Forests/Deciduous Forest Tropical Forests/Rain Forests Aquatic Tundra Taiga/Coniferous Forest/Boreal Forest

Levels of EnvironmentThe Environment can be divided into four

main levels:

1. Biome

2. Community

3. Population

4. Organism

Communities A group of

populations living in a particular area

Each species has a role or niche. These ants are tending to aphids, feeding on the "honeydew" that the aphids secrete, and protecting them from potential predators..

Populations The same species

living in the same area.

Habitat: the physical location where they live.

Niche: their role within the habitat

Population and Competition Populations of living

things compete for space, light, nutrients, and food.

Animals compete for territory and food.

The Constantly Changing Ecosystem Our surroundings change constantly due

to:1. Limiting factors

2. Carrying Capacity

3. Succession

4. Pioneer Species

Limiting FactorA limiting factor is

something that an organism needs to survive like:

Food

Water

Shelter

Carrying Capacity The maximum

number of individuals that an environment can hold due to the limited amount of food and space

Each population will be different

When one biological community is replaced by another

Human Impact on EcosystemsChapter 3

Garbage Depletion of natural

resources Depletion of living

space Water Pollution Air Pollutioln

Protecting the Ecosystems More awareness Conservation Recycling Federal

restrictions Protection of

endangered species