Ecology• On the following

slides, the green sections are the summary.

• Underline words = vocabulary!

• Hyperlinks are in blue!

Background Image from National Geographic; Photograph by Stephen Toner/Getty Images

Find Someone Who…1. Knows the difference between abiotic and biotic factors in

an ecosystem. 2. Knows the meaning of “autotroph” with an example. 3. Knows the meaning of “heterotroph” with an example.4. Knows the difference between herbivore and carnivore

with examples. 5. Knows the difference between mutualism versus

parasitism.

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Who is Who? Consumer vs Producer

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Who is Who? Predator vs Prey

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/05/most-dramatic-predatorpre_n_447712.html#s65332&title=Leopard_Seal_Eats

Who is Who?Autoroph vs Herbivore

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• The ice and steam in Iceland’s landscape (background slide) is an example of a specific environment.

What is Ecology?

• Different parts of the world have different in environments.

• In this unit, we will study the interdependence and interactions between organisms and their environment; better known as ecology.

• Everything on Earth [air, water, plants and animals] is connected.

Background Image from National Geographic; Photograph by Stephen Toner/Getty Images

Knowledge CheckWhat are the

abiotic versus biotic factors in

the diagram? Turn and talk to your neighbor.

Abiotic vs Biotic Factors

• Abiotic Factors – non-living things in an environment; EX soil, water, light, temperature, wind and space.

• Biotic Factors – living things in an environment; EX plants & animals.

http://www.sciencebitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/biotic-abiotic.gif

What is symbiosis?• Within a community of species, there are various

interactions that can exist. When two species interact closely together it is called symbiosis (which means “living together”).

• In competition, two organisms compete for limited resources [i.e. food, water, space]. – Two of the same species; EX males fighting during breeding

season. – Two different species; EX plants competing for light or space.

• In predation, one species is killed by another.

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Symbiosis Cont.

• In mutualism, both species benefit from the relationship. The butterfly and the flower are helped.

• In commensalism, one member benefits and the other isn’t helped nor harmed.

• In parasitism, one organism harms another. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://qarrtsiluni.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/asmyth4_dsc_9821-

symbiosis.jpg&imgrefurl=http://qarrtsiluni.com/2007/12/17/symbiosis/&h=426&w=640&sz=96&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=4IZ__26Bk7ZjTM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=137&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsymbiosis%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enUS272US272; Photograph by Anne Morrison Smyth

Find Someone Who…1. Can name an

autotroph in the diagram to the left.

2. Can name a heterotroph in the diagram.

3. Can name a herbivore in the diagram.

4. Can name a carnivore in the diagram.

5. Can name an omnivore in the diagram.

6. Knows if there is a decomposer in the diagram.

What is an autotroph?• “Self feeding “ organisms

that capture energy from sunlight are called autotrophs (they automatically make their food)– EX plants, algae &

bacteria• AKA producers. • All other organisms

somehow depend on the producers somehow.

http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm

• “Feeding” organisms that have to eat are called heterotrophs (AKA consumers).

• Types of consumers include:– Herbivores – obtain energy by eating plants. (deer,

caterpillars)– Carnivores – obtain energy by eating heterotrophs.

(snakes, tigers)

What is a heterotroph?

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/images/foodchain/fullchain.gif

• Omnivores – obtain energy by eating both plants and animals (humans, bears)

• Saprobes:– Detritvores – obtain energy by eating dead

organisms (vultures, buzzards)– Decomposers – obtain energy by breaking

down organic matter (bacteria, fungi)

Heterotrophs Cont.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/kidscorner/images/foodchain/fullchain.gif

Energy Flow

• Food chains show the pathway for the transfer of energy. Arrows show the movement of energy (from the grass, to the grasshopper)– A producer always starts a food chain.

http://www.jenningsk12.net/WE/peimann/Science/FoodChains/food_chain.jpe

• Food webs are the interconnected food chains in a community.– They usually

show more detailed relationships.

http://www.agen.ufl.edu/~chyn/age2062/lect/lect_28/40_07.GIF

Energy Flow Cont.

Knowledge CheckIf the insects in the ecosystem were removed because of insecticides, would it be a problem for the ravens? Would other species be affected too?

Turn and talk to your neighbor.

https://www.msu.edu/course/isb/202/snapshot.afs/tsao/images/foodweb.jpg

How is this diagram different from the other diagrams of organisms in the ecosystem? Why is it formatted in this way? Turn and talk to your neighbor.

"Ecological Pyramid." Science Online. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 9 July 2014. 

Pyramid of Energy• Energy pyramids show

how energy moves through an ecosystem.

• Each level of the pyramid represents a trophic level.– Producers are always

at bottom (with the most energy, most biomass).

– Other organisms gain only a portion of the energy from the food they eat – most is lost as heat.

http://www.etap.org/demo/biology_files/lesson6/kep26.jpg

• 1st Trophic level – at the bottom; producers, closest to the sun, most amount of energy (100%)

• 2nd Trophic Level – primary consumers, herbivores (10% of the energy)

• 3rd Trophic Level – secondary consumers, (1% of the energy)

• 4th Trophic Level – tertiary consumers, (0.1% of the energy)

http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/images/pyramid1.gif

Pyramid of Energy Cont.

Knowledge CheckHeat Loss AnimationIn this example, which consumers have the least amount of energy available in the system due to the eat loss?

Turn and talk to your neighbor.

http://files5.pdesas.org/070112214159147142055010099019241217008034040146/Download.ashx?hash=2.2

The Biosphere

• Earth is divided into different spheres - the biosphere (“bio” meaning life) includes all living things; a biological community including life on land, in water, and in air.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LivingEarth/Images/living_earth.jpg

Recycling the Biosphere

• The nutrients of the Earth are constantly being recycled.

• There are specific cycles necessary for life on Earth to exist:– The Water Cycle– The Carbon

Cycle– The Nitrogen

Cycle– The

Phosphorous Cycle

http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/earth-moon-gallery.html; Photograph courtesy NASA

Knowledge CheckLet us review the components of the water cycle on the diagram. What does #3 represent? #2? #4? Turn and talk to your neighbor.

http://education.jlab.org/reading/img/water_cycle_01.gif

The Water Cycle

• The water cycle is defined as the movement of water through different reservoirs on Earth in any phase (solid, liquid, gas).– #2 = Condensation– #3 = Evaporation– #4 = Precipitation

http://education.jlab.org/reading/img/water_cycle_01.gif

Water Cycle Cont.• Evaporation – water changes

from liquid to gas• Transpiration – water

evaporates from the leaves of plants

• Condensation – water in the atmosphere cools to form clouds

• Precipitation – water returns to Earth’s surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail

http://www.sawater.com.au/NR/rdonlyres/657AC917-D6E3-4E55-AAD1-38119A0ACBB4/0/diag_water_cycle.gif

The Carbon Cycle

• Carbon is an important element found in living tissues – the carbon cycle is the movement of carbon through the Earth.

• You can find calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in your bones.

• Humans and other animals breathe out carbon dioxide (CO2).

• Plants need CO2 for photosynthesis.

http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/carbon-cycle.gif

• Follow the arrows to show where the carbon goes within the cycle.

http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/16cm05/1116/54-17-CarbonCycle-L.gif

The Nitrogen Cycle

• The nitrogen is another important element for life; it is found in the proteins of all organisms.

• The nitrogen cycle moves nitrogen from the environment into organisms; you can find nitrogen in water, soil, and the atmosphere.

http://sbi.oregonstate.edu/about/images/cycle.gif

What is a limiting factor?

• The type of environment in which a particular species lives is its habitat; or the place where an organism lives out its life.

• A limiting factor is a factor that limits the number of organisms in the habitat is; it can abiotic or biotic.

Ecological Succession

• The natural changes that take place in a community over time is called succession.

• Succession Animation

Virginia creeper colonizing burned

forest in Sam Houston National

Forest, on Little Lake Creek Loop

Trail. Richards, Texas,

May 4, 2008 Image

Succession Cont. • Primary Succession – when the first [initial]

organisms pioneer species EX lichen, mosses colonize barren land [EX glacier retreat, volcanic eruption].

http://www.sciencebitz.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/primary-success.jpg

Succession Cont.

• Secondary Succession – the changes in a community after an event [EX forest fire].

http://m7science.wikispaces.com/file/view/Secondary_Succession.png/215427266/640x291/Secondary_Succession.png

• When the community of organisms becomes stable, it is a climax community.

Succession Cont.

http://bot1320.nicerweb.com/Locked/media/ch10/Succession.jpg