Ecology Unit Lesson

The following power point provides additional information to assist you with answering the homework for the ecology

review

Ecological Levels of Organization

From smallest to largest 1. Organism (species)2. Population3. Community4. Ecosystem5. Biome6. Biosphere

(Click on the hyperlink to see an example of each)

There are inferences of biotic and abiotic interactions depicted in the diagram including but not limited to the fungi (biotic) decomposing the rotting log, the kangaroo (biotic) potentially

drinking from the pond, and sunlight (abiotic) providing warmth and energy to promote photosynthesis in the grass, trees and shrubs.

SymbiotIc

commensalism

mutualism

parasitism

R e l a t o n s h i p s

Click on each picture to read more about the symbiotic relationship

living together

A food chain model shows the feeding relationships of organisms and the movement of energy with the direction of the arrows

herbivore carnivorecarnivore

The Food Web model depicts many feeding relationships and many food chains of a community

This energy pyramid indicates that amount of energy an organism receives at each trophic level. Each trophic level receives 10% of the energy from the previous level because 90% of the energy is used by the organism for daily life processes or lost at heat energy.

Biogeochemical Cycles

• The Water Cycle• The Carbon Cycle• The Nitrogen Cycle• The Phosphorus Cycle

Click on the hyperlink to see the diagram of each cycle

is a model depicting how water cycles through an ecosystemis a model depicting how carbon cycles through an ecosystem

is a model depicting how nitrogen cycles through an ecosystem

is a model depicting how phosphorus cycles through an ecosystem

SuccessionThe natural changes that occur in an area over time

Click on each picture to learn more about primary and secondary succession

This is a cheetah, an example of a single organism (living thing)or a species of cat

Click on picture to go back to main menu

This is a population of cheetahs a species living together in the same area

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This is a community of rhinos, zebras, and antelope- populations living together in the same area

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This ecosystem consists of animals, birds, grass, trees, a small pond, air and sunshine- all of the biotic and abiotic factors in an area

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The Tundra is a biome (a region depicted by its climate- avg. temp. and rainfall in a year) closest to the Arctic characterized by short plants, a permanently frozen subsoil called permafrost, and Caribou

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The biosphere includes all of the parts of the Earth including the atmosphere above and the ocean deep

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In a mutualistic relationship the Nile bird cleans the teeth of the crocodile

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The commensal relationship of the remora (sucker fish) and the stingray allow the remora to move from place to place without any effort

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The pupa of the braconid wasp covers the tomato hornworm and kills it in this parasitic relationship

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Click on the diagram to learn about the Water Cycle

The Water Cycle

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Click on the diagram to read an article about the carbon cycle and to complete the carbon cycle assignment sheet

Click on the button below to play the carbon cycle game

The Carbon CycleClick here to return to the main menu

start

The Nitrogen Cycle

To learn more about the Nitrogen Cycle, you will play a game that is set up around the room. You will act as a nitrogen atom and travel from place to place. You will need your passport and the nitrogen assignment sheet as you play the game.

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The Phosphorus Cycle

Study the diagram and describe how phosphorus cycles through an ecosystem

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Click here to return to succession menu

Click here to return to succession menu

Secondary succession occurs after a natural disaster such as a forest fire or human action such as clear cutting where much of the vegetation is destroyed, but soil remains for plants to grow again.

This form of succession occurs similarly to primary succession except it occurs faster since there is no need to breakdown rock.