Intro to ECOSYSTEMS

You will be able to comprehend how ecosystems are structured and why they are

structured in a specific manner

What is the Ecology?

What is Ecology?

What is Ecology

The Trophic Pyramid

Understanding how energy is transferred between

organisms in an Ecosystem

What is an Ecosystem?• Ecosystem- the interaction between

organisms and their environment

• Niche – Organism’s “job” in the Environment

• Biome- the specific habitat organisms live in

What makes Ecosystems work?

• Ecosystems dependent on the transfer of energy from one organism to another

• Energy Transfer leads to specific food relationships, which is represented by specific levels on the Pyramid

• As energy is transferred however, efficiency goes down: Only 10% of the initial energy available as you go up each level of the pyramid.

Where does Energy come from?

• Sun is the ultimate source of energy for most Ecosystems. (not the deep sea however)

• Sunlight is converted to food energy through process known as photosynthesis

• Plants convert light energy into food energy, hence they are called the Primary Producers

• Primary Producers are the FOUNDATION of the Pyramid; without them ecosystem fails

Construction of the Pyramid

• Primary Producers/Autotrophs- Make their own food; Placed at base of Pyramid

• Primary Consumers: (next level up)– Herbivores- Organisms that eat the Primary

Producers– Scavengers- organisms that eat dead or

decaying items

Construction of the Pyramid

• Secondary Consumers- small Carnivores and omnivores – Carnivores- smallest carnivores go in this

level, these are organisms that eat primarily tissue of other animals. They can not digest plant materials

– Omnivores- organisms that eat both plant and animal matter

Construction of the Pyramid

• Tertiary Consumers- • Medium sized Carnivores

• Top Level APEX PREDATOR-• Largest Carnivore(s) in the

ecosystem.

Balancing the Ecosystem• How the energy is transferred

throughout the food chain determines the numbers of organisms that can exist in an ecosystem

• Approximately only 10 % of the energy taken in by an organism is transferred to the next organism

• 90% of the energy is lost due to the organism using the energy to grow, maintain its health, and eliminated waste

• The impact of this shows on the levels of the pyramid; organisms number go down by a power of 10 as you move up in the levels in the pyramid

Trophic Pyramid Example

Fresh Water

Algae (5000), Lilly Pad(5000)

Mussel (100), Mosquito (700), Crayfish (60)

Minnow (80), Dragonfly (90), Bullfrog (20)

Largemouth Bass (10), Trout (10)

Snapping Turtle (10)