What is Ecology?

It is the study of the environment we live in

Origin of the word…ecology Greek origin OIKOS = household LOGOS = study of…

Study of the “house/environment” in which we live.

Ecology is study of interactions between non-living components in the environment…

light water wind nutrients in soil heat solar radiation atmosphere, etc.

AND…

Living organisms… Plants Animals microorganisms in soil, etc.

Ecology… Study of the relationship between

plants and animals and their environment

Consumers herbivores and

carnivores Decomposers

fungi and bacteria break up dead organisms Primary

producers green plants

Levels of organization - Terms Biosphere

Part of the earth where

organisms can live Composed of many ecosystems

Ecosystem Large or small as we decide

Garden Woodland Beach

Levels of organization - Terms

Organism – living thing Population – one species live in one place at one time Community – All populations (diff. species) that live

in a HABITAT.

Levels of organization - Terms

Habitat – physical location of a community

Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a HABITAT.

PredatorA predator eats other animals.

Cats eat fish. So do bears!

Predator The cat is a predator, because it

eats other animals. The bear is a predator, because it

eats other animals.

PreyAny animal which is hunted and

killed by another animal for food is prey.

Predator

Prey

Match the predator to its prey.

Predators and Prey

Some animals are predators, some are prey - some are both.

The predator eats the prey, and the prey gets eaten by the predator.

Food ChainsA food chain shows what is eaten.

The fly is eaten by the thrush.

Food ChainsA food chain shows what is eaten.

The lettuce is eaten by the rabbit.

Food chains always start with a plant.

The lettuce is eaten by the slug, the slug is eaten by the bird.

Connections

Primary Producer Primary

Consumer Secondary Consumer

Top of the food chain

The top of the food chain.Some animals are said to be at the top of the

food chain. This is because they are not hunted by other animals.

No other animal hunts the lion. The lion is at the top of

the food chain. Can you think why?

Green plants convert the sun’s energy and are called PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Decomposers like bacteria and fungi break down the dead plants and animals to make nutrients for the primary producer (Green plants).

Food Web A number of

interconnected food chains

Carnivore eats other animals

Herbivore eats plants

Omnivore eats plants and animals

Pyramid of Numbers The lion is top of

the food chain There are few

lion and lots of trees

Interdependence Plants and animals depend on each other

for survival

Food

Photosynthesis

Fertiliser

Carbon Dioxide

Interdependence

Summary

H/W P 135-6 Q 1,3,5,7,9,14.