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Ecology = Eco + ology • …the study of what? Eco = “house” -ology = “the study of” “The study of the relationship between living organisms and their non-living environment.”
The 7 Levels of Ecological Organization Increasing complexity What does this inverted pyramid illustrate about ecological organization?
Level #1: Individual A single, living organism. EXAMPLES… animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists
Level #2: Species A group of organisms so similar that they can reproduce and create viable offspring. + = vs. + =
Level #3: Population All the members of ONE SPECIES that live in a particular area.
Level #4: Community ALL the different groups of species that live in a particular area.
Level #5: Ecosystem All the living and non-living things found in a particular area.
Level #5: Ecosystem • All ecosystems are characterized by 2 major components…biotic and abiotic factors! • Biotic Factors: ___________________________ _______________________________________ • Examples: • Abiotic Factors: __________________________ • Examples: all living, once-living and products of living things in an ecosystem. all nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Level #6: Biome Ecosystems that share similar climate. temperature precipitation
Level #7: Biosphere 7km 11km All the living area on the planet.
Energy in an Ecosystem • All ecosystems need energy in order to support themselves. • Ultimately, where does ALL energy on the planet come from? The sun.
Energy in an Ecosystem • Since the sun provides all the initial energy on the planet, how is it moved on the planet from organism to organism? Through the food web.
Food Chains & Food Webs • What’s the difference between a food chain or food web? Is one better (more accurate) than the other? - linear - Web - simple - complex - Only shows one feeding relationship - Shows ALL feeding relationships!
Trophic Levels • Regardless of the organism (plant, animal, fungi or even bacterium) all living things can be classified into a trophic level, which is nothing more than ___________ ____________________ their position in a food (trophic) web.
Level #1: Primary (1°) Producer • Includes: Plants, algae, etc.
Level #2: Primary (1°) Consumer • Includes: Bugs and herbivores. Primary (1°) Producers
Level #3: Secondary (2°) Consumer • Includes: Birds, small reptiles, etc. Primary (1°) Consumers Primary (1°) Producers
Level #4: Tertiary (3°) Consumer • Includes: Large reptiles, small mammals, etc. Secondary (2°) Consumers Primary (1°) Consumers Primary (1°) Producers
Level #5: Quaternary (4°) Consumer • Includes: Large predators. Tertiary (3°) Consumers Secondary (2°) Consumers Primary (1°) Consumers Primary (1°) Producers
…are there other “players” or levels that we missed? Decomposers (mushrooms and bacteria) Quaternary (4°) Consumers Tertiary (3°) Consumers Secondary (2°) Consumers Primary (1°) Consumers Primary (1°) Producers
Lindeman's Rule • What is Lindeman’s Rule? 90% of energy is lost each time food moves up a trophic level.
Lindeman's Rule Obviously, this doesn’t mean that eagles only have 1 calorie; instead, it means that only 1 calorie of the original grass calories are present in the eagle once it’s passed up the trophic web. • What is Lindeman’s Rule? Quaternary (4°) Consumers 1 Cals 10 Cals Tertiary (3°) Consumers Secondary (2°) Consumers 100 Cals 1,000 Cals Primary (1°) Consumers Primary (1°) Producers 10,000 Cals
Lindeman's Rule • Why do we care? Because this means that eating lower on the trophic web (primary producers) is much more sustainable for the planet!
