Ecology

1. Ecology Topic 5.1 – 5.3 Mrs. Milam Adapted from Ms. Davies

2. 5.1.1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology. • Ecology: • Environment has 2 components: • : nonliving factors (soil, water, weather, pH) • : living factors (all forms of life)

3. 5.1.1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology. • Ecologists study environments at different levels of organization: • Population: • Species: • Habitat:

4. 5.1.1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology. • Community: • Ecosystem:

5. 5.1.1 Define species, habitat, population, community, ecosystem and ecology. • Biosphere:

6. Biome Ecosystem Ecosystem Community Community Population Population Organism Organism Levels of Organization

7. 5.1.9 State that light is the initial energy source for almost all communities • Almost all activities of life are powered by • Energy enters ecosystems through

8. 5.1.2 Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph. • Autotrophs or producers: convert (food); become the • Heterotrophs: an organism that

9. 5.1.3 Distinguish between consumers, detritivoresand saprotrophs • Heterotrophs include: • Consumers: • Detritivores: organisms that (ex: earthworms, maggots, slime molds) • Saprotrophs:(ex: bacteria, fungi)

10. 5.1.4 Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at least three linkages (four organisms) • The feeding relationships between organisms can be organized into a food chain. • A food chain is a

11. 5.1.4 Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at least three linkages (four organisms) • Food chains: • The arrow is pointing at the organism doing the consuming Helioconius butterfly http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XlUWKcZV7wg/TGK9bg09fAI/AAAAAAAAAXs/EpokiiPbkQA/s1600/Heliconius_erato_001.JPG Passionflower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Violet_Passion_Flower.jpg#filelinks Tegu lizard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupinambis Jaguar

12. 5.1.5 Describe what is meant by a food web. • Natural communities have food webs rather than simple food chains • A food web shows

13. 5.1.5 Describe what is meant by a food web.

14. 5.1.6 Define trophic level • An ecological niche is unique to each species and includes all aspects of it’s way of life: • Physical • Physical (range of temp it can withstand, pH of soil, amount of moisture it needs, etc.) • – trophic level • Organism’s role in ecosystem – it’s “occupation”

15. 5.1.6 Define trophic level • Trophic levels represent • “Feeding level”: • – autotrophic organisms that make food • – herbivores; eat producers • – eat primary consumers & possibly producers • – eat secondary consumers & possibly primary consumers & producers • – eat tertiary consumers & possibly secondary & primary & producers *Top carnivore – top of the food chain

16. 5.1.7 Deduce the trophic level of organisms in a food chain and a food web. • Trophic levels can be studied by looking at – each step in a food chain represents a

17. 5.1.7 Deduce the trophic level of organisms in a food chain and a food web. Which tropic level? Which tropic level? Which tropic level? Which tropic level?

18. 5.1.8 Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms using appropriate information. Can you label the trophic levels for this food web?

19. 5.1.10 Explain the energy flow in a food chain.5.1.11 State that energy transformations are never 100% efficient. • Energy flows from one trophic level to the next • Producers get their energy from the sun through photosynthesis. • Energy then flows from the plant to the primary consumer that eats it • The energy transfer continues from one level to the next • Transfer of energy through trophic levels is

20. 5.1.10 Explain the energy flow in a food chain. • Each level only passes approximately – Why? • Some of the energy is used for • Some of the energy is • Some of the energy is (ex. Cellulose) • Less and less energy is available to subsequent levels

21. food chain.

22. 5.1.12 Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • The amount of life an ecosystem can support depends on • Gross primary productivity – • Plants use 10 – 70% of their gross productivity for their own energy needs

23. 5.1.12 Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • Net primary productivity – • Measured in  • Also measured in – dry weight of organic matter • Productivity of an ecosystem is influenced by many factors (amount of sun, water, temperature)

24. 5.1.12 Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • Transfer between trophic levels can be studied through ecological pyramids • Pyramid of energy –

25. 5.1.12 Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • Pyramid of Numbers – number of individuals at each trophic level • Generally

26. 5.1.12 Explain reasons for the shape of pyramids of energy. • Pyramid of Biomass – shows the amount of biomass at each trophic level

27. 5.1.13 Explain that energy enters and leaves ecosystems, but nutrients must be recycled • Energy moves through the communities of ecosystems in • Energy enters ecosystems as , is , but is .

28. 5.1.13 Explain that energy enters and leaves ecosystems, but nutrients must be recycled5.1.14 State that saprotrophic bacteria and fungi (decomposers) recycle nutrients. • Nutrients constantly • Nutrients • Saprotrophs (bacteria and fungi)