Studying Relationships, Keystone Species, and Energy Pyramid Models

1. Studying Relationships, Keystone Species, and Energy Pyramid Models Ch. 13.1, 13.3, 13.6

2. Includes all the organisms as well as all the nonliving things in a given area, such as a pond. A group of different species that live together in one area, such as a group of alligators, birds, fish, etc. An Individual living thing, such as an alligator. A global community of organisms. Usually characterized by the climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there., such as a tundra. A group of the same species that live together in one area, such as groups of alligators.

3. Biodiversity:Assortment or variety of living things in an ecosystem.

4. Keystone Species:A species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem. Ex) Beavers- Construct dams out of trees. The dam changes the free flowing stream habitats into ponds, wetlands, and meadows. This modification leads to a cascade of changes within their ecosystem.

5. Energy in Ecosystems • Producers (Autotrophs):Organisms that get their energy from non-living resources, they make their own food. • Auto-self • EX) Plants • Consumers (Heterotrophs):Organisms that get their energy by eating other living resources, such as plants and animals. • Hetero-different • EX) Wolf • Chemosynthesis:The process by which producers capture energy via a chemical source. • EX) Chemosynthetic bacteria live in hydrothermal pools.

6. Pyramid Models • Biomass:A measure of the total dry mass of organisms in a given area. • Energy Pyramid:A diagram that compares energy used by producers, primary consumers, and other trophic levels. • Unit of measurement- kilocalorie (kcal) Illustrates the energy flow between trophic levels in an ecosystem. Between each tier, up to 90% of the energy is lost as heat into the atmosphere. Energy Lost Energy Transferred