Download
1 / 14
140 likes | 167 Views
Delve into the intricate web of life on Earth through the study of the biosphere, organisms, ecosystems, energy flow, and ecological pyramids. Learn about the levels of organization, energy sources, food chains, food webs, and trophic levels that shape our living planet. Discover the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors that sustain life and the importance of ecological methods in understanding our global ecosystem.
E N D
The Biosphere - Matter and Energy, Interdependence in Nature Chapter 3
Studying our Living Planet • Life on a global scale – biosphere • Includes land, water, atmosphere and LIVING THINGS • Extends 8 km above the land surface and 11 km below the ocean surface • Ecology – study of the interactions between organisms and their surroundings
Studying Our Living Planet • Levels of organization • Species • Population • Community • Ecosystem • Biome • biosphere
Biotic – any part of the living environment Animals Plants Mushrooms bacteria Abiotic – any nonliving part of the environment Sunlight Heat Precipitation Humidity Wind Water currents Soil types Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Ecological Methods • Three methods • Observation • Use of senses • Can be simple or complex • Experimentation • Can be set-up in a lab or out in a select-part of natural environment • Modeling
Energy, Producers & Consumers • Energy = life function • Ultimate energy source = the sun • Some organisms use chemical energy from inorganic sources • Autotrophs – organisms that use solar or chemical energy to produce “food” • AKA – primary producers
Primary Producers • Solar energy converted through photosynthesis • Converts CO2 &H2O into O2 and carbohydrates • Plants (on land) and algae (in the water) • Chemical energy converted where light is not available or conditions are harsh - chemosynthesis
Consumers • Heterotrophs – get their energy from consumption • AKA – consumers • Types of consumer – based on what they eat
Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Food Chains and Food Webs • Everyone is linked through feeding relationships • Energy flow one way stream from producers to consumers • Food Chain – series of steps that move energy from eating to eaten • All food chains start with a producer • Terrestrial – plants • Aquatic – either plants OR phytoplankton
Energy Flow in Ecosystems • Most feeding relationships are more complicated than a simple series • Most organisms have a multi-food diet • Food Web • Network of feeding interactions • Also starts with a producer (SAME AS FOOD CHAINS) • Links multiple food chains • Effects of disturbances?
Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids • Trophic level – each step in a food chain or food web • Biomass – total amount of living tissue in a given trophic level
Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids • Ecological pyramid – show relative amount of matter or energy within a given food chain or web • The rule of 10 – in general, only 10 percent of the energy available in one level is stored in the level above • Organisms use most of the energy they get on life processes … the rest is release as heat • Higher up the pyramid – organisms require more food to get the energy they need … so there are less of them!
