ECOLOGYThe study of Interactions in Ecosystems.

The Biosphere The portion of the earth that supports life

BIOMESAQUATIC DESERT FOREST GRASSLAND TUNDRA

An Ecosystem is all the living & non-living things that interact in an area.

Biotic Factors are the living things.

Abiotic Factors are the non-living things.

Community or Population?

Community or Population?

Flow of Matter and Energy

Food chain how matter and energy moves through an ecosystem

Most 3-4 transfers

about 10% of energy is passed on

About 90% of energy is lost

Biomass total weight of matter at each trophic level

Each organism in a food chain represents a

trophic level

Survival Relationships Symbiosis two species living together

Mutualism Both species benefit sShark and fish

Commensalism :l One species benefits, the other is unharmed Ex. Vines growing up trees

Parasitism One species benefits, the other is harmed sLeeches, ticks, tapeworms

Both organisms benefitBee on Purple FlowerAnt and AphidMUTUALISMAlgae and a Fungus

COMMENSALISMOne member of the relationship benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed.Spanish Moss on a TreeBarnacles on a Whale

PARASITISMOne benefits; one harmedBefore & AfterTicksLiceTapeworm

Nutrition and Energy Flow

Producers -- Autotrophs - photosynthesisUltimate source of all energy is the sunPlants, algae

Consumers-- HeterotrophsCarnivores consume animals onlyHerbivores consume only plantsOmnivores consume plants and animalsDecomposers break down dead/ decaying material

*Scavengers feed on carrion (dead animals)*

PREDATOR / PREY

AUTOTROPH OR HETEROTROPH?

HERBIVORE OR CARNIVORE?

THE WATER CYCLE

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon makes up carbohydrates, proteins and lipids

Photosynthesis

pulls CO2 out of air and uses it to create glucose

Heterotrophs eat plants

containing carbon (glucose)

Heterotrophs exhale CO2 which

returns it to the atmosphere via cellular respiration.

The Nitrogen Cycle nitrogen is used to make proteins

Atmosphere is about 78%N, but not the usable

kind

Bacteria take Nitrogen out of the air and convert

it into a usable form in the soil

Plants absorb it

We eat the plants

Nitrogen returned to the environment from

decaying animals and urine

The Phosphorus Cycle

Heterotrophs need P to synthesizeDNA

Plants absorb Phosphorus from soil

We eat plants

Phosphorus is returned to soil when we decay

*** Most limiting nutrient ***

Life in a CommunityLimiting factorsBiotic or Abiotic factor restricting existence

Climate, temperature, water, food, space

Carrying capacity maximum size an environment

can hold

Tolerance

Ability of organism to withstand environmental

changes

Succession -- Changes in an ecosystemPrimary succession new land appears

Secondary succession ecosystem

disrupted and new growth appears (forest fires)

Primary or Secondary Succession?

Primary or Secondary Succession?

Why is the sun considered the ultimate source of all energy?

*TAKING NOTESThis PowerPoint accompanies the covers the organization levels in an ecosystem.The take notes symbol represents information that is in the Energy Flow Activity.Not everything shown is to be taken as notes. Listen carefully to the teacher discussion. Check your Energy Flow Activity answers as needed.*TEACHER NOTESGo through the slide show beforehand in notes view as well as regular slide-show.You can print a 6-slides-per-page or 3-slides-per-page handout and make your own notes from the slide presentation. You may want to print the notes pages of the slides. However, the notes pages have the slide (one per page) so it will take 49 pages.This PPT may be used as a post lab to check for student understanding.

*Introduction to ENERGY FLOW(Revised August 4, 2003)