Introducing Introducing Ecology Ecology
Introducing EcologyIntroducing Ecology
What is Ecology?What is Ecology?the study of interactions between organisms the study of interactions between organisms
and their environmentand their environment
The Environment The Environment includes Living and includes Living and
Nonliving parts Nonliving parts BIOTICBIOTIC –the living parts of the environment –the living parts of the environment
(animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists, etc.)(animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists, etc.)
ABIOTICABIOTIC –the nonliving parts of the –the nonliving parts of the environment (air, water, rocks, soil, light, etc.)environment (air, water, rocks, soil, light, etc.)
Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization Ecologists study Ecologists study
several different levels several different levels of organization:of organization: SpeciesSpecies PopulationPopulation CommunityCommunity EcosystemEcosystem BiomeBiome BiosphereBiosphere
Species Group of similar Group of similar
organisms that can breed organisms that can breed and produce fertile and produce fertile offspringoffspring
Group of organisms that belong to the same species and live in the same area
Population
A population of bullfrogs in a pond
Community group of different populations that live in the same group of different populations that live in the same
areaarea
Ecosystem Community of organisms that live together and Community of organisms that live together and
interact with the abiotic environmentinteract with the abiotic environment
Biome Group of ecosystems with similar climate and Group of ecosystems with similar climate and
dominant communitiesdominant communities
Tropical rain forest
Tropical dry forest
Tropical savanna Temperate woodlandand shrubland
Desert
Temperate grassland
Boreal forest(Taiga)
Northwesternconiferous forest
Temperate forest
Mountains andice caps
Tundra
BiosphereBiosphere The biosphere refers to the portion of the planet in The biosphere refers to the portion of the planet in
which all of life exists:which all of life exists: LandLand WaterWater AirAir
Energy Flow in an Energy Flow in an EcosystemEcosystem
Autotrophs vs. HeterotrophsAutotrophs vs. Heterotrophs
AutotrophsAutotrophs – make – make their own foodtheir own food so so they are called they are called PRODUCERSPRODUCERS
HeterotrophsHeterotrophs – get – get their food from their food from another source so another source so they are called they are called CONSUMERSCONSUMERS
Two main types of Producers Two main types of Producers (Autotrophs)(Autotrophs)
Get energy from sunlightGet energy from sunlight The main source of energy The main source of energy
for life on earthfor life on earth PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis
Get energy from chemicals Get energy from chemicals Some organisms rely on the Some organisms rely on the
energy stored in inorganic energy stored in inorganic compoundscompounds
ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis
Types of ConsumersTypes of ConsumersHerbivores- only eat plants Carnivores - only eat animals
Omnivores- eat plants AND animals
Detritivores and Decomposers
Feeds on plant and animal remains
How does How does EnergyEnergy flow flow through an Ecosystem?through an Ecosystem?
Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE directiondirection
Feeding RelationshipsFeeding Relationships Food ChainFood Chain – steps of – steps of
organisms transferring organisms transferring energy by eating and energy by eating and being eatenbeing eaten
Food WebFood Web – network of – network of the interconnected food the interconnected food chains in an ecosystemchains in an ecosystem
What are trophic levels?What are trophic levels? Each step in a food chain or food web is a Each step in a food chain or food web is a trophic trophic
levellevel.. Producers make the first trophic level.Producers make the first trophic level. Consumers make up the second, third, or higher Consumers make up the second, third, or higher
trophic levels.trophic levels. A A primary consumerprimary consumer eats the 1st trophic level. eats the 1st trophic level. A A secondary consumersecondary consumer eats the 2nd trophic level. eats the 2nd trophic level. A A tertiary consumertertiary consumer eats the 3rd trophic level. eats the 3rd trophic level. A A quaternary consumerquaternary consumer eats the 4th trophic level. eats the 4th trophic level.
Ecological Pyramids Ecological Pyramids
Energy Pyramid
Biomass Pyramid
Pyramid of Numbers
A graphical representation of the trophic levels in an ecosystem
Energy Pyramid v. Biomass PyramidEnergy Pyramid v. Biomass Pyramid Energy pyramid represents the amount of energy Energy pyramid represents the amount of energy
available in each trophic level.available in each trophic level. Only about 10% of the energy stored in an organism is Only about 10% of the energy stored in an organism is
transferred to the next trophic leveltransferred to the next trophic level The more levels that exist between producers and top-level The more levels that exist between producers and top-level
consumers in an ecosystem, the less energy that remains consumers in an ecosystem, the less energy that remains from the original amountfrom the original amount
Biomass pyramid represents the total amount of living tissue available within each trophic level of a food chain It represents the amount of potential food available for
each trophic level (grams of organic matter per unit area) Typically, the greatest biomass is at the bottom of the
pyramid.
Pyramid of Biomass - Pyramid of Biomass - amount of amount of potential food potential food availableavailable for each trophic level for each trophic level