ECOLOGY

The study of Interactions in Ecosystems.

The Biosphere
The portion of the earth that supports life

BIOMES
AQUATIC

GRASSLAND

DESERT

FOREST

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

level

trophic

Each organism in a food chain represents a

trophic level

Survival Relationships

Symbiosis two species living together

Mutualism
Both species benefit
Shark and fish
Commensalism :l
One species benefits, the other is
unharmed
Ex. Vines growing up trees
Parasitism
One species benefits, the other is harmed
Leeches, ticks, tapeworms

MUTUALISM
Both

organisms
benefit

Bee on Purple Flower

Algae and a Fungus

Ant and Aphid

COMMENSALISM

One member of the relationship

benefits and the other is neither
helped nor harmed.

Barnacles on a Whale
Spanish Moss on a Tree

PARASITISM
One

benefits; one harmed

Before & After

Tapeworm

Ticks

Lice

Nutrition and Energy Flow

Producers -- Autotrophs - photosynthesis

Ultimate source of all energy is the sun

Plants, algae

Consumers-- Heterotrophs

Carnivores consume animals only

Herbivores consume only plants
Omnivores consume plants and animals
Decomposers 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

eat plants
containing carbon (glucose)
Heterotrophs

exhale CO2 which

returns it to the atmosphere via
cellular respiration.

Heterotrophs

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 synthesize
DNA

Plants absorb Phosphorus from soil

We eat plants

Phosphorus is returned to soil when we

decay

*** Most limiting nutrient ***

Life in a Community
Limiting

factors
Biotic 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 ecosystem
Primary 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?