Ecology Unit

Ecology
the study of the interactions of living organisms with one
another and with their physical environment
Levels of Ecology
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Biosphere
Biome
Ecosystem
Community
Population
Organism
Ecosystem
All of the different species living together (community)
in an area (habitat)
– Abiotic Factors- nonliving (weather, soil composition, winds,
temperature, etc.)
– Biotic Factors- living (plants, animals, bacteria, fungi)
Taxonomy Examples from the Northern
Deciduous Forest
Acer saccharum
Alces alces
Acer rubrum
Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Chains
Food Webs
Some thought questions…
• What is your favorite food?
• How is it made?
• Where does it come from?
The SUN!!!
• Energy for
photosynthesis
• Plants make
sugars from
carbon dioxide,
water and
sunlight.
Energy flow in Ecosystems
The original source of
all energy is the sun!
• Autotrophs
– Producers- make
energy for others
• Heterotrophs
– Consumers- consume
others for energy
– Decomposers- break
down organic matter
for energy
Heterotrophs may be
– Herbivores- consume
plants or algae
– Carnivores- consume
animal flesh
– Omnivores- consume
plants and animal
flesh
– Detritivoresconsume dead
organisms or wastes
Group Food Web Practice
• http://www.gould.edu.au/foodwebs/kids_w
eb.htm
• What do you spend energy on?
–Growth
–Maintenance
–Repair
Only 10% of the energy captured by an
organism is transferred to the organism
that eats the first organism.
herbivore
decomposer
Energy flows through
ecosystems, but matter cycles
through ecosystems
• The sun is a
constant source
of energy
• Matter needs to
get reused
– There is no new
source of carbon
or water on earth
The Water Cycle
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Surface Runoff
Infiltration (ground water)
The Carbon Cycle
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•
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Industry, power plants, and vehicles release CO2.
Plants consume CO2 in photosynthesis.
Living things release CO2 during cellular respiration.
Fossil fuels are made from the carbon in the tissues
of dead plants and animals.
http://www.vtaide.com/p
ng/carbonCycle.htm
Ecological Succession
• dominant organisms in an area change
over time
Primary Succession
• Starts from bare rock
• Lichen live on bare
rock.
• Lichen create enough
soil for mosses
Secondary succession
• Begins after an area
has been disturbed
Photosynthesis
“making from light”
Photosynthesis takes place in
chloroplasts
Chemical formula for
Photosynthesis
Respiration
The Working Cell:
Energy from Food
Food Stores Chemical Energy
Chemical Energy
– Potential energy
stored in the bonds of
chemical compounds
ATP Provides Energy For Cellular
Work
Types of Work
– Growth
– Maintenance
– Repair
Breathing and Cellular Respiration
• Cellular respiration
is an aerobic
process
– requires O2
• Breathing delivers
O2 and releases
CO2
Cellular Respiration
Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

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