Introduction to
Ecology
What is Ecology?
 The scientific study of interactions among
organisms and between organisms and their
environment, or surroundings.
On page 9 in your work
book..
1
In the middle of this box draw
Single animal
2
In the middle of this box draw
That same animal with
Its relatives and friends.
On page 9 in your work
book..
3
In the middle of this box draw
That animal, its relatives, its neighboors,
Predators, food, friends
4
In the middle of this box draw
That animal, its relatives, its neighboors,
Predators, food, friends AND
the environment)
Species
 A group of organisms so similar to one
another that they can breed and produce
fertile offspring.
How many different species
are there?
Populations
 Groups of individuals that belong to the
same species and live in the same area.
Communities
 A group of different populations living
together in a defined area.
Ecosystem
 A collection of all the organisms that live in a
particular place, together with their non- living, or
physical, environment.
Biosphere
 The combined portions of the planet in which
all life exists, including land, water, and air.
Response Cards
Which of the following
represents a community?
a. seals, whales, dolphins in the pacific
ocean
b. Seals
c. Seals in the pacific ocean
d. Seals, whales, dolphins, water, sun,
sand
Which of the following
represents an ecosystem?
a. seals, whales, dolphins in the pacific
ocean
b. Seals
c. Seals in the pacific ocean
d. Seals, whales, dolphins, water, sun,
sand
Which of the following is a
population?
a. Bats
b. Bats in Lake Arrowhead
c. Bats, hawks, squirrels in Lake
Arrowhead
d. Bats, hawks, squirrels, snow, rain,
rocks, sunshine, in Lake Arrowhead
Producers,
Consumers,
Decomposers
What do autotrophs make?
Their own food
What’s another name for
autotroph?
Producer
 In box #1, summarize what we just
learned.
What are heterotrophs?
Organisms that rely on other organisms for
their energy and food.
What’s another name for
heterotrophs?
consumer
In box #2, write down the difference between
heterotrophs and autotrophs.
In box #3, draw a picture of an autotroph and
label it.
In box #4, draw a picture of a heterotroph and
label it.
Describe the 5 different kinds of consumers AND
what they eat.
 Herbivore –
 Plants
 Carnivore –
 Other animals
 Omnivore –
 Plants and animals
 Detritivores
 eat dead/dying stuff
 Decomposers
 break down organic matter
Producers
 Organisms that
make their own
food
 Examples:
 Plants
 Phytoplankton
 Kelp
 Some Bacteria
Consumers
 Organisms that rely on other organisms
for their energy and food supply. Also
called Heterotrophs.
 Examples:
 Humans
 Wolves
 Snakes
 Bees
Decomposers
 Organisms that
breaks down organic
matter (break down
once-living things)
 Examples
 Bacteria
 Fungi
(mushrooms)
Are decomposers
heterotrophs?
Please Name the
Following…
Are they producers, consumers, or
decomposers?
#
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
20.
Autotroph or Producer,
Heterotroph? Consumer, or
Decomposer?
Herbivore,
Omnivore, or
Carnivore?
1. Heterotroph, consumer,
omnivore
2. Producer, autotroph
3. Heterotroph, consumer,
Herbivore
4. Heterotroph, consumer,
Herbivore
5. Heterotroph, consumer,
Carnivore
6. Heterotroph, consumer,
Herbivore
7. Heterotroph, consumer,
carnivore
8. Autotroph, producer
9. Heterotroph, consumer,
omnivore
10. Heterotroph, decomposer
11.Heterotroph, consumer,
carnivore
12. Heterotroph, consumer,
carnivore
13. Heterotroph, consumer,
Herbivore
14.Heterotroph, consumer,
carnivore
Bacteria
15. Heterotroph, decomposer
16. Heterotroph, consumer,
Carnivore (Omnivore?)
17. Heterotroph, consumer,
Carnivore/omnivore
18. Heterotroph, consumer,
carnivore
19. autotroph, producer
20. Heterotroph, consumer,
Herbivore
Extra: Heterotroph, consumer,
Omnivore