Ecology Ecology ContinuedContinued

IntroducingIntroducing……

Energy Flow!Energy Flow!

Let’s take a step back.Let’s take a step back.What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

• Any guesses?Any guesses?

• Definition: The study of interactions Definition: The study of interactions among organisms and between among organisms and between organisms and their environment.organisms and their environment.

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization• __________________________ = one individual that is made of at least = one individual that is made of at least

one cell, requires energy, grows and develops, one cell, requires energy, grows and develops, reproduces, and responds to it’s environmentreproduces, and responds to it’s environment

• __________________________ = a group of organisms that are similar = a group of organisms that are similar enough that they can breed.enough that they can breed.

• _____________ = groups of individuals that belong to the _____________ = groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area.same species and live in the same area.

• __________________________ = assemblages of the different = assemblages of the different populations that live together in a defined area.populations that live together in a defined area.

• __________________________ = a collection of all the organisms that = a collection of all the organisms that live together in a particular place as well as their live together in a particular place as well as their nonliving or physical environment.nonliving or physical environment.

• __________________________ = a group of ecosystems that have the = a group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities.same climate and similar dominant communities.

OrganismOrganism

SpeciesSpecies

PopulationPopulation

CommunityCommunity

EcosystemEcosystem

BiomeBiome

• Definition: diagram that shows the Definition: diagram that shows the amounts of energy or matter contained amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food web within each trophic level in a food web or food chain.or food chain.

• Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid: only 10% of the energy : only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to from one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.organisms at the next trophic level.– How is energy transferred?How is energy transferred?

Another way to organize Another way to organize organisms is in an Ecological organisms is in an Ecological

PyramidPyramid

En

erg

y F

low

Energy lost at

each stepEnergy PyramidEnergy Pyramid

Ecological Pyramids Ecological Pyramids ContinuedContinued

• Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid: shows the total : shows the total amount of living tissue (biotic amount of living tissue (biotic matter) available at each trophic matter) available at each trophic level.level.– REMEMBER: Each trophic level harvests REMEMBER: Each trophic level harvests

only about one tenth of the energy from only about one tenth of the energy from the level below, it can also only support the level below, it can also only support about one tenth the amount of living about one tenth the amount of living tissue. tissue.

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid

Ecological Pyramids Ecological Pyramids ContinuedContinued

• Numbers pyramidNumbers pyramid: shows the number : shows the number of species at each trophic level.of species at each trophic level.

Autotrophs (Producers)

Energy FlowEnergy Flow• Energy flow through an ecosystem in one direction, Energy flow through an ecosystem in one direction,

from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (consumers).(consumers).

• ___________ is the main source of energy for life on ___________ is the main source of energy for life on EarthEarth

• This energy is harnessed by ___________, which are This energy is harnessed by ___________, which are examples of autotrophsexamples of autotrophs

Prairie EcosystemAll energy comes from the sun

Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage

SunlightSunlight

PlantsPlants

Energy Flow Step 1 = Energy Flow Step 1 = AutotrophsAutotrophs

• What does autotroph mean?What does autotroph mean?– Make Make foodfood for for selfself

• Also known as producersAlso known as producers

• Plants are the most familiar Plants are the most familiar autotrophsautotrophs

• Lesser known autotrophs Lesser known autotrophs use chemical energy to use chemical energy to make carbohydratesmake carbohydrates– Ex. bacteriaEx. bacteria

Energy Flow Step 2 = Energy Flow Step 2 = HeterotrophsHeterotrophs• Also known as consumersAlso known as consumers

• What does heterotroph mean?What does heterotroph mean?– Rely on Rely on other organismsother organisms for their for their

energy and foodenergy and food

Prairie EcosystemAll energy comes from the sun

Autotrophs (Producers)

Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage

Heterotrophs (Consumers)

Different Categories of Different Categories of HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

• __________________ obtain energy by eating obtain energy by eating plantsplants

• __________________ eat animals for energy eat animals for energy• __________________ get energy from both get energy from both

plants and animalsplants and animals• __________________ feed on the remains of feed on the remains of

plants, animals and other dead plants, animals and other dead matter for energymatter for energy

HerbivorHerbivoresesCarnivorCarnivoresesOmnivorOmnivoreses

DetritovorDetritovoreses

Another Way to Categorize Another Way to Categorize HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

• Primary Consumers = eat autotrophsPrimary Consumers = eat autotrophs

• Secondary Consumers = eat primary Secondary Consumers = eat primary consumersconsumers

• Tertiary Consumers = secondary consumersTertiary Consumers = secondary consumers

• Scavengers = eat dead things Scavengers = eat dead things

• Decomposers = break down dead organic Decomposers = break down dead organic matter and release minerals back to soilmatter and release minerals back to soil

• Let’s add these to our Energy Pyramid…Let’s add these to our Energy Pyramid…

Autotrophs (Producers)

Grass, Sunflowers, Wildflowers, Sage

Primary Consumers

Prairie Dog, Bison, Mice

Secondary Consumers

Hawk, Badger, Eagle, Rattlesnake

Scavengers

Eagle, Coyote

Decomposers

Bacteria, Fungus, Insects

Prairie EcosystemAll energy comes from the sun

Trophic RelationshipsTrophic Relationships

• What does tropic mean?What does tropic mean?– Eating/feedingEating/feeding

• Food ChainsFood Chains are a series of steps in which are a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.being eaten.

• Food websFood webs show the complex interactions show the complex interactions within an ecosystem.within an ecosystem.

• Each step in a food chain or web is called a Each step in a food chain or web is called a trophic level. Producers make up the first trophic level. Producers make up the first step, consumers make up the higher levels.step, consumers make up the higher levels.

Food Chains vs. Food WebsFood Chains vs. Food Webs

Cycles of MatterCycles of Matter

• Unlike the one-way flow of energy, Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled within and matter is recycled within and between ecosystems.between ecosystems.

• These cycles are the Water cycle, These cycles are the Water cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nutrient Cycle, Carbon Cycle, Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorus cycle.Nitrogen cycle and Phosphorus cycle.– These are ___________ resources (cannot These are ___________ resources (cannot

be created or destroyed)be created or destroyed)NON-NON-RENEWABLERENEWABLE

Biomagnification – What is Biomagnification – What is it?it?