Ecology

• Objectives:

• How are materials and energy transferred between organisms in an ecosystem?

• Can I identify biotic and abiotic factors in major biomes?

A. Ecology

Scientists who study the

connections among living things

specialize in the science of ECOLOGY.

© J Beauchemin 2006

B. What is an Organism?

Defined as:

ANY LIVING THING

Example of an organism:A wolf

C. HABITAT: The environment where an organism lives.

Example: A Wolf’s Habitat

• would be found in the arctic tundra, plains, savannahs, and mixed forest environments!

There are two factors

included in every habitat...

D. Biotic factors

–Living things

like...

E. Abiotic factors

Nonlivingthings (physical factors)

like...

Task

• Come up with as many biotic and abiotic factors as you can in a forest ecosystem.

• Challenge: If another group has your word it does not count.

• Hint: Come up with things other groups will not think of.

Ecology Continued

• Objective:

• Can I identify biotic and abiotic factors in major biomes?

• How are materials and energy transferred between organisms in an ecosystem?

We can think about the interactions and

types of living things by organizing

them into groups, smallest to

largest.

1. Organism• includes only

one organism

“STANDS ALONE”

• Example: ONE Pigeon

2. Populationincludes all members of the same species that live in the same area. Example: all the

pigeons in LaVergne

•

THE GROUPS GET BIGGER and BIGGER!!!!!

3. CommunityIncludes all the different

species that live in one area.

Example: all the pigeons, ants, maple trees, dogs, etc. that live in LaVergne

4. Ecosystemincludes both the community and the abiotic factors. –Example: the LaVergne community plus the cars, buildings, rocks, air…

5. Biosphere the part of the Earth where all life exists.

Reality Check

• How are materials and energy transferred between organisms in an ecosystem?

Create 5 levels of a field mouse

Organism-definitionPicture

Population-definitionPicture

Community-definitionPicture

Ecosystem-definitionPicture

Biosphere-definitionPicture

5 LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

This is the way organisms in a habitat are organized!

Reality Check

• How are materials and energy transferred between organisms in an ecosystem?

• Can I identify biotic and abiotic factors in major biomes?

Ecology/ Food Chain & Food Web Quiz

Basketball Review!!

1. Any Living Thing is known as an

_________.

2.What is the environment where an organism lives

called? A.niche B. habitat

3. Scientists who study the connections among living things specialize in the science of _________.

4. Nonlivingthings (physical factors) are called _______ factors.

A. Biotic B. Abiotic

5.Living factors are called _______ factors.

A. Biotic B. Abiotic

6.A rock is an example of a ________ factor.

A. Biotic B. Abiotic

7.A tree is an example of a __________ factor.

A. Biotic B. Abiotic

8.Name level of organization that is the largest level and where all life exists.

A. Ecosystem B. Biosphere

9.A flock of Birds flying, all the bullfrogs in pond, a herd of sheep grazing are all examples of what level?

A. Organism B. Population

10. This level of organization includes the part of the Earth where all life exists.

11. Cacti would be a ______part of a desert.

A.AbioticB.Biotic

12. Sand and Temperature would be a ______part of desert.

A.AbioticB.Biotic

13. Name the 5 levels of organization in order from smallest to largest.

14.

15.

15. What happens to some energy when a rabbit

consumes grass?A. It doubles in sizeB. It is transformed into heat energyC. It is destroyedD. It is converted into a pure element.

16. ________adds nutrients to the soil and breaks down dead

plants and animals adding nitrogen and CO2 to the soil

and air.

• A. Producers• B. Consumers• C. Decomposers

17.

18.

19.

WORD SEARCH

TIME

Make your own Word search:

Include the following words:Biotic HabitatAbiotic EcologyOrganism ProducerPopulation ConsumerCommunity DecomposerEcosystem Food WebBiosphere Food Chain

Extra info:

Food webs• All organisms need FOOD to survive!• Food webs show what eats what.

Eat or be eaten

• Here are some important terms that will help you describe interactions in a food web.

1. Producer (autotroph)– can make its own food – forms the base of the

food web

Mmmmm…delicious.

2. Consumer (heterotroph)– cannot make its own food

There are several words that describe consumers…– Prey: the hunted– Predator: the hunter– Herbivore: eats plants– Carnivore: eats animals– Omnivore: eats both plants and animals

Hey, you gonna eat that?

3. Decomposer– Breaks down dead organisms– Examples: bacteria, maggots, fungi,

worms– Complete the circle of life by returning

nutrients to the soil

Your mission…

• Label the organisms on the coloring sheet you don’t know. (use the next slide to help you)

• Color in the organisms.• On the back, WRITE some examples

of how the organisms might interact. Use vocabulary words from your notes.

daisy mussels

spider crab

harbor sealegret

sea star

orioleright whale

red-winged blackbird

puffer

horseshoe crab

clam

sea urchin

cattail

bass

cardinal

screech owl

white-tailed deer

hermit crab

flounderr

raccoon

gull

skate

whelk

rat snake

monarch butterfly

oak