Lesson 1Lesson 1

Introduction to the challenge Introduction to the challenge questionquestion

Author’s own pictureTucson, AZ

AASaguaro CactusAuthors’ own

picture

Lesson 2Lesson 2

“In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only

what we are taught.” -Baba Gioum

Authors’ own picture, Franklin, TN sunrise

EcologyEcology Study of living and nonliving parts of the Study of living and nonliving parts of the

environment and how they affect organismsenvironment and how they affect organisms

Ecology is only one aspect of biology but Ecology is only one aspect of biology but all all LIFELIFE depends on a healthy environment, food depends on a healthy environment, food resources and water.resources and water.

Man’s actions must protect these resources Man’s actions must protect these resources against pollution and depletion.against pollution and depletion.

Nonliving ThingsNonliving Things

Matter Energy

Living ThingsLiving Things

Bacteria, Protozoans, FungiBacteria, Protozoans, Fungi

Plants Animals

WEB OF LIFEWEB OF LIFE All life is interconnectedAll life is interconnected

INTERINTERDEPENDENTDEPENDENT NotNot

INDEPENDENTINDEPENDENT

Destroyed links = Unhealthy, less stable earthDestroyed links = Unhealthy, less stable earth ____________________________________________________

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Strands of LifeStrands of Life Feeding relationships are major strandsFeeding relationships are major strands

Organisms are connected to each other by Organisms are connected to each other by their their need for energyneed for energy

supports life’s metabolismsupports life’s metabolism growthgrowth reproductionreproduction cycling of nutrients and chemicalscycling of nutrients and chemicals

“Tug on anything at all and you’ll find it connected to everything else in the universe.” -John Muir, Founder of the Sierra Club

Authors’ own

picture – Tucson, AZ

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““I am I plus my surroundings and if I do not preserve I am I plus my surroundings and if I do not preserve the latter, I do not preserve myself.”the latter, I do not preserve myself.”

Jose Ortega y GassetJose Ortega y Gasset Meditations on Quixote 1914 Meditations on Quixote 1914

Authors’ ownPicture

Tucson, AZ

Who Composes the Strands Who Composes the Strands of Life?of Life?

Producers - AutotrophsProducers - Autotrophs: plants: plants able to use able to use energy from the sunenergy from the sun to make to make their own foodtheir own food Consumers - HeterotrophsConsumers - Heterotrophs: animals: animals unableunable to make their own food to make their own food DecomposersDecomposers: organisms which cause decay: organisms which cause decay

WHY is decomposition vital to the health of the WHY is decomposition vital to the health of the environment???environment???

Bacteria, Mushrooms, FungusBacteria, Mushrooms, Fungus

Organisms And GroupsOrganisms And Groups Organisms in an ecosystem can be grouped by Organisms in an ecosystem can be grouped by

the way they acquire and contribute food.the way they acquire and contribute food. ProducersProducers ConsumersConsumers Herbivores: plant eatersHerbivores: plant eaters Carnivores: meat eatersCarnivores: meat eaters Omnivores: generalists (eat both)Omnivores: generalists (eat both) ScavengersScavengers DecomposersDecomposers

All Biological Activity All Biological Activity Requires EnergyRequires Energy

Food chains and food webs are based on the flow ofFood chains and food webs are based on the flow of energyenergy and and mattermatter from one organism from one organism to another.to another.

ENERGYENERGY Producer Consumer(s)Producer Consumer(s)

ENERGYENERGY

Matter

Flow

Food WebFood Web Connection of Connection of allall food chains in a community food chains in a community

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Balance of LifeBalance of Life Food webs and food chains keep living Food webs and food chains keep living

organisms in balance.organisms in balance.

These interactions keep population numbers in These interactions keep population numbers in check. check.

HOW?????HOW?????

CommunityCommunity Producers + Consumers + Decomposers that all Producers + Consumers + Decomposers that all

live and live and interactinteract in in one areaone area

Producers Producers

Decomposers ConsumersDecomposers Consumers == CommunityCommunity

Energy of Food ChainsEnergy of Food Chains Animals receive Animals receive chemical energychemical energy from the from the

food they eat (plants and/or other animals).food they eat (plants and/or other animals).

Plants are producers. Where does their Plants are producers. Where does their energy come from?energy come from?

SunSunlightlight

Life Involves Activity & Life Involves Activity & Activity Requires EnergyActivity Requires Energy

If supply of energy stops, life stopsIf supply of energy stops, life stops

A constant cycle of matter is also needed A constant cycle of matter is also needed because because matter traps energy and transports it matter traps energy and transports it within the organism or to another organismwithin the organism or to another organism

Food is matter and contains energyFood is matter and contains energy

Flow of Energy is Flow of Energy is InefficientInefficient

Energy escapes a food chain as Energy escapes a food chain as heatheat. .

Energy must constantly enter a community, Energy must constantly enter a community, beginning with photosynthesis, or the beginning with photosynthesis, or the community will die.community will die.

Why is Energy Lost??Why is Energy Lost?? Energy received from food is used:Energy received from food is used: to warm bodyto warm body maintenance of bodymaintenance of body growth reproductiongrowth reproduction Organisms have Organisms have selfselfish needs that make ish needs that make

energy unavailable to next consumerenergy unavailable to next consumer HEATHEAT loss – escapes into the environment, loss – escapes into the environment,

and back out into space.and back out into space.

How do these 2 communities differ?How do these 2 communities differ? Biotic and Abiotic Variables???Biotic and Abiotic Variables???

Author’s personal files

Author’s own pictureTucson, AZ

Desert CommunityDesert Community ***Provide pictures of Sonoran Desert species***Provide pictures of Sonoran Desert species

and ask the students to research their feeding and ask the students to research their feeding preferences in order to construct a desert food preferences in order to construct a desert food web.web.

BadgerBadger Horned Toad Horned Toad Road Runner Road Runner JavelinaJavelina BobcatBobcat Jack Rabbit Jack Rabbit LizardsLizards CactiCacti Harvester Ants Harvester Ants ToadsToads SnakesSnakes Prickly Pear Prickly Pear Kit Fox Kit Fox Gambel’s Quail Mesquite TreeGambel’s Quail Mesquite Tree The list is endless…!!The list is endless…!!

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Author’s own pictureRoadrunnerTucson, AZ

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Author’s own pictureHorned ToadTucson, AZ