Part 1

Ecology:the study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment.

BIOSPHERE: the portion of Earth that supports life . . .

Air

Land

Water

Organic / Biotic Factors . . .(the living environment)

PlantsAnimalsProtistsBacteriaFungi (All living things

containing carbon)

Inorganic /Abiotic factors . . .(the non-living environment)

WindTemperatureMoistureLightSoilMinerals Fire

Habitat:

The physical location in which a given species lives.

Community:

A group of organisms of different species living together in a particular place.

Population:

a group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

Niche: the role and position a species has in its environment

What it eatsWhere it eatsWhen it eats

Symbiosis: close association between two or more organisms of different species.

Commensalism - one benefits, one isn’t affected (eg. Whale & Barnacles)

Mutualism - both benefit (eg. Insects & Plants)

Parasitism - one benefits, one is harmed (eg. Ticks & Dogs)

2.2 Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem

Organisms differ in how they obtain energy

Autotrophs Heterotrophs

organism that collects energy from sunlight or inorganic substances to produce food

organism that consumes other organisms

Omnivores - eat anything

Carnivores - eat meat

Insectivores - eat

insects

Herbivores - eat plants

Producers - make own

food

Trophic level = feeding step

Ecological (Energy) Pyramid

Food chain - shows how energy flows

producer herbivore omnivore omnivoreproducer 1st order

consumer2nd order consumer

3rd order consumer

Organisms almost always eat, and are eaten by, many different organisms.

Food web: interconnected food chains

chicken

grass deer

caterpillar

hawk

frog

seeds

snakebeetle

coyote

turkey

human

rabbit

Part 2

How energy flows . . .

Sun - main source of energyAutotrophs / producers…

can make own foodHeterotrophs / consumers…

must eatDecomposers / saprophytes…

fungi & bacteria break down dead materials

Cycles Within Ecosystems:Chapter 2.3, pg. 45 - 49

Water cycle – precipitation and evaporationCarbon cycle – increasing carbon dioxide

traps more heat and causes the “greenhouse effect.”

Nitrogen cycle – (next slide)

Nitrogen cycle

Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of… – “N” into usable organic compounds by

bacteria– “N” from decaying organisms into

ammoniaThe release of “N” from organisms that

are being decomposed.

Adaptation: the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment.

ColorationSpeedMigrationThick furChemical defensesHibernation/

EstivationSizeThorns and stickers

THE END!