Ecology Notes 2012. Ecology: The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
Study of interactions between organisms and their environments. Ecology.
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Transcript of Study of interactions between organisms and their environments. Ecology.
Study of interactions between organisms and their environments.
Ecology
Biotic Factors Biosphere – life-supporting layer of Earth Biotic factors – all living organisms in a
biosphere
Abiotic Factors Nonliving factors in an environment Examples:
Radiation Light Heat (temperature)
Wind (air currents) or Water currents in aquatic environments
Water (moisture) Soil (mineral concentration) Fire
Organization of Life
Organisms(species)
Populations
Communities
Ecosystems
Biosphere
Levels of Organization
Feeding Relationships Autotrophs – can capture energy from sunlight
Heterotrophs – rely on other organisms for their food and energy Herbivores – eat plants Carnivores – eat animals Omnivores – eat plant and animals Decomposers – break down organic matter
Sunlight is the main source of energy.
Trophic Relationships Autotrophs 1st level consumers (herbivores) 2nd level consumers 3rd level consumers 4th level consumers (top predators)
Feeding Relationships Food chain – a series of steps in which
organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
Food web –the feeding relationships that form a network of complex interactions
Trophic level – each step in a food chain or food web
Food Web
Ecology Pyramids Energy pyramid – shows the relative amount
of energy available at each trophic level
Biomass pyramid – represents the amount of living organic mater at each trophic level
Pyramid of numbers – shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level
RULE OF 10 Only 10% of energy is transferred from
one trophic level to the next. Example:
It takes 100 kgs of plant materials (producers) to support 10 kgs of herbivores
It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg of 1st level predator
The other 90% is used up or lost as heat
Etymology Ecology: eco- (Gk. OIKOS, house) + -logy
(the study of) Abiotic: a- (without) + -biotic (life) Biosphere: bio- (life) + -sphere (L. SPHERA,
globe)