EcologyMovement of

energy

Know the 3 “E’s”

Ecology = the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Ecosystem = all the living and nonliving components of an environment and how they interact.

Environment = an organisms immediate surroundings consisting both living and nonliving things.

Community = interacting organisms in an environment.

Habitat = actual place (location) where an organism lives in an ecosystem.

Niche = specific way of living for each organism . NO TWO SPECIES HAVE THE SAME NICHE!!!

A niche includes habitat, environment, ecosystem, diet, defenses, etc..

Types of Organisms:Producers = Autotrophs

Make their own foodPhotosynthesis

Consumers = Heterotrophs Get energy by eating other

organisms...can not make own food.They eat other consumers or

producers.

Herbivores = eat producers

Carnivores = eat consumers

Omnivores = eat consumers and producers

Decomposers = cause decay. Break down complex molecules into simpler molecules, recycle nutrients (ex. Bacteria / Fungi)

Predator = an organism that will hunt, catch, and eat other organisms.

Ex) Wolf

So is a predator a producer or consumer??

Prey = the organism that is being hunted, caught, and eaten!!!

Ex) Rabbit

Population = # of organism of the SAME species, living within a certain area at a particular time.

Populations can’t grow forever and forever….

Limiting Factor = any factor that keeps a population from growing indefinitely/forever.

Ex) predators, death, disease, lack of food/water/shelter/land (resources)

Carrying capacity – the maximum number/amount of organisms a population can support.Every population has a “carrying capacity”.

Energy Flow

To eat is to obtain energy from breaking down molecules

Energy flows from the sun to producers to consumers

Trophic level – position in the sequence of energy transfers

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

1st Trophic Levelplants and other organisms that

make their own foodi.e., producersaka autotrophs

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

2nd Trophic LevelEat the 1st trophic levelconsumers, herbivores

Energy Flow in Ecosystems

3rd Trophic LevelEat the 2nd trophic levelorganisms that eat herbivoresconsumers, carnivores

This diagram has 4 trophic levels

•Fewer organisms at higher trophic levels than at lower trophic levels (pyramidal shape).

•An ecosystem can hold 5 trophic levels at the most because the energy decreases as you move up the levels.

What do you think the ultimate source for energy is for all

trophic levels??

Food ChainA single pathway of feeding relationshipsGrass eaten by mouse which is eaten by a

snake which is eaten by a hawk

Food WebMore complex than a food chainShows some (or many) feeding

relationships in an ecosystem

Energy TransfersPlants absorb energy from the

sun to make sugar/glucose

Each trophic level loses energy as you move up.

10% Rule = Loss of energy as you move up the food pyramid/chain/trophic levels.

•10% Rule in more detail….•Higher trophic levels contain less energy and therefore can support fewer individuals.•An herbivore eats a plant and only gets 10% of the plant’s energy (rest of the energy is lost doing work, or as heat)•A carnivore eats an herbivore and also only gets 10% of the energy in the herbivore

In food chains and food webs there is something called

BIOMAGNIFICATION that can occur.

•Biomagnification - the increase of a pollutant as you move up trophic levels/food chains. Example: DDT chemical

So…as you move up the trophic levels or up the food

chains….the pollutant INCREASES!!!

BioMAGNIFICATION… get bigger!!!!