Topic: Ecology

Learning Goal: I can describe relationships (producer/consumer,

predator/prey, and parasite/host) as they occur in food webs.

Essential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Ecology

The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

Types of habitats

Marine- oceans (salt water)

Freshwater- lakes, rivers and ponds

Terrestrial- Land: deserts, jungles, forests etc.

What is ecology?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Environment Organization• INDIVIDUAL – One organism of a

species.• POPULATION- All of the organisms of

the same species that live in the same area.

• COMMUNITY- All of the living organisms that live in the same area.

• ECOSYSTEM- All of the living organisms and nonliving factors in the same area.

• BIOSPHERE- Anywhere life is found on the planet.

How is the environment organized?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Types of organisms

Producers- organisms that produce their own food (plants)

Photosynthesis- Chemical process where plants use sunlight to make glucose (sugar)

What is a producer?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Photosynthesis- Chemical process where plants use sunlight to make glucose (sugar)

What is photosynthesis?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Photosynthesis- Chemical process where plants use sunlight to make glucose (sugar)

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Compare and contrast the chemical equations for plants and animals?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Consumers: organisms that obtain energy by eating other organismsHerbivores:Obtain energy by eating just plants

How do consumers obtain energy?

How do herbivores obtain energy?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

CarnivoresObtain energy by eating just meat (other animals)

How do carnivores obtain energy?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

OmnivoresObtain energy by eating plants and animals

How do omnivores obtain energy?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

DecomposersObtain energy by consuming waste and dead organisms

How do decomposers obtain energy?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Food chainillustrates how consumers obtain energy from other organisms in an ecosystem

How does a food chain illustrate energy flow in an ecosystem?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

• Food web- a few food chains connected together

• The arrow points to what animal is receiving the energy.

For example, the fox receives its energy from rabbits, squirrels and mice.

How does a food web illustrate energy flow in an ecosystem?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

• Symbiosis: any close relationship between species.

What is symbiosis?

Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Mutualism: a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.

Examples: lichens (made up of

algae and fungus): algae supplies energy to both organisms, fungus provides a protected space for algae to live

What is mutualism?

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Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Commensalism: a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is not affected

Examples: Clown fish (Nemo) and anemone: tentacles do

not sting clown fish, fish is protected from predators. Anemone is not affected.

What is commensalism?

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Topic: EcologyEssential Question: How do organisms interact in an ecosystem?

Parasitisma symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other organism is harmed.

Examples: Fleas, leaches, mosquitoes, ticks, bacteria, tapeworm, hookworms Roundworms and dogs/cats: worm attaches to intestine and feeds on nutrients, animal can have pain, bloating diarrhea and possible death.

What is the relationship between a parasite and a host? +/-

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Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Ecosystema system involving the interactions between a community of living organisms in a particular area and its nonliving environment

What is an ecosystem?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Limiting Factorsanything that restricts the number of individuals in a population. They are biotic and abiotic factors

What are limiting factors?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Biotic FactorsLiving parts of the environment

Examples:

-animals-plants-bacteria

What is a biotic factor?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Abiotic FactorsNon-living parts of the environment

Examples:- sunlight- air-water-temperature- space

What is an abiotic factor?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

CompetitionWhen more than one individual or

population tries to make use of the same resource

What is competition?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Intraspecific competitionmembers of the same species compete

for the same resources

What is intraspecific competition?

Topic: Limiting FactorsEssential Question: What do organisms depend on and compete for in an ecosystem?

Interspecific competitionWhen different species compete for resources

What is interspecific competition?

Who is the predator? prey?

Food WebWhich ecosystem are you most likely to find this food web?

Is the snapper a consumer or producer?

What would happen if all the algae in the ocean died?

Remember from 7th Grade: Energy Pyramid

Each level’s energy decreases by about 10% each time because energy is used for the organisms life functions.