Biology Unit 2ECOLOGY

Ecology

Study of how organisms interact with their

environment.

Uses both qualitative and quantitative

information.

Qualitative data comes from observing

organisms.

Quantitative data comes from measurements

taken in field experiments.

The Biosphere

The portion of the Earth that supports living

things.

Extends from high in the atmosphere to the

bottom of the oceans.

Home to a diverse group of organisms and a

wide range of climates.

The Nonliving Environment

Known as abiotic factors.

Includes air currents, temperature, moisture,

light, and soil.

We include these factors because they can

have a great effect on the life of an organism.

The Living Environment

All living things are called biotic factors.

All organisms depend on each other directly or

indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or

protection.

Levels of Organization

Ecologists study:

Individuals

Individuals interacting with their own species

Organisms interacting with different species

Organisms interacting with abiotic factors

Organisms interacting with all 3.

Because of this, they need to organize the different

types of interaction.

Levels of Organization Cont’d

Ecologists organize the living world into the

following levels:

Individuals

Populations

Communities

Ecosystems

Populations

A group of organisms, all the same species, that

interbreed and live in the same area at the

same time.

Members of a population may compete with

each other for food, water, mates, and other

resources.

Communities

Made up of multiple populations interacting with

each other in a certain area in a certain time.

A change in one population in a community

may cause changes in other populations within

the community.

Ecosystem

Made up of the interacting populations in a

biological community and includes the abiotic

factors.

There are 2 major types of ecosystems.

Terrestrial (on land)

Aquatic ( in water)

Discuss with your seat partner:

Try to come up with as many different

ecosystems as you can!

Organisms In Ecosystems

Most organisms have a specific place where

they live out their lives. This is called a habitat.

They also have unique strategies or adaptations

that allow them to be successful in their habitats.

This is called a Niche.

Predator-Prey Relationships

When multiple populations live together there will

ultimately be predator-prey relationships.

In a predator-prey relationship one animals eats another

for energy.

Once the energy runs out, the predator must find more

prey to get more energy.

Survival Relationships

Studies show that most organisms survive

because of their relationships with other species.

These are called symbiotic relationships.

There are 3 recognized symbiotic relationships:

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Mutualism

Both species benefit

Example: Ant and Acacia Tree

The ants protect the tree from insects that will eat

it and the tree provides the ants with a home.

Commensalism

One species benefits and the other is not

affected.

Example: Spanish moss

Spanish moss grows on tree branches. The trees

are not harmed but the moss benefits from

having a habitat.

Parasitism

Beneficial to one species and harmful to the

other.

Ex: Cowbird

Most parasites have found away to take from

their host without causing death.

If the host were to die, the parasite would likely

die as well.

Wolf Article

Go to my website and click the link for the wolf article.

Sign in as a student. Password: cmhsscience1

Click on digital issue and scroll to the article titled “gone fishing”

Answer the questions on your worksheet

Unit 2 Notes Part 2: How Organisms

Obtain Energy

The Producers: Autotrophs

All energy used for life on Earth comes from the SUN.

Autotrophs convert the energy from the sun to sugar.

All plants as well as some algae are autotrophs.

All heterotrophs depend on autotrophs for energy either

directly or indirectly.

Heterotrophs are also called consumers.

Consumers: Heterotrophs

Organism that has to eat other organisms for food.

Heterotrophs that eat only autotrophs: Herbivores

Heterotrophs that kill and eat heterotrophs: Carnivores

Heterotrophs that eat dead animals: Scavengers

Heterotrophs that eat plants and animals: Omnivores

Decomposers

Some organisms such as bacteria and fungi are

known as decomposers.

They break down dead plant matter so that they

can be reabsorbed into the soil.

This is called nutrient recycling.

Food Chains

A food chain is a simple model scientists use to show

how matter and energy move through an ecosystem.

In a food chain, we use arrows to indicate direction of

energy.

Food Webs

Food chains are just a model of a single

relationship between a small group of organisms

A more accurate model of energy flow through

an ecosystem is a food web.

Food webs consist of multiple food chains and

show the big picture of energy flow.

Food Web Example

Trophic Level

Each level of a food chain is called a trophic

level.

They go in this order: Producer, primary

consumer, secondary consumer, tertiary

consumer etc…..

Trophic levels represent the passage of energy

and materials.

The Energy Pyramid

As you move up through trophic levels, both

energy and biomass are lost.

Energy is lost through metabolizing food.

As energy decreases less biomass is supported.

Biomass is the weight of all the living things on

that trophic level.

The Energy Pyramid

Calculating Biomass

Calculate the biomass of the secondary

consumer if you start out with 25,000 Kg of

producers.

Nutrient Cycling

Unlike energy, we have a finite amount of

Water, Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus on our

planet.

So, we recycle these nutrients over and over

again.

The Water Cycle

Our planet “stores” water in the ocean

The water evaporates into the atmosphere,

precipitates, and falls back to the earth.

Water that is not absorbed by organisms runs off

and the process begins again.

Plants release water by Transpiration

The Water Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

All life on Earth is based on Carbon molecules.

Carbon cycle starts with autotrophs.

Autotrophs use the carbon to grow and make

energy.

Heterotrophs eat autotrophs and also use

carbon to grow and make energy..

The Carbon Cycle

What are some ways that carbon gets put back

into the ecosystem?

The Carbon Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is essential for plant growth as well as making

up many chemicals that we need.

Nitrogen is obtained through soil by plants and through

eating by autotrophs.

When plants and animals die or produce waste, nitrogen

fixing bacteria in the soil allow nitrogen back into the

atmosphere.

The Nitrogen Cycle

Phosphorus Cycle

All organisms require phosphorus.

Obtained same way as nitrogen.

There are 2 phosphorus cycles; short and long.

Short Phosphorus Cycle

Plants and animals produce waste and die.

This phosphorus is returned to the soil to be used

again.

Long Phosphorus Cycle

Phosphorus from dead animals leaches into

streams.

Phosphates settle and become locked in rocks.

Geologic processes uplift rocks over millions of

years.

Phosphorus erodes back into soil.

Phosphorus Cycle