Chapter 3: The Biosphere

What is ecology?

Ecology and Biomes

Ecology

• Ecology – the study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and environment

• Interdependence- is mutual dependence between things.

Levels of Organization

Levels of Organization• Biosphere – largest, portions of planet where

life exists (land, H2O, air)– 8 km above to 11 km below

Levels of Organization• Biome – group of ecosystems with same

climate, rainfall/freshwater, elevation, latitude

• Ecosystem – collection of all organisms in a particular place together with the abiotic (physical) environment.

Levels of Organization• Community – groups of different

populations that live together in a defined area.

Levels of Organization• Population – groups of individuals of same

species in same area.

Levels of Organization• Species – group of organisms so similar that

they can mate and produce fertile offspring.

Biotic and Abiotic Factors• Biotic – living

– Plants, Animals ,Mold, Fungi, Bacteria, Protist

• Abiotic – Nonliving– Sunlight, soil, wind, water,

temperature

• Habitat – the area where an organism lives; includes both biotic and abiotic factors.

Ecological Methods1. Observation – 1st step to

designing an experiment

2. Experiment – test hypotheses; imitate & manipulate

3. Modeling – make models based on observation & experiment

• Helps make future predictions

3.2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers

• One of the most important factors to determine capacity to sustain life

•Leopard, Hyena, Lion

•Peregrine Falcon Dive

Producers (Autotrophs)• Can trap sunlight to produce food

– Plants– Some protist– Some bacteria

• Photosynthesis – captures solar energy and converts it to chemical energy

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

• Chemosynthesis – Chemical energy used to produce carbohydratesSUN

Consumers (Heterotrophs)

• Can’t trap energy directly; must acquire it from other organisms– Herbivores – plants– Carnivores – animals– Omnivores – both– Detritivores – remains of

dead plants & animals– Decomposers – break down

organic matter

3.3 Energy Flow in Ecosystems

• Food Chains and Food Webs

Food Chains and Food WebsSUN Autotrophs Heterotroph

1. Food Chain – energy trapped by producers passed on when organisms eat and are eaten

2. Food Web – relationship more complex than a chain

Trophic Levels and Ecological Pyramids

• Trophic Levels – each step in a food chain/web

Ex: producers, then consumers• Ecological Pyramids – shows relative amount of energy

at each level (10% rule)• Biomass – total amount of living tissue within a trophic

level

3.4 Cycles of Matter

*Recycle Matter*

Carbon Cycle

• Photosynthesis – uses CO2 from atmophere– Happens in the CHLOROPLAST

6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

• Respiration – returns CO2 to atmoshere– Happens in the MITOCHONDRIA

C6H12O6 + O2 H2O + CO2

Carbon Cycle

The Carbon Cycle

1. Volcanoes, respiration, fossil fuels, and decomposition add CO2 to atmosphere.

2. Plants take CO2 and make carbohydrates

3. Plants are eaten by animals and carbohydrates are passed through the food chain.

4. As the animal breathes and eventually dies and decomposes CO2 is return to atmosphere.

Water CycleBill Nye - Clouds

Water Cycle1. Water enters the atmosphere by:

• Evaporation – water changes from a liquid to a gas

• Transpiration – Evaporation through leaves

2. As water rises it cools condenses into tiny droplets that form clouds.

3. Droplets returns to Earth as precipitation.

4. Water enters the rivers, ground water, ocean or plant roots to restart cycle.

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle1. Nitrogen gas makes up 78% of atmosphere

2. Nitrogen Fixation: bacteria take nitrogen gases and turn it into ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

3. Plants and animals use nitrate to make amino acids.

4. Animal dies and decomposes returning nitrates to the soil.

5. Denitrification: other bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

Legumes and Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria

Algae Blooms

The Phosphorous Cycle

• Phosphate – parts of DNA/RNA

• Found in rocks that are worn down

• Washes into rivers/streams/oceans for marine organisms

• Taken in by plants and turned into organic compounds

Nutrient Limitation• Primary Productivity – the rate at which

organic molecules are created by producers

• If nutrients are in short supply, they are called LIMITING NUTRIENTS

Ex: Nitrogen is often limiting in water; if there is suddenly an input of N (fertilizer runoff), organisms can grow rapidly (Algal Bloom)

Discussion questions:

1. How many stops can you make on your trip?

2. Will your journey ever end?

3. Was everyone’s journey the same? Why not?

4. What would happen if a farmer used too much fertilizer? (In this game, that would mean that everyone started from the fertilizer station at the same time.)

5. Livestock farming creates a large amount of animal waste. How would this affect the nitrogen cycle?

Bald Eagle – Temperate Forest

Black bear – Temperate Forest

Silver Gibbon – Tropical Forest

Toucan – Tropical Forest

Pit Viper – Tropical Forest

Mountain goat – Boreal - Alpine

Snowy owl – Tundra

Caribou – Tundra

Desert Big Horn – Desert

Antelope – Desert

Gila Monster – Desert

Koala – Grassland

Lion– Grassland

Zebra - Grassland

The three basic types of population distribution within an area. From left to right, spaced (uniform/regular), random and clumped (aggregated

Questions for tree hole community article:

1. What is a tree hole community (what lives there, what interactions exist)?

2. How did this scientist choose to gather data about the tree hold community (what method did he use to study it)?

3. How did the researcher describe the relationships with the tree holes?

4. What three factors did this particular researcher study within the tree holes?

5. Lastly, why can’t interactions between wolf and deer populations be studied the same way as tree holes?

The three basic types of ecological pyramids: energy, biomass and numbers.

The three basic types of ecological pyramids: energy, biomass and numbers.

Marine environments can have inverted biomass pyramids because primary producers are phytoplankton. These tiny photosynthetic organisms reproduce rapidly so a small mass has a fast rate of primary production (energy available)

Why is this pyramid of numbers inverted?

Why is this pyramid of numbers inverted?

If a person needs 3,000 Calories per day, then 30,000 Cal beef are needed, which in turn need 300,000 Cal of corn, which in turn means 30,000,000 Cal of sunshine. This works out to be 1.5 acres of corn per day per person. If the person ate corn directly then 10 people could be supported by the same 1.5 acres of corn.