Biodiversity Energy Flow in Ecosystems Predators or Prey

Biodiversity & Energy Flow in Ecosystems

Predators or Prey?

Predator or Prey

Which line is the predator? Which is the prey?

Which is the moose? Which is the wolf?

Niche The special roles that organisms have in an ecosystem. • Physical, chemical and biological interactions for a species to grow, survive and reproduce • Specific to one species

Niche Examples

Niche of the Blue Heron • lives near water to fish • can nest close to water for easy access to food and escape from predators • Camouflaged nest in long grass • long legs for deeper fishing than other birds

Competition Harmful interaction between two or more organisms that can occur when organisms are competing for the same resource • If a new species is introduced it can compete for the same niche space that is already occupied Why might this be a bad thing?

Competition

Biodiversity What is biodiversity? many different types of species in an ecosystem

Why is biodiversity important? Low biodiversity causes the interactions of predators and prey become out of balance Low genetic diversity causes increase risk of disease • Food (ie. potato famine in Ireland, bananas in Central America) • Wood (pine beetles in BC) Biodiversity is not always good Why not? Introduction of foreign species can seriously damage native ecosystems

Vocabulary Biomass: total mass of living things (plants, animals, fungi and bacteria) in a given area. Organic Matter: broken down plant and animal materials that make up the soil

Energy Flow Producers: Producers Decomposers Consumers

Organisms in ecosystems Every organism will interact in an ecosystem in 2 ways: 1. The organism will obtain food energy from the ecosystem 2. The organism will contribute energy to the ecosystem

Movement of Energy

How does biodiversity relate to energy flow? 1. More types of species = more food for predators and prey 2. More energy for predators and prey = stronger ecosystem 3. Ecosystem more stable and less susceptible to disease or death