Ecology Chapters 3 4 Bio Ecologythe study of

Ecology Chapters 3 -4 Bio Ecology—the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and their physical environment

Autotrophs A groups of organisms that can use the energy in sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into Glucose (food) Autotrophs are also called Producers because they produce all of the food that heterotrophs use Ex. Plants and Algae

Autotrophs Chemotrophs Autotrophs that get their energy from inorganic substances, such as salt Live deep down in the ocean where there is no sunlight Ex. Bacteria and Deep Sea Worms

Heterotrophs Organisms that do not make their own food Another term for heterotroph is consumer because they consume other organisms in order to live Ex. Rabbits, Deer, Mushrooms

Heterotrophs

Heterotrophs Consumers 1. Scavengers/Detritivores – feed on the tissue of dead organisms (both plants and animals) Ex. – Vultures, Crows, and Shrimp

Heterotrophs Consumers 2. Herbivores – eat ONLY plants Ex. – Cows, Elephants, Giraffes

Heterotrophs Consumers 3. Carnivores – eat ONLY meat Ex. – Lions, Tigers, Sharks

Heterotrophs Consumers 4. Omnivores – eat BOTH plants and animals Ex. – Bears and Humans

Heterotrophs Consumers 5. Decomposers – absorb any dead material and break it down into simple nutrients or fertilizers Ex. – Bacteria and Mushrooms

Transfer of Energy When a zebra eats the grass, it does not obtain all of the energy the grass has (much of it is not eaten) When a lion eats a zebra, it does not get all of the energy from the zebra (much of it is lost as heat) The two (2) previous examples of energy transfer show that no organism EVER receives all of the energy from the organism they just ate Only 10% of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next – this is called the 10% law

Food Chains The energy flow from one trophic level to the other is know as a food chain A food chain is simple and direct It involves one organism at each trophic level Primary Consumers – eat autotrophs (producers) Secondary Consumers – eat the primary consumers Tertiary Consumers – eat the secondary consumers Decomposers – bacteria and fungi that break down dead organisms and recycle the material back into the environment

Food Chain

Food Web

Food Web Notice that the direction the arrow points in the direction of the energy transfer, NOT “what ate what”

Food Web

Disclaimer: All food webs are simplified; some species and relationships are left out In the real world there are no top predators Most food webs exclude decomposers

Ecological Pyramid An ecological pyramid shows the relationship between consumers and producers at different trophic levels in an ecosystem Shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained at each trophic level The Pyramid shows which level has the most energy and the highest number of organisms

Ecological Pyramid

Ecological Pyramid • • Which level has has the the most energy? most organisms? least energy?

Ecosystems can be divided up into Biotic and Abiotic factors Biosphere—life on Earth that exists in a thin layer of soil, water, and air Average Range: 8 km deep in the ground to 8 km high in the air Biosphere can be divided into units called biomes. Biomes are named based on their vegetation

Figure 8. 3

Figure 8. 13

Figure 8. 18

Abiotic factors—non living aspects of the atmosphere - Temperature (range from 0 to 45 C) - Water - Sunlight - Wind (increases heat & water loss) - Rocks and soil

Temperature deciduous forest Only in N Hemisphere Climate Moist but temperate all yr, a few months above 10 o. C Soils Brown earth molisols – rich soil fauna and nutrients Under conifers soils become leached – podzols – heathland results Ecology Mainly deciduous trees, some epiphytes Four layers (canopy, shrub layer, field layer, ground layer) – dependent on species comprising the canopy Very marked seasonality of vegetation - creates succession of dominants Flowering trees and plants – assists wind pollination Animals may hibernate and burrow to avoid winter effects MASSIVE HUMAN IMPACTS – reduced coverage and species

Figure 8. 17 Source: Photo courtesy of Joseph Holden

Cycles • A. Water Cycle—Figure 17 -12 • --Movement of water between atmosphere and earth • Evaporation, condensation, precipitation • Excretion and perspiration, animals or humans • Absorption by plants or animals • Run off/Ground water—land • Humans affected: pollution harms self and others

WATER CYCLE HYDROLOGIC CYCLE = __________ http: //www. urbanrivers. org/water_cycle. html

http: //www. css. cornell. edu/faculty/hmv 1/watrshed/Etrans. htm The evaporation of water from the surface of plant leaves = ________ TRANSPIRATION The return of water to the surface in the form of rain, snow, sleet, hail, etc. = __________ PRECIPITATION

Image edited from: http: //www. cotf. edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/water. html WATER CYCLE PH ONLINE LINK Put in code: cbp-2033 Choose Start

• B. Carbon Cycle—Figure 17 -13 • Process by which carbon is cycled between CO 2 and organic molecules in living tissue. • Carbon dioxide in the air • Photosynthesis stored in plant tissue • Carbon stored in animal tissue when consumed • Wastes—dead organisms buried in ground • Decompostion of dead matter • Respiration (Exhale) • Burning of fossil fuels

CARBON CYCLE CO 2 in atmosphere CO 2 in ocean BIOLOGY; Miller and Levine; Prentice Hall; 2006

4 main CARBON reservoirs in BIOSPHERE 1. 2. 3. 4. atmosphere In ______ as CO 2 gas ocean as dissolved CO 2 gas In _______ land On _______ in organisms, rocks, soil Underground _____ as coal & petroleum (fossil fuels) and calcium carbonate in rocks CO 2 in atmosphere CO 2 in Ocean BIOLOGY; Miller and Levine; Prentice Hall; 2006

Where does CO 2 in atmosphere come from? CO 2 in atmosphere CO 2 in Ocean Volcanic activity 1. ________ activity (burning fossil fuels) 2. Human _______ respiration 3. Cellular _________ 4. Decomposition ______ of dead organisms BIOLOGY; Miller and Levine; Prentice Hall; 2006