chapter 3 the biosphere

Updated Nov 2004Updated Nov 2004 Created by C. IppolitoCreated by C. IppolitoNovember 2004November 2004

Chapter 3 The BiosphereChapter 3 The Biosphere

Section 1 What is Ecology? (pp. 63 – 65)Section 1 What is Ecology? (pp. 63 – 65)Section 2 Energy Flow (pp. 67 – 73)Section 2 Energy Flow (pp. 67 – 73)

Section 3 Cycles of Matter (pp. 74 – 80)Section 3 Cycles of Matter (pp. 74 – 80)


What is Ecology? What is Ecology?

What different levels of organization do What different levels of organization do ecologists study?ecologists study?

What methods are used to study ecology?What methods are used to study ecology?


Interactions and InterdependenceInteractions and Interdependence

Ecology – studies the interactions of – studies the interactions of organisms and their surroundings.organisms and their surroundings. eco – Greek word for houseeco – Greek word for house Logy – Greek word for study ofLogy – Greek word for study of

Ernst Haeckel saw the living world as a Ernst Haeckel saw the living world as a household with each organism having a role to household with each organism having a role to playplay

Biosphere – everywhere on Earth that life can – everywhere on Earth that life can existexist


Levels Within LevelsLevels Within Levels

An ecosystem is a collection of all the An ecosystem is a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving, or physical, together with their nonliving, or physical, environment. Within an ecosystem, there environment. Within an ecosystem, there are several levels of organization. Your are several levels of organization. Your school and its grounds are similar to an school and its grounds are similar to an ecosystem.ecosystem.

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1. What living things are found in and around your school?1. What living things are found in and around your school?

2. What nonliving things are found in your school?2. What nonliving things are found in your school?

3. Into what large groups are the students in your school 3. Into what large groups are the students in your school divided?divided?

4. Into what smaller groups are these large groups divided?4. Into what smaller groups are these large groups divided?

5. Are these groups ever divided into even smaller groups? If 5. Are these groups ever divided into even smaller groups? If so, what are these groups?so, what are these groups?

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Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization Ecologists can study relationships from the level of a Ecologists can study relationships from the level of a

single cell to the whole biospheresingle cell to the whole biosphere SpeciesSpecies – group that can breed and produce fertile offspring – group that can breed and produce fertile offspring PopulationPopulation – group of same species in the same area – group of same species in the same area CommunityCommunity – different populations living together in a – different populations living together in a

specific areaspecific area EcosystemEcosystem – all organisms and their nonliving, or physical – all organisms and their nonliving, or physical

surroundingssurroundings BiomeBiome – group of ecosystems with same climate and – group of ecosystems with same climate and

dominant communitiesdominant communities


Ecological MethodsEcological Methods Modern ecological research involves THREE Modern ecological research involves THREE

(3) basic approaches:(3) basic approaches: ObservingObserving

What species live here? How many are here?What species live here? How many are here? ExperimentingExperimenting

Use artificial environment in lab (aquaria, terrariums, Use artificial environment in lab (aquaria, terrariums, etc.)etc.)

ModelingModeling Mathematical formulas based on observations to predict Mathematical formulas based on observations to predict

long range effectslong range effects


Energy FlowEnergy FlowWhere does the energy for life processes come Where does the energy for life processes come

from?from?How does energy flow through living How does energy flow through living

systems?systems?How efficient is the transfer of energy among How efficient is the transfer of energy among

organisms in an ecosystem?organisms in an ecosystem?


ProducersProducers Sunlight is the main energy sourceSunlight is the main energy source..

Less than 1% is used by organismsLess than 1% is used by organisms AutotrophsAutotrophs (producers) – use energy to form (producers) – use energy to form

foodfood PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis – use energy from sunlight to – use energy from sunlight to

form complex organic chemicals from simple form complex organic chemicals from simple inorganic chemicalsinorganic chemicals

ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis – use chemical energy from – use chemical energy from hydrogen sulfide or heat vents to form complex hydrogen sulfide or heat vents to form complex organic chemicals from simple inorganic organic chemicals from simple inorganic chemicalschemicals


ConsumersConsumers HeterotrophsHeterotrophs (consumers) - Cannot harness (consumers) - Cannot harness

energy directly; acquire it from other energy directly; acquire it from other organisms.organisms. HerbivoresHerbivores – obtain energy by eating plants – obtain energy by eating plants CarnivoresCarnivores - obtain energy by eating animals - obtain energy by eating animals OmnivoresOmnivores - obtain energy by eating both - obtain energy by eating both DetritivoresDetritivores - obtain energy by eating plant and - obtain energy by eating plant and

animal remains (detritus)animal remains (detritus) DecomposersDecomposers – change organic matter back into – change organic matter back into

inorganic matterinorganic matter


Feeding RelationshipsFeeding Relationships Energy flows in one direction in an ecosystemEnergy flows in one direction in an ecosystem

Sun Sun autotrophs autotrophs heterotrophsheterotrophs Food ChainFood Chain – series of steps in which – series of steps in which

organisms transfer energy by eating and being organisms transfer energy by eating and being eateneaten


Food WebFood Web A complex A complex

interaction of interaction of feeding feeding relationshipsrelationships Trophic Trophic

Level Level step in a step in a

food chain food chain or food or food webweb


Regents Example of Food WebRegents Example of Food Web


Ecological PyramidsEcological Pyramids Diagrams used to show relative amounts of Diagrams used to show relative amounts of

energy or matter at each trophic level in a food energy or matter at each trophic level in a food chain or food webchain or food web Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid – only 10% of energy transfers – only 10% of energy transfers

from one level to the next!from one level to the next! Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid – total amount of living tissue at – total amount of living tissue at

each leveleach level Numbers PyramidNumbers Pyramid – number of individuals at each – number of individuals at each

levellevel


Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids


Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid


Numbers PyramidNumbers Pyramid


Regents PyramidsRegents Pyramids


Cycles of MatterCycles of MatterHow does matter move among the living How does matter move among the living

and non living parts of an ecosystem?and non living parts of an ecosystem?How are nutrients important in living How are nutrients important in living

systems?systems?


Recycling in the BiosphereRecycling in the Biosphere Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is

recycled within and between ecosystems.recycled within and between ecosystems. Biogeochemical CyclesBiogeochemical Cycles – trace how biological, – trace how biological,

geological, and chemical materials move through geological, and chemical materials move through an ecosystem.an ecosystem.

Water CycleWater Cycle Nutrient CyclesNutrient Cycles

CarbonCarbon NitrogenNitrogen Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle


Water CycleWater Cycle


Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle


Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle


Nutrient LimitationNutrient Limitation Primary ProductivityPrimary Productivity – rate at which – rate at which

producers form organic matterproducers form organic matter Limiting NutrientLimiting Nutrient – single nutrient or factor – single nutrient or factor

that is scarce or recycles very slowlythat is scarce or recycles very slowly Algal BloomAlgal Bloom – runoff causes large increase of – runoff causes large increase of

a normally limited nutrient causing a burst of a normally limited nutrient causing a burst of growth in one segment of systemgrowth in one segment of system

chapter 3 the biosphere

Documents

transfer of energy

chemical energy

foodphotosynthesis use

relative amounts of

main energy source

interactions of organisms

large groups

smaller groups