Why are the cycles important?How do organisms interact with each other?How can we show trends in populations over time?

What does it mean when we talk about the ecosystem?

What is Ecology?

Ecology The study of interactions between

organisms Recall the levels of organization:

Organism Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere

Energy Flow

Starts at sun Some make food from chemicals, not

sun = chemosynthesis

Producers- produce their own sugar, gain energy from sun

Consumers- consume other things to get their energy

What about mushrooms on a fallen tree?

How are dead deer on the side of the road broken down naturally?

Detritivores = feed on dead matter

Decomposers = break down organic matter

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/kiltedrufus/FoodChain.png

Food Chain

One organism passing energy to the next, and so on

Straight line Arrow = the way energy is moving

http://www.dist102.k12.il.us/resources/Science%20Kids/food-chain.jpg

Food Webs

Many organisms giving and receiving energy

Arrows = energy movement

http://www.abe.ufl.edu/~owens/age2062/lect/lect_28/40_07.GIF

Trophic Level

each step in a food chain or food web

http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm

Ecological Pyramids

Shows the amount of energy or matter in each trophic level of chain or web

3 types Energy- only 10% of energy is

transferred to next level Biomass-mass of all the organisms in

that level Numbers- how many organisms in that

level

http://www.freewebs.com/the_grey_pilgrim/energy%20pyramid.bmp

http://resources.edb.gov.hk/biology/english/images/environment/pyramid.gif

Biomass Pyramid

http://www.econguru.com/fundamentals_of_ecology/image/ecological_pyramid.gif

Numbers Pyramid

Water Cycle

Water moving through environments Transpiration- from trees to clouds Evaporation- from body of water to

clouds Precipitation- from clouds to ground Condensation- making clouds Run-off- doesn’t soak into soil Ground water- rivers underground

Carbon Cycle

Carbon moving through environments

Decomposition- decaying organisms Oil, coal, and fuels come from

compressed decayed organisms

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/images/carboncycle.jpg

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen moving through environment

Plants need nitrogen to make food

http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/nitrogen-cycle.gif

Phosphorous Cycle

Moving phosphorous through the environment

Needed to make DNA and RNA Mostly in rock, minerals, and land

http://arnica.csustan.edu/carosella/Biol4050W03/figures/phosph1.jpg

Niche

Place an organism holds in an ecosystem, includes what it eats, when it eats, how it mates, how it gets food, and interaction with other organisms

Species has evolved to fit that niche PERFECTLY

http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/ysesp/images/niche.jpg

http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/client/client_images/cartoon-find_niche.jpg

Habitat

Where a species lives, where it can be found

Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy the same

niche in the same habitat at the same time

Competition

Organisms or species fighting over resources

Resource

Anything necessary to life: water, sunlight, food, shelter, etc.

Predation

Predator feeds on prey

http://www.stanford.edu/~siegelr/tz/tz2006/predatorandprey.jpg

Symbiosis

Relationship in which two species live closely together

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/JAG/03-PS101-6~Symbiosis-Posters.jpg

Mutualism

Both benefit

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=65599&rendTypeId=4

Commensalism

One benefits, other is not helped harmed

http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/anemonefish.jpg

Parasitism

One benefits, other is harmed

http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ExamplesOfParasitism_files/image008.jpg

Primary Succession

No soil exists, first organism to come along

Happens with volcanoes and rock exposed from glaciers melting

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/1937932386_03c78fa3e0.jpg?v=1194662963

Secondary Succession Soil exists, something was once

there, cleared by natural disaster

http://www.prairiefriends.org/image/fire/prescribedBurn1_04..jpg

Major Biomes

7. Taiga

8. Chaparral

9. Tropical Dry Forest

10.Tundra

11.Deciduous Forest

12.Desert

13.Tropical Rain Forest

1. Estuaries

2. Shrublands

3. Grassland

4. Coral Reef

5. Tropical Savanna

6. Ocean

Tropical Rain Forest

http://msstrickland.com/eport/Rainforest.jpg

Tropical Dry Forest

http://www.stanford.edu/group/seasonally_dry/Dryforest_images/watering_hole.jpg

Tropical Savanna

http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=94366&rendTypeId=4

Desert

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/environment/pictures/desert2.jpg

Grasslands

http://grasslands.org.za.dedi539.your-server.de/assets/content_images/Image/Grasslands__SANBI_.JPG

Shrublands

http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/images/grassland17_jdg.jpg

Deciduous Forest

http://fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/50-16f-TempForest.jpg

Taiga

http://www.worldexposure.com/taiga/images/taiga2b.jpg

Tundra

http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/hherms/herms/METEOROLOGY/climates/P-tundra_alpine_nt.jpg

Limiting Nutrient

Nutrient in short supply, will run out first

Greatly affects all organisms in the ecosystem