Levels of Organization

_____________ - Smallest part of matter

NON-living

____________ - 2 or more bonded atoms

Form compounds

NON-living

_____________ - Very large molecules

- Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, nucleic acids

- NON-living

______________ - “Tiny organs” Made of macromolecules

________________ - Made of organelles

- Basic unit of structure & function- LIVING

_____________ - The same kind cell working together ( cartilage cell, bone cell, red blood cell)

- Living

_____________ - Tissues that work together

- Living

______________ - Organs that work together

- Living

______________ - Entire living things (organisms)

Usually made of systems

May be a single cell

Living

_____________ - Same type of organism living together

_____________ - Several populations living together

- Population interact

______________ - A biotic (living) community plus the abiotic (nonliving) features

______________ - Similar ecosystems on earth together

______________ - Whole living layer around the globe

Includes abiotic

______________ – the study of living things

Characteristics of Living Things

1. ______________________Unicellular (one cell) - ex. BacteriaMulticellular (many cells) - ex. Animals, plants

2. ________________________________

_____________ - get energy from sun

_____________ - get energy by consuming nutrients from their environment

2. ______________________________________Stimuli - factors in the environment that living things react to (ex. Light, temperature, sound, etc.)Stimuli - factors in the environment that living things react to

3. ___________________________________Sexual - two sex cells required (sperm and egg)Asexual - only one parent cell is needed

4. _________________________________Each cell divides to make new cells (cell division) – results in growthSome cells become specialized and perform different jobs than others (differentiation

5. ____________________________Homeostasis – a relatively stable internal environment (within a certain range) - (ex. Human body temperature (approximately 98.6 degrees F)

7. _______________________________

All living things have DNA

DNA passes on genetic information from one generation to the next

8. _________________________________

Evolution - gradual change in a population of organisms over time

Individuals DO NOT evolve

_____________—the scientific study of interactions between different organisms and between organisms and their environment or surroundings

BALANCE OR IMBALANCE NATURE

1. The presence of predators in the prey’s habitat

2. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

3. Genetic modification of crops (GMO’s)

4. Bacteria living in the soils

5. Mining

6. Use of biodiesel fuels

7. Biodegradable plastic bags

8. Conversion of forest land into agricultural areas to provide more food to more people

_____________ —living factors that influence an ecosystem

______________ —non-living factors that influence an ecosystem

Producers

A. _________ - is the main energy source for life on earth

B . Also called autotrophs

C. Use light or chemical energy to make food

1. __________________

2. ___________________

3. ________________

D. _________________—use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates

E. __________________—performed by bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates

Consumers

A. Organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply

B. Also called heterotrophs

____________ — obtain energy by eating only plants

____________ — eat only animals

____________ — eat both plants and animals

____________ — breaks down dead organic matter

Feeding Interactions

A. Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction—from the sun or inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to heterotrophs (consumers)

B. Food Chain—series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten

1. Arrows go in the direction of how energy is transferred

2. Start with producer and end with top consumer or carnivore

C. Food Web—network of food chains within an ecosystemD. Trophic Levels—each step in a food chain or food web

1. Level 1—Producers (autotrophs)2. Level 2—Primary Consumers (herbivores)3. Level 3—Secondary Consumers

(carnivores or omnivores)4. Level 4—Tertiary Consumers (carnivore—usually top carnivore

Ecological Pyramids

A. Diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or organisms contained within each trophic level of a food chain or web.

B. Energy Pyramid shows relative amount of energy available at each trophic level

1. Organisms in a trophic level use the available energy for life processes (such as growth, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, metabolism, etc.)and release some energy as

heat

Remember: Every chemical process that happens in your body releases heat as a byproduct (ex: burning calories).

2. Rule of 10—only about 10% of the available energy within a trophic level is transferred to the next higher trophic level

C. Biomass Pyramid—represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level.

Energy and Biomass Pyramid (together)

Represents amount of energy available at each level as well as amount of living tissue—both decrease with each increasing trophic level

. Ecological Interactions between organisms

A. Competition—when two organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time.

Ex: food, water, shelter

Monkeys compete with each other and other animals for food.

B. _______ —the ecological niche involves both the place where an organism lives and the roles that an organism has in its habitat.

Example: The ecological niche of a sunflower growing in the backyard includes absorbing light, water and nutrients (for photosynthesis), providing shelter and food for other organisms (e.g. bees, ants, etc.), and giving off oxygen into the atmosphere.

C. _________ - one organism captures and feeds on another organism

1. _________ - one that does the killing

2. _________ - one that is the food

D. _________—any relationship in which two species live closely together

1. ______________ —both species benefit (WIN-WIN)

a. Ex: insects and flowers

Ecological Relationships

How do biotic factors influence each other

1. ___________ = the number of species in an ecosystem2. ___________ = space claimed by an individual organism3. _________________ = state of “balance” in an ecosystem

Ecological Relationships

____________ - Role of organism in the ecosystem (job)

A niche is the sum of all activities and relationships a species has while obtaining and using resources needed to survive and reproduce

_____________ – Number of niches in an ecosystem; often determined by abiotic factors

_____________ -When species or individuals “fight” for the same resources.

E.g., Food, shelter….

- KEYSTONE PREDATOR/SPECIES -A predator that causes a large increase in diversity of its habitat.

____________ - A primary consumer feeds on a producer.

____________ - A consumer feeds on another consumer

____________ - A long-term relationship where two species live closely together and at least one benefits directly from the relationship

_____________- Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

Win-Win situation!

_____________ - One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected.

Win-Neutral relationship

_____________ - One organism benefits, the other one is harmed!

Win-Lose relationship

_____________ - One organisms lives on or inside another organism (host) and harms it.

The parasite obtains all or part of its nutritional needs from the host. (WIN-LOSE)

Example: fleas on a dog Parasites rarely kill their hosts…it would require them to get another one!

Mosquito biting a human. Wasp eggs on back of caterpillar.

Ecological Relationships

_________________ - Increasing concentration of poisons in organisms in higher trophic levels in a food chain or web.

__________________ - accumulation of increasing amounts of toxin within tissues of organisms.