What is Ecology ?

The study of how

organisms interact with one another

and their non-living

environment

So Then What is an Ecosystem ?

An ecosystem is how all of the living

and non-living things interact together in

an area.

BiosphereBiosphere

Ecosystems

Communities

Populations

Organisms

So Then What is an Ecosystem ?

Looking at the chart to the right..

BiosphereBiosphere

Ecosystems

Communities

Populations

Organisms

Our BIOSPHERE is the part of the Earth where

the organisms exist

And an ECOSYSTEM is that area where the living

and non-living things interact.

Energy for the EcosystemsA. Every ecosystem on Earth gets its energy from

the same source:

SUNLIGHT!!!

Producers

Organisms that can use sunlight or chemical energy to produce food are called: autotrophs

Producers

Photosynthesis: most common, uses energy from sunlight to make food

Example: Plants, sea weed, algae

Producers

Chemosynthesis: uses energy form inorganic chemical compounds to make food

Example: Sulfur bacteria in Yellowstone hot springs & deep sea hydrothermal vents

Producers

Autotrophs are also called producersProducers/Autotrophs: use energy to build complex organic molecules out of inorganic molecules

Producers

Describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem: It goes in one direction from sun producers consumers

Parts of an EcosystemAn ecosystem contains BIOTIC (living) and

ABIOTIC (non-living) things

Examples of BIOTIC things:

• Plants• Animals• Fungi• Bacteria

Parts of an EcosystemAn Ecosystem is made of BIOTIC and ABIOTIC Components

ABIOTIC components are the NON-living parts of the ecosystem

Examples of ABIOTIC things are:

• Water• Air• Temperature• Sunlight

Food Chain

A Food Chain tells us what eats what in an ecosystem. It shows the series of

organisms through which food energy is passed.

Food Chain

What is happening in this food chain?

The insect is eaten by

the frog

Food Chain

What does the insect eat?

Many insects eat the nectar

from flowers

Food Chain

What might eat the frog?

Food ChainWhat does this entire food chain show?

1) The slug eats the plant

2) The frog eats the slug

3) The heron eats the frog

Food Chain

The arrow means “is eaten by”

In this case the dragonfly is eaten

by the frog.

Food Chain

Remember…

ALL food chains begin with a Producer

( Also known as an Autotroph)

Food Web

In an ecosystem, there are many producers and

consumers.

Instead of a food chain, we can use a

food web.

Food Web

A food web shows the complex

relationship formed by the overlapping

and interconnecting food chains.

Humans

Blue whaleSperm whale

Crabeater seal

Killerwhale Elephant

seal

Leopardseal

Adéliepenguins Petrel

Fish

Squid

Carnivorous plankton

Krill

Phytoplankton

Herbivorouszooplankton

Emperorpenguin

Energy Pyramid

Steps in a food chain are called: Trophic Levels.

A Trophic Level is a level of

nourishment in a food chain.

Energy Pyramid

The pyramid first shows us the Producers.

Remember… Producers get their energy from the sun.

Producers are the first and largest Trophic

Level. Producers

Energy Pyramid

Second, we see the Primary Consumers

The Primary Consumers get their

energy from eating the Producers.

Primary Consumers can be either Herbivores or Omnivores. Primary Consumers

Energy Pyramid

Third, we see the Secondary Consumers

The Secondary Consumers get their

energy from eating the Primary Consumers

Secondary Consumers are Carnivores or

Omnivores Secondary Consumers

Energy Pyramid

Fourth, we see the Tertiary Consumers

The Tertiary Consumers get their

energy from eating the Secondary Consumers

Tertiary Consumers are Carnivores or

Omnivores Tertiary Consumers

Energy Pyramid

Some energy pyramids can have a fifth Trophic

Level.

Primary Producers

Producers make their own food, from abiotic factors, such as sunlight or

heat from chemical reactions.

Primary Producers

Producers are also known as Autotrophs

Some examples are:• Plants

• Algae

• Bacteria

Consumers

Consumers are organisms that get their energy by eating other organisms

Consumers

Consumers are also known as Heterotrophs

Consumers can be:• Herbivores

• Carnivores

• Omnivores

• Detritivores (Decomposers)

Consumers

Herbivores eat only plants.

Herbivore Examples:• Large Mammals (Such as cattle & deer)

• Insects

Herbivores are also known as Heterotrophs or Primary Consumers

Consumers

Carnivores eat other animals

Carnivore Examples:• Lions, Tigers

• Wolves

• Sharks

• Snakes

Carnivores are also known as Heterotrophs or Secondary or Tertiary Consumers

ConsumersOmnivores eat both plants and animals

Omnivore Examples:• Humans

• Bears

• Mice

• Pigs

Omnivores are also known as Heterotrophs or Consumers

Consumers

Detritivores convert waste into nutrients (also called decomposers)

Detritivore Examples:• Worms

• Beetles

• Bacteria

• Fungi

Consumers

Scavengers break down dead plants and animals (also called heterotroph,

consumer)

Scavenger Examples:• Vulture

• Crow

• Hyena

Energy Pyramid

Let’s look at the energy pyramid closer.

Energy pyramids: Are a way to graph how much energy is passed up the

food chain from one organism to

the next

Energy Pyramid

Let’s look at the energy pyramid closer.

Only 10% of the energy from the

prior trophic level is passed on.

This is because energy is lost to the environment

as heat

Draw an Energy Pyramid

Energy PyramidIf an energy pyramid consists of plants that contain 500,000 calories of food energy, how many calories of energy would be available to consumers at each of the next three trophic

levels?

Trophic level

Primary producers

Tertiary consumers

Secondary consumers

Primary consumers

Energy PyramidPrimary Consumers:

Trophic level

Primary producers

Tertiary consumers

Secondary consumers

Primary consumers

Secondary Consumers:

Tertiary Consumers:

500,000 cal x .1 = 50,000 calories

50,000 cal x .1 = 5,000 calories

5,000 cal x .1 = 500 calories

Food WebWhat does these energy numbers tell us??

Trophic level

Primary producers

Tertiary consumers

Secondary consumers

Primary consumers

1) There are very few Tertiary consumers, because it takes a HUGE amount of food energy to support them.

2) For a large population to exist, it needs to feed from the LOWEST trophic level possible, because there is more food energy available.

Biomass PyramidBiomass Pyramid: Represents the

amount of living organic matter at each trophic level.

Draw a Biomass Pyramid

Pyramid of Numbers

Pyramid of Numbers: Shows

the relative number of individual

organisms at each trophic level.

Draw a Pyramid of Numbers