THE BIOSPHERECh. 3 p.62-83 : THE BIOSPHERECh. 3 p.62-83
What is Ecology? : What is Ecology? Study of interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environment. Ernst Haeckel – coined term Ecology in 1866
Greek word “oikos” means house
Natures “houses”come in many sizes
Levels of Organization : Levels of Organization Ecologist study organisms ranging from the various levels of organization:
Species
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biome
Biosphere
Slide 4 : Species Group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
Slide 5 : group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area. Population
Slide 6 : Community an assemblage of different populations that live together
Slide 7 : Ecosystem Collection of organisms that live in a place with the nonliving environment
Slide 8 : Biome Group of ecosystems with the same climate and dominant commuties
Ecosystem : Ecosystem Biosphere The part of the earth where life exists including land, water, air, and atmosphere
Three Ecological Methods of Study : Three Ecological Methods of Study Observing
What species live here?
How many individuals of species are there?
Experimenting
Used to test a hypothesis
Ex - making artificial environments in the lab
Modeling
Making models to gain insight into complex phenomena
Ex. - Global warming
Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs : Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs Autotrophs – make their own food so they are called PRODUCERS Heterotrophs – get their food from another source so they are called CONSUMERS
Two Main forms of Energy for Autotrophs : Two Main forms of Energy for Autotrophs Sunlight
The main source of energy for life on earth
Photosynthesis
Chemical
Some organisms such as bacteria, rely on the energy stored in inorganic compounds
Chemosynthesis
Types of Consumers : Types of Consumers Herbivores- only eat plants Carnivores - only eat meat Omnivores
Eat plants and meat Detritivores and Decomposers
Feeds on plant and animal remains
How does Energy flow through an Ecosystem? : How does Energy flow through an Ecosystem? Energy flows through an ecosystem in ONE direction,
sun or chemicals
Autotrophs
heterotrophs
Energy Flow in Ecosystems: : Energy Flow in Ecosystems:
Feeding Relationships : Feeding Relationships Food Chain – steps of organisms transferring energy by eating & being eaten Food Web – network of all the food chains in an ecosystem
Food Web : Food Web
Ecological Pyramids : Ecological Pyramids Energy Pyramid Biomass Pyramid Pyramid of Numbers Trophic Level – each step in a food chain or food web
Pyramid of Numbers -relative number of individuals at each trophic level : Pyramid of Numbers -relative number of individuals at each trophic level
Pyramid of Biomass - amount of potential food available for each trophic level : Pyramid of Biomass - amount of potential food available for each trophic level
Pyramid of Energy - amount of energy available at each trophic level : Pyramid of Energy - amount of energy available at each trophic level Most of the energy is used by the organisms for life processes
Some of the energy is lost as heat Only 10% of the energy from each trophic level is passed on to the next level
How does Matter move through an ecosystem? : How does Matter move through an ecosystem? Unlike the one way flow of energy, matter is recycled within & between ecosystems
Nutrients are passed between
organisms & the environment through biogeochemical cycles
Biogeochemical Cycles:
Bio –life
Geo – Earth
Chemo – chemical WATER CYCLE
NUTRIENT CYCLES:
CARBON CYCLE
NITROGEN CYCLE
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Why are nutrients important ? : Why are nutrients important ? 95% of your body is made of…
OXYGEN
CARBON
HYDROGEN
NITROGEN Every living organism needs nutrients to build tissues and carry out essential life functions.
Availibility of nutrients : Availibility of nutrients If a nutrient is in short supply, it will limit an organisms growth. It is called a limiting nutrient
When a limiting nutrient is dumped into a lake or pond, an algal bloom occurs and can disrupt the ecosystem
THE WATER CYCLE : THE WATER CYCLE
CARBON CYCLE (see fig.3-13) : CARBON CYCLE (see fig.3-13) 4 PROCESSES MOVE CARBON THROUGH ITS CYCLE:
Biological
Geochemical
Mixed biochemical
Human Activity CO2 CO2
NITROGEN CYCLE (see fig.3-14) : NITROGEN CYCLE (see fig.3-14) Nitrogen-containing nutrients in the biosphere include:
Ammonia (NH3)
Nitrate (NO3-)
Nitrite (NO2-)
ORGANISMS NEED NITROGEN TO MAKE AMINO ACIDS FOR BUILDING PROTEINS!!! N2
in Atmosphere NH3 N03- &
N02-
PHOSPHORUS CYCLE (see fig.3-15) : PHOSPHORUS CYCLE (see fig.3-15) PHOSPHORUS FORMS PART OF IMPORTANT LIFE-SUSTAINING MOLECULES (ex. DNA & RNA)