Chapter 1 Notes

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Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
Acorn barnacles are seashore animals found on
rocks. They live 1 to 2 meters above low-tide
level. These rocks are the acorn barnacles
A) ecosystem B) community C) food web D) habitat
D
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• Ecology

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What is Ecology?

• Ecology the scientific study of interactions
  among and between organisms (biotic factors) and
  their environment (abiotic factors)
• - the environment can be a single cell or an
  entire planet

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Biosphere contains the combined portions of the
planet in which all life exists (land, water,
air) extends about 8km above the surface of
earth and 11 km below the surface
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Interactions with in the biosphere produce a web
of interdependence between organisms and the
environment .interdependence contributes to a
dynamic biosphere

• To understand relationships within the biosphere,
  ecologists ask questions about events and
  organisms that range in complexity from a single
  individual to the entire biosphere
• Levels of Organization

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• - species group of individuals so similar that
  they can breed and produce fertile offspring
• - populations groups of individuals that belong
  to the same species and live in the same area.

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• - communities different populations that live
  together in the same area
• - ecosystem a collection of all the organisms
  that live in a particular place, together with
  their nonliving environment
• - biome a group of ecosystems that have the
  same climate and communities

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A little about elk in the Great Smoky
Mountains http//www.nps.gov/grsm/photosmultimedi
a/video-elk.htm
With your small group, discuss how the
reintroduction of elk to Virginia could impact
the deer population?
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• Ecological Methods
• Ecologists use several tools and techniques to
  study the living world
• Regardless of the tools they use, scientists
  conduct modern ecological research using three
  basic approaches
• observing, experimenting, and modeling.

Binoculars, field guides, DNA, radio tags,
capture and release, satellites
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• - Observing often the first step in asking
  ecological questions
• what species lives here?
• - Experimenting experiments can be used to test
  hypothesis
• artificial environment in lab so conditions can
  be manipulated or in natural ecosystem
• - Modeling ecologists make models to gain
  insight into complex ideas such as the effects of
  global warming on ecosystems (usually cover long
  periods of time)
• consist of mathematical formulas from data
  collected

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Ecological Methods
Observation
Experiment
Model Building
Sites
Measuring Tools
Magnifying Tools
Written Record
Chemical Testing
Computer/ Calculators
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Section Quiz
The combined portions of the planet in which life
exists, including land, water, and the
atmosphere, form the biosphere. community. spec
ies. ecosystem.
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Section Quiz
The combined portions of the planet in which life
exists, including land, water, and the
atmosphere, form the biosphere. community. spec
ies. ecosystem.
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Section Quiz
A group of organisms that can breed and produce
fertile offspring is known as a(an)
ecosystem. species. biome. community.
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Section Quiz
A group of organisms that can breed and produce
fertile offspring is known as a(an)
ecosystem. species. biome. community.
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Section Quiz
Compared to a community, an ecosystem
includes the nonliving, physical environment as
well as the community. only the physical
environment of an area without the
organisms. the entire biome but not the
biosphere. only one of the populations within
the community.
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Section Quiz
Compared to a community, an ecosystem
includes the nonliving, physical environment as
well as the community. only the physical
environment of an area without the
organisms. the entire biome but not the
biosphere. only one of the populations within
the community.
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Energy Flow

• The flow of energy through the ecosystem is one
  of the most important factors that determines the
  capacity to sustain life.
• - without energy, living systems cannot function
• Sunlight is the main energy source
• for life on earth

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• A few organisms obtain energy from a source other
  than sunlight
• Some types of organisms rely on the energy stored
  in inorganic chemical compounds --
• - water from hot springs
• - deep ocean vents

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• Autotrophs organisms that can capture energy
  from sunlight or chemicals to produce food
• - plants, some algae, some bacteria
• - called producers because they make their own
  food
• Autotrophs are essential to the flow of energy
  through the biosphere.

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• Autotrophs use photosynthesis to convert water
  and carbon dioxide into food while giving off
  oxygen
• When organisms use chemical energy to produce
  carbohydrates, the process is called
  chemosynthesis

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plants
bacteria
Bacteria perform chemosynthesissymbiotic
relationship with tubeworms
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• Organisms that rely on other organisms for their
  energy and food supply are called heterotrophs
• - also called consumers
• There are many different types of heterotrophs
  herbivores, carnivores, omnivores, and
  detritivores

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• Herbivores obtain energy by eating only plants
• cows, caterpillars, deer
• Carnivores obtain energy by eating animals
• snakes, dogs, owls
• Omnivores eat plants and animals
• humans, bears, crows
• Detritivores feed on plant and animal remains
  and other dead matter
• snails, crabs
• Decomposers obtain energy by breaking down
  organic matter
• bacteria, fungi

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• Feeding relationships (who eats who)
• Energy flows through an ecosystem in
• one direction ? from the sun or inorganic
  compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to
  various heterotrophs (consumers).

One way path
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Arrows represent the direction the energy moves
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• Energy is passed from producers through the
  ecosystem by a food chain -- series of steps in
  which organisms transfer energy by eating and
  being eaten
• Food chains will form a network through the
  ecosystem called a food web

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Which organisms are the producers? What organisms
do the marsh hawk eat?
Each consumer relies on the trophic level below
it for energy
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• Each step in the food chain or food web is called
  a trophic level
• - producers make up the first level
• - consumers make up the second, third, and
  higher levels

Food chain ends with top predatorhave few to no
enemies (alligator, hawk, polar bear)
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Producers Primary consumers Secondary consumers
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3 types

• An ecological pyramid is a diagram that shows the
  relative amounts of energy or matter in each
  trophic level

Organisms use energy they consume for growth,
reproduction, respiration or energy is lost to
the environment
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• Energy Pyramid shows the amount of energy
  available at each trophic level greatest amount
  is found in plants and least is found in the top
  level consumers.
• - only about 10 of the energy within a level
  can be transferred to the next level

10 ruleonly 1/10 of energy or 10 is available
to the next trophic level
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• Biomass Pyramid the total amount of living
  tissue within a given trophic level
• Pyramid of numbers shows the relative number of
  individual organisms at each level

Expressed in grams of organic matter per unit area
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Ecological Pyramids
Pyramid of Numbers Shows the relative number of
individual organisms at each trophic level.
Energy Pyramid Shows the relative amount of
energy available at each trophic level.
Organisms use about 10 percent of this energy
for life processes. The rest is lost as heat.
Biomass Pyramid Represents the amount of living
organic matter at each trophic level.
Typically, the greatest biomass is at the base
of the pyramid.
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Section Quiz
The main source of energy for life on Earth is
organic chemical compounds. inorganic chemical
compounds. sunlight. producers.
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Section Quiz
The main source of energy for life on Earth is
organic chemical compounds. inorganic chemical
compounds. sunlight. producers.
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Section Quiz
Organisms that feed on plant and animal remains
and other dead matter are detritivores. carnivor
es. herbivores. autotrophs.
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Section Quiz
Organisms that feed on plant and animal remains
and other dead matter are detritivores. carnivor
es. herbivores. autotrophs.
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Section Quiz
In a biomass pyramid, the base of the pyramid
represents the mass of heterotrophs. primary
consumers. producers. top level carnivores.
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Section Quiz
In a biomass pyramid, the base of the pyramid
represents the mass of heterotrophs. primary
consumers. producers. top level carnivores.
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Section Quiz
The amount of energy represented in each trophic
level of consumers in an energy pyramid is
about 10 of the level below it. 90 of the
level below it. 10 more than the level below
it. 90 more than the level below it.
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Section Quiz
The amount of energy represented in each trophic
level of consumers in an energy pyramid is
about 10 of the level below it. 90 of the
level below it. 10 more than the level below
it. 90 more than the level below it.
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Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
In this food web, which two organisms could be
harmed if the mouse population were to decline?
A) Deer and caterpillar B) Wolf and snake C)
Oak and grass D) Hawk and songbird
B
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Cycles of Matter

• Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is
  recycled within and between ecosystems.
• Biogeochemical cycles the passing of matter from
  one organism to another, or one part of the
  biosphere to another

Movement of energy is crucial, but organisms need
more than just energy.water, nutrient,
minerals 95 of body is made of O, C, H, N which
are common but not in a usable form
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• Matter can cycle through the biosphere because it
  is not used up, it is only transformed
• The water cycle
• Water moves between the ocean, atmosphere, and
  land
• - evaporation water changes from liquid to gas
  to enter the atmosphere

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• - transpiration water enters the atmosphere by
  evaporating from leaves
• - precipitation water returns to the earth as
  rain, snow, sleet, or hail

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transpiration
surface runoff
accumulation (ground water)
precipitation
underground runoff (infiltration)
evaporation
condensation
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• Every living organism needs nutrients (bodies
  building blocks) to build tissues and carry out
  essential life functions.
• Like water, nutrients are passed between
  organisms and the environment through biochemical
  cycles.

Food we eat provides energy and chemicals needed
to keep us alive 3 important chemical/nutrient
cycles C, N, P
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• The carbon cycle
• Key ingredient of living tissue
• Carbon cycles through the biosphere through 4
  different kinds of processes
• - biological processes photosynthesis, cellular
  respiration CO2 is taken in by plants and is
  given off by both plants and animals
• - geochemical processes release of CO2 from
  volcanoes

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• - mixed biogeochemical processes the conversion
  of carbon rich remains into coal and oil (fossil
  fuels) decomposition (stores C underground)
• - human activity processes mining, burning of
  fossil fuels, cutting and burning of forests
  (releases CO2 into the atmosphere)
• Carbon Cycle Game
• http//www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/carbon_c
  ycle.html

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Carbon is present in atmosphere as CO2 released
by volcanoes, respiration, and human
activities Plants take in CO2 to build
carbohydrates (sugarfood) during photosynthesis
which are taken in by heterotrophs Eventually,
all organism die returning these nutrients
CO2 in Atmosphere
CO2 in Ocean
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• The Nitrogen Cycle
• All organisms need nitrogen to make amino acids,
  the building blocks of proteins
• Many forms of nitrogen occur naturally
• -nitrogen gas (N2) 78 of atmosphere (20 is
  oxygen, .93 argon)
• -ammonia (NH3), nitrate ions (NO3-), nitrite
  ions (NO2-) found in waste products organisms
  and dead and decaying organisms

Limited amount of usable N2 ? 2 atoms of nitrogen
is held together by a triple bond and can only be
broken by lightening, volcanic action, or certain
bacteria to break the bonds
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• But, not all of this nitrogen is readily usable
  by organisms.
• certain types of bacteria live in special
  structures called nodules on legume plants
• - nitrogen fixation conversion of nitrogen gas
  into ammonia

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• - other bacteria convert the ammonia into
  nitrates and nitrites.
• Once ammonia is available
• - producers can then use them to make proteins
• - then consumers eat the producers and reuse the
  nitrogen to make their own proteins

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• - when organisms die, decomposers return
  nitrogen to the soil as ammonia
• - other bacteria convert nitrates and nitrites
  back into nitrogen gas through denitrification
• Nitrogen Cycle Animation
• http//www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/tlw3/eBridge/Chp
  29/animations/ch29/1_nitrogen_cycle.swf

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N2 in Atmosphere
NO3- and NO2-
Nitrate and Nitrite Ions
Ammonia
NH3
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Phosphorus Cycle -essential part of molecules of
DNA and RNA -not very common -does not enter the
atmosphereremains in rocks, soil and ocean
sediment as inorganic phosphate -weathering of
rocks releases phosphate -plants take up and use
phosphate
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Phosphorus Cycle Animation http//www.sumanasinc.
com/webcontent/animations/content/phosphorouscycle
.html
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• Nutrient Limitation
• Primary productivity the rate at which organic
  matter is created by producers
• - the availability of nutrients is one factor
  that controls primary productivity
• Limiting nutrient a single nutrient that is
  scarce or cycles very slowly
• to avoid nutrient limitation farmers
  will apply fertilizers
• N, P, K

If nutrient is in short supply organisms growth
with be limited farmers fertilize to counter
act this
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Run off carries excess fertilizers to water
systems

• Algal Blooms
• When an aquatic ecosystem receives large amounts
  of nutrientsrunoff from farmsthere is an
  increase in algae
• As more algae and plants grow, others die.
• This dead organic matter becomes food for
  bacteria that decompose it.
• With more food available, the bacteria increase
  in number and use up the dissolved oxygen in the
  water.
• When the dissolved oxygen content decreases, many
  fish and aquatic insects cannot survive.
• This results in a dead area.

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Algal Blooms
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Section Quiz
Transpiration is part of the water
cycle. carbon cycle. nitrogen
cycle. phosphorus cycle.
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Section Quiz
Transpiration is part of the water
cycle. carbon cycle. nitrogen
cycle. phosphorus cycle.
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Section Quiz
Carbon is found in the atmosphere in the form of
carbohydrates. carbon dioxide. calcium
carbonate. ammonia.
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Section Quiz
Carbon is found in the atmosphere in the form of
carbohydrates. carbon dioxide. calcium
carbonate. ammonia.
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Section Quiz
The only organisms that can convert nitrogen in
the atmosphere into a form useful to living
things are nitrogen-fixing plants. bacteria. de
tritivores. animals.
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Section Quiz
The only organisms that can convert nitrogen in
the atmosphere into a form useful to living
things are nitrogen-fixing plants. bacteria. de
tritivores. animals.