Ecology

1
Ecology

• Ecology is the scientific study of the
  interaction between organisms and between
  organisms and their environment.

2
Levels of Organization

• 1. Biosphere
• 2. Ecosystem
• 3. Community
• 4. Population
• 5. Organism

3
Ecological Methods

• Scientists conduct research using 3 basic
  approaches.
• 1. Observing could be behavior observations
  about an animal.
• 2. Experimenting test a hypothesis
• 3. Modeling gain insight into complex phenomena
  like global warming.

4
Notes 3-2 Energy Flow

• Sunlight is the main energy source for life on
  Earth.
• Autotrophs capture energy from sunlight and use
  that energy to produce food. Also called
  producers.

5

• Heterotrophs rely on other organisms for their
  energy and food supply. Also called consumers.
• Herbivores eat plants
• Carnivores eat animals
• Omnivores eat both
• Detritivores eat dead matter

6
Food Chains

• Food Chains a series of steps in which
  organisms transfer energy by eating and being
  eaten.
• Example plankton dragonfly-salamander-snake

7
Food Web

• Food Web links all the food chains in an
  ecosystem together.

8
Trophic Level

• Each step in a food chain/web is called a trophic
  level.
• (herbivore)

9
Pyramids 3 types

• 1. Energy Pyramid transfer of energy from one
  trophic level to the next. Measured in kcals.
• 10 rule - only 10 of the energy is
  transferred from one trophic level to the next.
• Why?
• It is lost in respiration, movement and
  reproduction.

10
Energy Pyramids Contd

• 100 K/cals
• 1,000 K/cals
• 10,000 K/cals

11
Types of Pyramids

• 2. Biomass Pyramid transfer of biomass from
  one trophic level to the next.

12
Types of Pyramids

• 3. Pyramid of Numbers the total number of
  individuals at each trophic level. (may not look
  like a pyramid)