Transcript Ecology
Ecology
Study of interactions between
organisms and their
environments.
Biotic Factors
Biosphere – life-supporting layer of Earth
Biotic factors – all living organisms in a
biosphere
Abiotic Factors
Nonliving factors in an environment
Examples:
Air currents
Temperature
Moisture
Light
Soil
Organization of Life
Biosphere
Ecosystems
Communities
Populations
Organisms
Feeding Relationships
Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
Carnivores
Omnivores
Herbivores
Decomposers
Trophic Relationships
Autotrophs
1st level consumers (herbivores)
2nd level consumers
3rd level consumers
4th level consumers (top predators)
RULE OF 10
Only 10% of energy is transferred from one
trophic level to the next.
Example:
It takes 100 kgs of plant materials (producers)
to support 10 kgs of herbivores
It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg
of 1st level predator
Symbiosis – “living together”
Relationship
Type
Species A
Species B
Commensalism
+
0
Mutualism
+
+
Parasitism
+
-
Water cycle
Evaporation
Transpiration
Precipitation
Runoff
Groundwater
Carbon cycle
Combustion
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Decomposition
Fossil fuels
Nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric nitrogen
Runoff
Fertilizers
Decomposition
Nitrogen fixing
Synthesis of amino acids