The Bioshpere

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Chapter 3

• The Bioshpere

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3.1 What is Ecology?

• Interactions within the biosphere produce a web
  of interdependence between organisms the
  environment in which they live
• Ecology-study of organisms and their
  surroundings.
• Biosphere- Where life exist 11km below earths
  surface 8 km above the surface.

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Levels of Organization

• Individual (species)- can breed produce fertile
  offspring's.
• Population- same species that lives in the same
  area
• Community- different populations that live
  together in a defined area.

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• Ecosystem- organisms that live in a particular
  place with their nonliving (physical)
  environment.
• Biome- Group of ecosystems that have the same
  climate dominant communities.

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3 Approaches to Ecological Research

• Observing-1st step in asking ecological
  questions.
• Experimenting-test hypotheses.
• Modeling-helps gain insight to complex phenomena
  (global warming)

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3.2-Energy Flow (Sun main source)

• Producers (autotrophs)
• Can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals
  produce its own food.
• Plants
• Some Algae
• Certain bacteria

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Photosynthesis6H2O 6CO2?C6H12O66O2

• Light Energy is used to convert Carbon dioxide
  and water into oxygen and sugar.

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Consumers (heterotrophs)

• Rely on other organisms for their energy and food
  supply.
• Animals
• Fungi
• Many bacteria

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Types of Consumers Description Example

• Herbivore-eats only plants
• Carnivores- eats other animals
• Omnivores-eats both plants animals
• Detritivores-eats remains of other dead matter
• Decomposers-break down Organic Matter

• Cows, caterpillars, deer
• Snakes, dogs, owls
• Humans, bears, crows
• Mites, earthworms, snails, crabs
• Bacteria and fungi

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Feeding Relationships

• Food Chain-A series of steps in which organisms
  transfer energy by eating and being eaten

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

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Trophic Levels

• 1st-Producers
• 2nd, 3rd, ect., consumers. Each consumer depends
  on the trophic level below it for energy

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Ecological Pyramid
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• Only about 10 of the energy available is
  transferred to organisms at the next trophic
  level.
• Biomass-total amount of living tissue within a
  given trophic level

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3.3 Cycle of matter

• Biogeochemical Cycles
• Biological
• Geological
• Chemical
• Uses these aspects of the biosphere

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Water Cycle

• Evaporation-Liquid to gas
• Transpiration-evaporation of water from leaves of
  plants
• Condensation- gas to liquid
• Precipitation-form of water returning to earth
  (rain, snow, sleet, hail)

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Carbon Cycle

• http//www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/carbon_cycle
  _version2.html

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Nitrogen Cyclehttp//facstaff.uww.edu/wentzl/nitr
ogen.html