CP Biology
2014-2015
Name
UNIT 1B: Introduction to Ecology
Science is a body of knowledge and skills acquired through
The existence of life on Earth depends on interactions among organisms
systematic experimentation and observation to describe natural
and between organisms and their environment. There is a great diversity
phenomena; or, more simply, it is a “way of knowing”. The process
among living organisms yet there are similar characteristics that all
of science helps biologists investigate how nature works at all
organisms share.
levels, from the molecules in cells to the biosphere.
Where is the biosphere located AND what does it include?__ It
extends from 8km above the Earth’s surface to as far as 11km
below the surface of the oceans.____________
3.1 What is Ecology?
Biosphere: all life on earth and all parts of earth in which
life exists including land, water and air or atmosphere.
Ecology: the scientific study of interactions among
organisms and between organisms and their physical
environment.
How is economics linked with ecology? Humans live within the
biosphere and depend on ecological processes to provide such
essentials as food and drinkable water that can be bought and
sold or traded.______________
Levels of Organization in the biosphere: (use #s to label from USG)
Interactions within the biosphere produce a web of
interdependence between organisms and the environments
in which they live.
Organisms respond to their
environments and can also change their environments;
therefore, biosphere is dynamic and ever-changing.
How is economics linked with ecology?
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*Practice Task:In the space below, fill in the blanks with the
appropriate levels of organization using the word bank below.
Word Bank
Biome
Community
Population
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Organism
biosphere
biome
ecosystem
community
population
organism
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Environment: all conditions or factors surrounding an
organism
**Environmental conditions include both biotic and abiotic
factors**
Biotic Factors
_____ Biological (living) influences on an organism____________
________________________________________________
Pick any organism and name 4 biotic factors relating to it:
Organism: __deer____________
1. ___grass___________________________
2. ___wolves__________________________
3. ___trees__________________________
4. ___squirrel________________________
Abiotic Factors
_____ Physical components of an ecosystem______________
________________________________________________
Using the same organism you picked earlier, name 4 abiotic factors
relating to it
1. ___water___________________________
2. ____climate / weather______________
3. ____rocks__________________________
4. ____oxygen_________________________
Abiotic and Biotic factors are closely linked. Many physical
(abiotic) factors can be strongly influenced by the activities
of organisms. The dynamic mix of biotic and abiotic factors
shapes every environment.
Is a mucky shoreline around a pond strictly part of the physical
(abiotic) environment? Explain.
_____No, there are living organisms within the muck/mud (i.e.,
bacteria, algae, snails, etc.)_______________________
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3.2 Energy, Producers, and Consumers
What would happen to the amount of oxygen in our
atmosphere without the presence of photosynthetic
Energy is needed to power life's processes (including growth,
producers?
reproduction, metabolism, etc.). No organism can "create"
___ the amount of oxygen would decrease (it is a byproduct
energy. Organisms can only use energy from other sources.
You may have wondered where this energy comes from and how of photosynthesis) to such a low level that heterotrophs could
not undergo cellular respiration!._______________
it is transferred from one organism to another.
For most life on Earth, sunlight is the ultimate energy source.
However, for some organisms, chemical energy stored in
inorganic chemical compounds serves as the ultimate energy
source for life processes.
Name three examples of organisms which are
autotrophs (primary producers):
1. __plants_____________________
2. __some protists – like algae
The following are the only organisms that can capture energy
from sunlight or chemicals and convert it into forms that living
cells can use, therefore they are essential to the flow of energy
through the biosphere. They store energy in forms that make it
available to other organisms that eat them.
3. __cyanobacteria (formerly, blue-green algae)
Autotrophs: organism that is capable of capturing energy from
sunlight or chemicals and use to produce its own food from
inorganic compounds;
Photosynthesis
Also Known As: Producers
The next process is how the best-known and most common
primary producers harness solar energy
Photosynthesis: captures light energy and uses it to power
chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into
oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and
starches
Chemosynthesis: Chemosynthetic autotrophs do not need
sunlight. Often they may be found in extreme environments
such as tidal marshes along the coast, or around hot springs or
volcanic vents on the ocean floor. Here they utilize the energy
stored in chemical bonds of inorganic molecules such as
hydrogen sulfide to make energy-rich carbohydrates.
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