Ecosystems and Energy
Name: ____________Date: _______________ Period: __ ____
Ecology: “eco” means __________________, “ology”means _________________
Biological organization
Atoms
- smallest unit of __________________
Example: _________________
Molecules- a cluster of atoms with ____________ characteristics
Example: water, glycerol, etc
Cells – the __________ unit of _______________
Example: ___________
Tissue – individual groups of _________ cells with a similar ______
Example:
Organs – several types of tissues working together to perform a _______________________
Example: heart, brain, liver, skin
Organ systems – two or more _____________________ working together to perform a job
Example: circulatory, nervous, etc.
Organisms – a _____________ living thing. A _____________ is a group of organisms that are
alike.
Population – a group of individuals of the same ______________ that live in the _________ area
at a given time.
Example: a group of white-tailed deer in an oak-hickory forest in southeastern
PA
Community - ______________ of living organisms that interact with one another in an
___________________.
Example: deer, mice, bushes and snakes in the forest community
Ecosystem: a community together with its ____________ environment
Biosphere: All of the Earth’s communities of ______________
Ecosphere: includes the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere
*Atmosphere – gaseous envelope around the worlds
*Hydrosphere – Earth’s supply of water
*Lithosphere – soil and rock in the Earth’s crust
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Ecosystems
There are many types of ecosystems. There are two categories: ______________ and
_________________ ecosystems.
Terrestrial ecosystems: __________________________________
Most of PA is a forest ecosystem. Forty-seven percent is made of oak/hickory tree
ecosystem. The remainder consists of Northern Hardwood ecosystem, which contains birch,
sugar maple, beech and black cherry.
Abiotic Factors in an Ecosystem
Terrestrial Ecosystem
 Surface water, groundwater

_________, Wind

_________ ________________

Temperature

Precipitation

__________
Aquatic Ecosystem
 Currents

Salinity

____________

Penetration of sunlight in water (________________)

Concentration of nutrients in the water
People’s actions can change the ____________ factors, which in turn affect the ecosystem.
Example: Constructing a dam across the river.
6 Kinds of Energy
Energy – the ability to do __________________
Thermodynamics -study of energy and its transformations
1. _______________energy – energy stored in ___________ bonds such as food
2. Radiant or __________ energy – transported from the sun
3. ____________ energy– thermal energy that flows from a __________ object to a ___________
one.
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4. ________________– energy found within an atomic nuclei
5. ____________ energy – energy in the movement of matter.
6. ____________ energy – energy that flows from charged particles
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transferred from one form to another.
Organisms __________________ create energy. They must capture it & _____________ it.
Second Law of Thermodynamics
When energy is converted, some is usable and some is less usable. As a result, the amount of
usable energy in the environment decreases over time.
No conversion of energy is ____________________%.
Energy from biotic factors in the ecosystem
Photosynthesis – producers use ____________ to create their own food
A. Equation
B. Importance
 Essential for _____ ____________

Performed by plants, algae and some bacteria

Energy stored in _______________ molecule

Process also produces _________________
Cellular respiration is the process by which chemical energy (_________ ) is broken down to
release energy for biological work.
A. Equation
B. Importance
 ALL ________________ respire to obtain
energy

Continues the cycle with plants
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Food Webs and Pyramids Notes
Nutrients and energy flow through ecosystems in ________ ___________ and ________ _____________.
A food chain is the _____________ of ________________ from one organism to another. Here is an
example.
Tropic levels
–
Contains all organisms in a feeding level that are the same number of steps away from the sun.
–
Moving up each tropic level, there is a _____% loss of _______________.
–
That means that only _____% of energy is passed along from one level to another.
–
Because of the huge loss of energy, there is usually no more that ___ or ____ trophic levels.
Vocabulary
1. Autotroph (producer) - _______________________________________________
2. Heterotroph (consumer) - ____________________________________________
3. Primary consumer - __________________________________________________
4. Herbivore - ________________________________________________________
5. Secondary consumer - _______________________________________________
6. Tertiary consumer - _________________________________________________
7. Carnivore - ________________________________________________________
8. Omnivore - ________________________________________________________
9. Decomposer (saprophyte) - ___________________________________________
10. Detritivore (detritus feeder) - ________________________________________
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Food Webs
–
Interconnecting food chains
–
Gives us a better picture of the ecosystem
Ecological Pyramids
-
Graphic way to represent the relationship of _______________ values in each trophic level.
-
The bases of these pyramids represent the ______________________.
-
Higher trophic levels are layered on top of one another. The source of energy for these
pyramids is the _____________.
-
Three types of pyramids:
o
Pyramid of ____________________
o
Pyramid of Numbers
o
Pyramid of ____________________
Pyramid of Energy
1. Illustrates the energy content of __________ of each tropic level.
2. Energy expressed in kilocalories/square meters
3. Larger at the bottom and gets progressively _________________
4. Shows that most of the ______________ dissipates at the lower levels
5. The energy lost in each successive trophic level is ________ that enters the environment.
6. Energy pyramids explain why there are __________ trophic levels.
7. No biological process is __________ efficient. There will be unusable energy.
Example:
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Pyramid of Biomass
1. Illustrates the _______________ at each trophic level.
2. Biomass is a quantitative estimate of the total mass or amount of ___________ material.
3. Biomass units vary. It can be represented by total volume or live weight.
4. Assumption – There is on the average a ____% reduction of biomass for each trophic level.
5. Biomass is calculated by finding the average _______________ of an organism of each
________________ at that trophic level and then multiplying by the estimated number of
organisms in each __________________.
6. Although carnivores do not eat a lot of producers, it takes a lot of producers to support them.
Example:
Pyramid of Numbers
1. This pyramid is based on the ______________ of organisms at each level.
2. Not as useful as the other pyramids because it provides no information about energy levels or
biomass.
3. Inverted pyramid of numbers – higher ______________ level organisms have more than lower
trophic levels.
Example:
Inverted Pyramid of Numbers
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Primary Productivity (Producers)

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) - ___________ at which energy is captured during
photosynthesis.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP) – energy that remains in the plant tissues after cell
_______________ has occurred.

NPP represents the ___________ at which this organic matter is in the plant tissue that will
produce growth.

Consumers can only use the ______________ represented in the NPP and only consumers use a
portion of it.

GPP and NPP are expressed as energy per unit per unit of time.

20, 820 kilocalories per m2

Productivity is limited by whatever ________________ needed for photosynthesis is on the
_______________ supply. This becomes the _________________ factor that prevents productivity
from _____________.

________________ often a limiting factor.

Most productive land ecosystem ____________________

Least productive land ecosystem ____________________

Most productive aquatic ecosystems: algal beds, coral reefs and estuaries

Least productive is the open ocean.

Swamps, wetlands and ____________ _____________ are very productive ecosystems.
Secondary Productivity (Consumers)

Secondary productivity is the _________ of formation of new _____________ by organisms that
feed on other organisms.

Animals convert only _________% of the energy they consume into new animals (by growing or
reproducing).

Humans consume more ________________________ when they eat plant food.
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Interactions among Organisms
Species diversity: the ________________________ of species in any ecosystem
Biological description of an organism includes:

Whether it’s a producer, _________________ or decomposer

Whether it’s a predator or _______________

Type of symbiotic ________________ if forms
Ecological niche – organisms’ role in the ecosystem. The ecological niche takes into
account all aspects of an organism’s existence: all ___________________,
Chemical and biological factors that is needs to survive, remain healthy and
____________________.
_______________________– local environment where organism lives, encompasses everything
Fundamental niche – potential _______________ niche of an organism
Realized niche – the lifestyle the organism actually pursues and lives
________________ __________________– species that are more _______________than others
No organism exists independently of another. There are three types of interaction.



Competition
The interaction among _______________ that vie for the same ______________ in an ecosystem
(such as ____________, living space or other resources.
Example: green anole and the brown anole (lizards)
The green anole is native of Florida but the brown anole was introduced. Green
anoles perch on trees, walls and shrubs and wait for insect and spiders prey. The brown
anole, which is a larger species, was introduced into the ecosystem from Cuba. Suddenly it
was difficult to find the green anole. The brown anole had driven it out of the ecosystem to
the wetlands.
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Interspecies competition –
Intraspecies competition Competitive exclusion – one ______________ is excluded because of ______________________
from another.
No two species can indefinitely occupy the same niche because of _______________________.
Predation
The consumption of one species, the _________ by another (__________)
Examples: brown pelican and fish
Defenses against predators:
1.
2.
3.
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is any relationship between two or more species.
There are three types of symbiosis.
1. _________________________– symbiotic relation where both partners _____________
Example:
2. _________________________– symbiotic relationship where one organism ________
and other one is neither _____________ or helped
Example:
3. _________________________– a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits
(______________) and the other is harmed (host)
Example:
Parasites that cause diseases and sometimes death are called a
____________________.
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BIOMAGNIFICATION
BIOMAGNIFICATION: The process of increasing a _________________ concentration through the
food chain (Examples: DDT and PCB)

Animals that eat other _____________have higher levels of contaminants than animals
that eat_____________________.

Some contaminants are persistent - once they are in the animal's body, they stay there
for a _______________time.

So when ________________animals eat smaller animals, all the contaminants stored in
their _____________are then passed on to the bigger animal.

The result of ________________________is that animals at the "_____________" of their food
chain have higher contaminant levels than animals at the "____________________".

The top ______________ at the end of along food chain, such as lake trout, large
salmon and fish-eating gulls, may accumulate ________________ of a toxic chemical
high enough to cause serious deformities or death even though the concentration of
the chemical in the open water is extremely low.
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
The concentration of some ________________in the fatty tissues of top predators can be
millions of times higher than the concentration in the open water.

The ___________of aquatic birds often have some of the highest concentrations of toxic
chemicals, because they are at the ________ of a long aquatic food chain, and
because egg yolk is rich in fatty material. Thus, the first harmful effects of a
_________________chemical in a lake often appear as dead or malformed chicks.
Research of this kind is important to __________________as well, because they are consumers
in the Great Lakes food chain. ________________ are at the top of many food chains, but do
not receive as high an exposure as, for example, herring gulls. This is because humans have a
___________diet that consists of items from _______________levels of the food chain, whereas
the herring gull depends upon fish as its _____________food source. Nevertheless, the
concerns about long-term effects of low-level exposures in humans, as well as impacts on
people who do eat a lot of __________________fish and wildlife highlight the importance of
taking heed of the well-documented adverse effects already seen in the ecosystem.
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Organisms & their Interactions
Organisms interact with their ecosystem. Some interactions are beneficial & others are not. Organisms
also compete with other species & species of their own kind. All living things are interconnected &
have an impact on each other. We are going to be focusing on symbiotic relationships.
Within you assigned biome, research some of these interactions & be prepared to discuss with the class.
Biome: ________________________________________________________
Specific location: _______________________________________________
Brief description:
Average temperature: ________________________________________
Average precipitation (cm): _______________________________________
Create a food web including 10 organisms.
Find examples in your biome of the three types of symbiosis.
Symbiosis
Organism
Organism
Relationship
MUTALISM
COMMENSALISM
PARASITISM
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Analysis Questions:
1. What are three types of symbiosis?
2. A clownfish & sea anemone relationship is an example of _____________________________.
3. What is the difference between interspecies competition & intraspecies competition?
4. What are some factors that organisms compete for?
5. What is a keystone species?
6. Identify the relationship in the examples below: predator/prey, mutualism, commensalism,
parasitism
a. Lichen: ____________________________
b. Pork tapeworm: ____________________
c. Army ant & silverfish: ________________
d. Clownfish & sea anemone: ____________
e. Robin & earthworm: ________________
f. Frog & flies: ________________________
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eCOSYSTEM AND eNERGY rEVIEW wORKSHEET
Organization of the Biosphere
Answer the following questions (#4-10) by using the words in below.
Biosphere
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Abiotic
Habitat
Niche
Organism
1. What is a population? ________________________________
2. What is a community? _______________________________
3. What is an ecosystem? _______________________________
4. All the dogs that live in Enola could be said to make up a(n) _________________________.
5. The plants and animals of a self-sustaining aquarium could be said make up a(n) ____________.
6. A pond and all the organisms it contains make up a(n) _________.
7. The place where an organisms lives is its __________________.
8. Competition will arise between two different species in a community when they both occupy the
same _______________.
9. The portion of the earth on which life exists is the __________.
10. A complete living thing ________________________.
Food Chains and Food Webs
A food chain and webs show us how energy flows throughout an ecosystem. All food chains
and webs are powered by the sun and must begin with a producer. Food chains and webs
also usually end with decomposers.
Grass--- Rabbit - Mountain lion
1. Identify the producer in the food chain. ________________________
2. Identify the primary consumer in the above food chain. _____________
3. Identify the secondary consumer. ____________________________
4. What do the arrows represent in the food chain or food web?
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PRODUCERS
PRIMARY
CONSUMERS
SECONDARY
CONSUMERS
HERBIVORES
CARNIVORES
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Nutritional Relationships
Each species within a community plays a role in relation to the other species o the
community. This role may primarily be defined in terms of nutrition – how and where an
organisms gets its food. This is the species’ NICHE.
Again, use the words below to answer the questions.
Producers
Consumers
Carnivores
Omnivores
Herbivores
Bacteria
Fungi
Niche
Sun
Autotrophs
Scavengers
1. Within a community, the autotrophs serve as the ___________________.
2. All animals are heterotrophs or __________________________.
3. Plant-eating animals are ________________________________.
4. Meat-eating animals are ________________________________.
5. Animals that feed on both plants and meat are called _______________.
6. All animals are directly or indirectly dependent for their food on the
__________________________________________.
7. The two major groups of microorganisms that serve as decomposers are
___________________ and _______________________.
8. _______________________ feed on dead animals that have been killed by another
organism.
9. Ultimate source of energy for the earth is the _____________________.
10. The way an organism gets their food is considered to be their _________.
11. What would happen to the materials of an ecosystem if there were no decomposers?
Pyramids
Producers convert energy from sunlight to chemical energy in organic compounds. Some of
this energy is used to carry out life processes for plants and some energy is lost.
Pyramids of Energy
1. In the pyramid of energy, the topmost layer would be the _____________.
2. Why does the amount of available energy from food decrease with each level of
consumers?
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3. In terms of energy, is it more efficient for humans to obtain their nutrients from plants or
from meat? Why?
Pyramids of Numbers and Biomass
1. The most numerous organisms in the pyramid are the _________________.
2. At each level in the pyramid of numbers the number will ______________.
3. In the pyramid of mass, the organisms with the greatest mass are the
_____________________.
4. At each higher level in the pyramid of mass, the mass of the organisms
___________________.
5. In both pyramids, which level represents the greatest amount of energy?
Biomagnification and Pesticides
1. _________________________ is the increasing concentration as a chemical moves up the
food chain or food web.
2. Give an example of a pesticide. ________________
3. Which organism gets the highest concentration of pesticide: producer or top
predator? ______
4. Where does the pesticide get stored in animals? ________________________________
5. How does a pesticide affect the food web?
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Symbiotic relationships
Use the following vocabulary to answer the questions below:
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Parasitism
Commensalism
Host
Parasite
Competition
Predator
Prey
1. Various types of relationships in which organisms of different species live in close
association with one another are ____________________________relationships.
2. The relationship in which both organism benefit is ___________________________.
3. The relationship where one organisms benefits and the other in unaffected is
________________________________.
4. The relationship in which one organism benefits and the other harmed is
________________________________.
5. ___________________ is the interaction among organisms that vie for the same resources
such as food and living space.
6. The species that is consumed by another is the _______________________.
7. The organism that hunts another is called the _______________________.
8. In parasitism, this organisms benefits: _________________________and the other does not:
____________________________.
9. List an example of all types of symbiosis.
a. Parasitism: ______________________________________________
b. Commensalism: ___________________________________________
c. Mutualism: ______________________________________________
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Unit Learning Map
Ecosystems & Interactions
Mrs. Sim
Class: Ecology: PA Standard: 4.6.10 A&C: Explain the biotic & abiotic components of an
ecosystem & their interaction. Analyze how ecosystems change over time.
4.6.12C: Analyze how human action & natural changes w/in an
ecosystem affect the balance.
Unit Essential Question(s):
Optional
Instructional Tools:
Planet Earth – Forest video
Flower and seed lab
Animal Concept Map
Owl Pellet lab
Leaf collection
Species interaction
Biomagnification lab
How do the biotic &
abiotic components of
an ecosystem interact?
Concept
Plant and Animal
anatomy
Lesson Essential Questions:
How do plants and
animals function in
an ecosystem?
Vocabulary:
Eukaryote
Cellulose
Cuticle
Vascular/nonvascular
Xylem and phloem
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Evergreen/Deciduous
Germination
Fertilization
Pollination
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Symmetry
Stigma, style, ovary
Stamen, anther,
filament
Concept
Energy in the
ecosystem
Lesson Essential Questions:
How does energy
flow through an
ecosystem?
Vocabulary:
Community
Population
Ecosphere
Ecosystem
Food web
Energy pyramids
Autotroph
Heterotroph
Carnivore
Omnivore
Herbivore
Detritivore
Decomposer
Trophic levels
Limiting factor
Predation
Symbiosis
Mutualism
Commensalism
Parasitism
Competition
Niche
Concept
Concept
Biomagnification
Lesson Essential Questions:
Lesson Essential Questions:
How are food webs
affected by
pesticides?
Vocabulary:
Vocabulary:
Biomagnification
DDT
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