Ecology – scientific study of interactions
among organisms and between
organisms and their physical
environment
Levels of Organization
1. Species (Individual Organism)
-group of similar organisms that can
breed and produce fertile offspring
2. Population
-group of species that live in same
area
Levels of Organization
3. Community
-assemblage of different populations
that live together in defined area
4. Ecosystem
-all organisms that live in a place,
together with their physical
environment
Levels of Organization
5. Biome
-group of ecosystems that share
similar climates and typical organisms
6. Biosphere
-our entire planet, with all its
organisms and physical environments
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Environment includes both biotic &
abiotic factors
Biotic Factors – biological influences on
organisms
Abiotic Factors – physical components of an
ecosystem
Vocabulary
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Biotic Factor
FRONT:
Vocab Graffiti
Show interaction of
words (with pictures)
BACK:
Word - Key Word
Abiotic Factor
See Class Example
Need for Energy!
What is the ultimate source of energy?
Energy from the Sun – Photosynthesis
Plants, Algae, Photosynthetic Bacteria
Harness chemical energy from
inorganic molecules - chemosynthesis
Producers
Autotrophs – organisms that capture
energy from sunlight or chemicals and
convert it to usable forms
Producers
Autotrophs store energy in form that
make it available to other organisms
(primary producers)
*essential to flow of energy through
biosphere!*
Consumers
Heterotrophs – organisms that must
acquire energy from other organisms
(by ingesting them)
CONSUMERS
Types of Consumers
Consumers classified by ways in which
they acquire energy and nutrients
Omnivores
Vocabulary
Autotroph
Heterotroph
FRONT:
Vocab Graffiti
Show interaction of
words (with pictures)
BACK:
Word - Key Word
See Class Example
Food Web Activity
Students are going to create a food web
from the following animals:
Phytoplankton, Antarctic Krill, Seastar,
Zooplankton, Antarctic Silverfish,
Emperor Penguin, Albatross, Adelie
Penguin, Leopard Seal, Antarctic Menke,
Humpback Whale, and Orca
Trophic level –
each step in a food
chain or food web
Ecological Pyramids
Show the relative amount of energy
or matter contained within each
trophic level in given food chain/web
Pyramids of Biomass
Biomass – total amount of living
tissue in a given trophic level
Measured in grams of organic matter
per unit are
Vocabulary
Trophic Level
Biomass
FRONT:
Vocab Graffiti
Show interaction of
words (with pictures)
BACK:
Word - Key Word
See Class Example
All assignments
due day of test!
Vocabulary Graffiti (3 parts)
Food Web
Test scheduled for Tuesday 9/30