Chapter 3:
The Biosphere
Warm Up 4/20
• What is Ecology? Explain in your words after looking at the
vocab.
3.1 – What is Ecology?
• Ecology = Scientific study of interactions among organisms
and between organisms and their environments.
• Web of interdependence
Levels of Organization
• Organism - an individual living
thing
• Ex) alligator, turtle, or egret.
Organism
Organism
• Population - a group of individuals
of the same species that live in
one area.
Population
Population
Organism
Organism
• Community - group of different
species that live together in one area.
Community
Community
Population
Population
Organism
Organism
• Ecosystem - all of the organisms that live
in a place + the physical environment.
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
Community
Community
Population
Population
Organism
Organism
• Biome – group of ecosystems that share
similar climates and type of organisms
Ecosystem
Ecosystem
Community
Community
Population
Population
Organism
Organism
Biome
Biosphere – the entire planet
Biodiversity
• The assortment, or variety, of living things in an
ecosystem
• Rain forests have more biodiversity than
other locations in the world, but are
threatened by human activities.
Which biome has
the greatest
biodiversity?
• A keystone species is a species that has an unusually
large effect on its ecosystem.
Why are they called a “Keystone” species?
Bozeman Biodiversity and
Keystone Species
keystone
• Keystone species form and maintain a
complex web of life.
creation of
wetland
ecosystem
increased waterfowl
Population
keystone species
increased
fish
population
nesting
sites for
birds
Example of Keystone Species
Keystone Species
• How might the mountain lion be a keystone
species?
• What about the honeybee?
Biotic & Abiotic Factors
• Biotic factors – any living thing in an environment that an
organism might interact with.
• Examples for a Bullfrog?
• Insects it eats. Lilly pads it rests on. Algae/aquatic plants it
hides in. Birds that prey upon them.
• Abiotic factors – any nonliving part of the environment.
Examples?
• Sunlight, heat, precipitation, humidity, soil type,…
How do these factors influence in each other?
3.2 Producers & Consumers
• Primary producers / Autotrophs –
• First producers of energy-rich
compounds that are later used by other
organisms
• Types of Primary Producers
• Photosynthesis
• Chemosynthesis (chemical energy used to
produce sugars)
-Does not require light energy, found
in harsh environments!
Photosynthesis VS Chemosynthesis
Consumers
• A.K.A - Heterotrophs
• Rely on other organisms for energy and nutrients
Types of Consumers
Herbivore: Eat only plants
Deer, caterpillars, cows
Omnivore: Eat plants and animals
Humans, raccoons, bears, crows
Carnivore: Eat only animals
Hawks, snakes, lions
Detritivore: Feed on plant/animal remains and
other dead matter
Earthworms, crabs, snails
Decomposer: Break down organic matter
Bacteria, fungi
Carnivore
Herbivore
Omnivore
Scavenger
Detritivore
Decomposers
What type of consumer?
• Bacteria
• Decomposer
• Pillbugs
• Detritivore
• Raccoon
• Omnivore
• Venus fly trap
• Carnivore
• Slug
• Detritivore