Ecology

=ECOLOGY= biosphere - the planet population - the number of a single species in a given area at a given time community - the number of all species in a given area at a given time habitat - a specific area in which an organism lives autotroph (producer) - organisms that make their own energy heterotroph (consumer) - organisms that do not make their own energy
 * //Ecology:// is the study of the relationships of living organisms with each other and their environement.**
 * Key Terms:**

//Reading Skill:// Recall that we use charts and graphs to help summarize data or other information.

I. 3 Types of Charts

 * 1) Food chains - a linear relationship of organisms and their trophic levels
 * 2) Food webs - two or more interconnected food chains
 * 3) Food pyramids -

A. 3 Types of Food Pyramids
__1. pyramid of numbers__ - shows the population size within each trophic level. Typical units: **n/a** i.e. 500 bald eagles, 6500 bullfrogs __2. pyramid of energy__ - shows the quantity of energy within each trophic level. Typical units: **kcal** i.e. 200 kcal of energy __3. pyramid of biomass__ - shows the mass of living material within to each trophic level. Typical units: **kg** i.e. 200 kg of beef

B. 3 Concepts in the Charts

 * 1) 10 % Rule - only 10% of energy is transferred between each successive trophic levels.
 * 2) Trophic Levels - numbered "feeding" levels - seperated by arrows in chains and webs, horizontal lines in pyramids.
 * 3) Orders - numbered trophic levels seperated by autotrophs, heterotrophs, scavengers, and decomposers

II. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Biotic factors - any part of the an ecosystem that is living OR was once living Abiotic factors - any part of the biosphere that is not living AND never has been living

Biotic examples: a bear, a tree, grass, bacteria on your hands, a dead animal carcus Abiotic examples: sunlight, rocks, water, a virus

III. Ecosystem Relationships
Ecology revisited. Ecology is the study of biotic and abiotic relationships. Symbiosis: a close a permanent relationship among two organisms.

3 Types of Symbiotic Relationships

 * 1) Parasitism
 * 2) Mutualism
 * 3) Commensalism

IV. Cycles of Nature
We study the cycles of nature in ecology to understand how organisms interact with their environment. We study the cycles of nature with one old concept in mind: The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy states....in our universe matter nor energy can be created or destroyed HOWEVER matter and energy are transformed.


 * 1) Water Cycle - evaporation, condensation, precipitation
 * 2) Carbon Cycle - see diagram
 * 3) Nitrogen Cycle - see diagram