Ecological Organization
Watch the following video for more information.
Siyavula Education. (2013, July 1). Ecological levels [Illustration]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/121935927@N06/13578822655
Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Biotic & Abiotic Components
Back
Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Energy Flow
Autotrophs, also called producers are organisms that have the ability to use energy from the sun to convert simple inorganic substances into complex organic substances.
Heterotrophs, also called consumers are organisms that cannot make their own food. They rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Autotrophs
Title
Heterotrophs
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Trophic Levels: Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level. The trophic level indicates the organism’s position in the sequence of energy transfers. Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it for energy.
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Next
Feeding Relationships
A food chain is a sequence showing how energy moves from producers (autotrophs) to consumers as organisms eat and are eaten.
A food web is a network of interconnected food chains that shows the complex feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, where many consumers eat multiple types of food and multiple species may share the same food source.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Food Chains
Food Webs
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Energy Transfer Between Trophic Levels
If the energy content of the grass is approximately 5,000 calories per square meter of land surface, calculate the amount of energy that will be passed up to each trophic level.
An ecological pyramid shows the relative amounts of energy or matter at each trophic level in a food chain or web. Only about 10% of energy from one level is passed to the next, as organisms use most energy for life processes. This limits the amount of biomass each higher trophic level can support.
Back
Next
Limited Resources and Ecology
Space
Water
Mates
Food
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Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Population Growth
Logistic growth is a population growth model where growth slows and eventually stops after a period of rapid increase as the population reaches carrying capacity. At carrying capacity, birth and death rates are equal, and limiting factors prevent further population growth. Other factors that can affect population growth:
- Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
- Overexploitation of Resources
- Pollution and Contamination
- Climate Change
- Invasive Species
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The Cycles
Recycling in the Biosphere: Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way path, entering as sunlight and leaving as heat, so it cannot be recycled. Matter, however, is recycled through biogeochemical cycles, which move elements and compounds between organisms and different parts of the biosphere.
Back
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Competition for space
Competition for space occurs when organisms need the same physical area to live, grow, or reproduce, but there is not enough space for all of them. Space can include territory, shelter, nesting sites, or access to sunlight. Individuals with traits that help them claim, defend, or use space more effectively are more likely to survive and reproduce.
NOAA public domain
Different species of coral compete for space on a reef. Corals that grow faster or spread wider cover others.
Competition for water
Competition for water happens when organisms depend on the same water source, but the supply is limited, especially in dry environments or during droughts. Individuals with traits that help them find, store, or use water more efficiently are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Public domain
Plants in deserts compete for very limited water. Plants with deeper roots survive better.
Competition for food
Competition for food happens when multiple organisms rely on the same food source, but there is not enough for all of them. Because food is limited, individuals must compete to get the energy they need to survive. Those with traits that help them find, catch, or use food more effectively are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Competition for mates
Competition for mates occurs when individuals compete for the chance to reproduce, and not all individuals are able to find a mate. Traits such as strength, size, displays, behaviors, or calls can give some individuals an advantage. Those with traits that help them successfully attract or compete for mates are more likely to reproduce and pass those traits to the next generation.
Norberto Esteves, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Ibex fight for access to females. Stronger individuals are more likely to reproduce.
7.09 Ecology
Teaching and Learning
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Transcript
Ecological Organization
Watch the following video for more information.
Siyavula Education. (2013, July 1). Ecological levels [Illustration]. Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/121935927@N06/13578822655
Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Biotic & Abiotic Components
Back
Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Energy Flow
Autotrophs, also called producers are organisms that have the ability to use energy from the sun to convert simple inorganic substances into complex organic substances.
Heterotrophs, also called consumers are organisms that cannot make their own food. They rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Autotrophs
Title
Heterotrophs
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Trophic Levels: Each step in a food chain is called a trophic level. The trophic level indicates the organism’s position in the sequence of energy transfers. Each consumer depends on the trophic level below it for energy.
Back
Next
Feeding Relationships
A food chain is a sequence showing how energy moves from producers (autotrophs) to consumers as organisms eat and are eaten.
A food web is a network of interconnected food chains that shows the complex feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem, where many consumers eat multiple types of food and multiple species may share the same food source.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Food Chains
Food Webs
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Back
Next
Energy Transfer Between Trophic Levels
If the energy content of the grass is approximately 5,000 calories per square meter of land surface, calculate the amount of energy that will be passed up to each trophic level.
An ecological pyramid shows the relative amounts of energy or matter at each trophic level in a food chain or web. Only about 10% of energy from one level is passed to the next, as organisms use most energy for life processes. This limits the amount of biomass each higher trophic level can support.
Back
Next
Limited Resources and Ecology
Space
Water
Mates
Food
Back
Next
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Population Growth
Logistic growth is a population growth model where growth slows and eventually stops after a period of rapid increase as the population reaches carrying capacity. At carrying capacity, birth and death rates are equal, and limiting factors prevent further population growth. Other factors that can affect population growth:
Back
Next
The Cycles
Recycling in the Biosphere: Energy flows through ecosystems in a one-way path, entering as sunlight and leaving as heat, so it cannot be recycled. Matter, however, is recycled through biogeochemical cycles, which move elements and compounds between organisms and different parts of the biosphere.
Back
Click on the blue dots for more information.
Competition for space
Competition for space occurs when organisms need the same physical area to live, grow, or reproduce, but there is not enough space for all of them. Space can include territory, shelter, nesting sites, or access to sunlight. Individuals with traits that help them claim, defend, or use space more effectively are more likely to survive and reproduce.
NOAA public domain
Different species of coral compete for space on a reef. Corals that grow faster or spread wider cover others.
Competition for water
Competition for water happens when organisms depend on the same water source, but the supply is limited, especially in dry environments or during droughts. Individuals with traits that help them find, store, or use water more efficiently are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Public domain
Plants in deserts compete for very limited water. Plants with deeper roots survive better.
Competition for food
Competition for food happens when multiple organisms rely on the same food source, but there is not enough for all of them. Because food is limited, individuals must compete to get the energy they need to survive. Those with traits that help them find, catch, or use food more effectively are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Competition for mates
Competition for mates occurs when individuals compete for the chance to reproduce, and not all individuals are able to find a mate. Traits such as strength, size, displays, behaviors, or calls can give some individuals an advantage. Those with traits that help them successfully attract or compete for mates are more likely to reproduce and pass those traits to the next generation.
Norberto Esteves, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Ibex fight for access to females. Stronger individuals are more likely to reproduce.