Energy Pyramids
Energy Pyramids showthe loss of energy ateach feeding level in afood chain
Only 10% of energy ispassed onto the nextlevel in a food chain.
The other 90% is lostin the form of Heat asanimals use energy fortheir metabolism
Energy Pyramids
The Primary Sourceof energy for theenergy pyramid isthe Sun
The Most Energy isfound in the bottomof the pyramid
The Least Energy isfound at the top ofthe pyramid
Energy Pyramids
The amount ofenergy availableat each leveldetermines howmany organismscan survive
The top of thepyramid has theleast energy, so wehave the leastnumber of topconsumers
Organism Relationships
Organisms that live together have symbiotic relationships.
These relationships have different names based on whether ornot the animals help, hurt or don’t affect each other.
Organism Relationships
1) Commensalism is when one animal benefitsand the other is NOT affected
Egret and GrazingMammals
Barnacles and Whales
Organism Relationships
2) Mutualism is when both animals benefit
Oxpecker and Zebra
Bees and Flowers
Organism Relationships
3) Parasitism is when one animal benefits andthe other animals is harmed
Tapeworm
Fleas
Caterpillar
and Leaf
Organism Relationships
4) Predation is when one animal hunts, kills andconsumes another
Organism Relationships
5)Competition is when animals compete for thesame resource
Organism Relationships
Carrying Capacity
Carrying Capacity is the maximum number of organisms thatcan survive in an ecosystem
This is based on Biotic (living) factors and Abiotic (nonliving)factors including:
•Food resources
•Predators
•Shelter
•Water
•Space
•Sunlight
•Temperature
Carrying Capacity
Once a population continues to grow and grow, it will reachthe carrying capacity.
If it overshoots this point, then the organisms will not haveenough food, water or shelter to survive and the ‘excess’organisms will die off
The carrying capacity ofan ecosystem candecrease due tonatural disasters likefires and earthquakesor human activity likedeforestation
Carrying Capacity
Based on our current resource use and waste generation and the ability of theEarth to replenish, some scientists believe we are already in an overshoot
Population
There are 2 types of factors:
1)Density-dependent factors: things that change apopulation and are affected by density such as thespread of disease or parasites
2) Density-independent factors: things that change a population regardless of density such as naturaldisasters
Populations in ecosystems will change according to differentfactors such as natural disasters, droughts, disease, etc.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life in an ecosystem
Biodiversity is CRITICAL to having a stable and balancedenvironment!
-More links on a food web
-Larger variety of food sources and plants-Different niches/roles for more species
If Biodiversity is decreased, an environment becomesless stable and less resilient (able to survive changes)
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is impacted by a lot
of factors including:
•Natural disasters
•Pollution
•Introduction of an invasive species
(one that is not native)
•Oil spills
•Greenhouse effect (global warming)
•Deforestation
Ecosystems heal themselves by a process called succession
Succession
Watch this video about Primary andSecondary Succession!
Review
An Acacia ant lives inside of a particular plant.The plant provides protection for the ant, andthe ant prevents harmful insects from invadingthe plant.
What type of relationship is this?
MUTUALISM!
Review
Barnacles live on the skin of whales. Thebarnacles are able to acquire more food and thewhale is unaffected.
What type of relationship is this?
COMMENSALISM!
Review
Caterpillars eat the leaves of plants.
What type of relationship is this?
PARASITISM!
Quick Write
•For 2 minutes, write a short story of a NaturalDisaster or other factor that has affected theBiodiversity of our area (Houston-Galveston)and how you think our area is recovering ornot from this event.