Ecosystems

What is an
ecosystem?
The interaction of living (biotic) and nonliving
(abiotic) things in an environment.
 [Link]
Biotic + Abiotic Factors mjafH5pVLA

HINT: Anything that used to be alive or is

alive is BIOTIC
 Population Community Habitat
a group of organisms all the populations of
the place where a
belonging to the same different species that live
population lives
species that live in the in the same area and
same area and interact interact with one another
with one another

+abiotic
Individual (species) --> population --> community --> ecosystem
 Energy Pyramid APEX
4
An energy pyramid shows the
3
rate at which energy is
transferred from one trophic
2
level to the next. The energy in
each trophic level is just 1
10 percent of the energy in the
level below it
apex consumers: organisms at the
very top of a food chain

primary consumers: eat the

producers; are usually herbivores or
omnivores

producers: at the base of the food

chain; are autotrophs and can make
their own food

decomposers: organisms that eat

dead matter
 Change to Trophic Levels
Most ecosystems stay in balance most of the time. What happens when a top
carnivore is removed from a food web? Or when a population in a food web
increases in number? These changes set off a chain of events that affect all
organisms in a food web.

When top carnivores are removed from a food chain, prey populations are no
longer controlled. Now prey organisms can reproduce without limits.

When prey populations increase in number, more producers are required to

supply them with energy.

For example, if you removed the bobcat from the forest food web, the
populations of birds, mice, and raccoons would increase. Soon there would be less
grass, trees, and other producers to support these organisms.
 The highest amount of energy is
Sun -> plant.
Each level decreases 90%.
5 calories
Only 10% is being carried over.
50 calories
500 calories
5,000 calories
50,000 calories
 Change to Trophic Levels
In the energy pyramid shown, if warblers are
removed, which of the following predictions
are possible? owl
snake
[Link] population of both snake and owl
[Link] population of both mantis and warbler
caterpillar mantis
[Link] population of caterpillar but
mantis decreases
caterpillar
[Link] population of mantis but owl plant
decrease
[Link] population of snakes but mantis
decrease
 Food Chain Food Web
shows how energy is transferred from the natural interconnection of food
one living organism to another via food chains and a graphical representation
of what-eats-what in an ecosystem

always starts with the Sun

Which food chain has the

owl as the tertiary
consumer?

Gr-GH – F - O

[Link]
 Predator & Prey
Predators are animals that eat other animals (prey).
Prey are smaller consumers that are hunted and
eaten by larger consumers

Detrivores
A specific type of decomposers that eat
detritus/debris. These are unicellular (bacteria) and
usually multicellular animals, such as earthworms,
crabs, slugs, or vultures. They not only feed on dead
organic matter but often fragment it as well,
making it more available for bacterial or fungal
decomposers.

[Link]
 Symbiosis
interaction between two
different organisms living in
close physical association,
typically to the advantage of
both

[Link]
 [Link]
Types of Symbiosis:
Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism
• both partners benefit • only one species benefits • one organism (the parasite)
• Ex. Oxpeckers and while the other is neither gains, while the other (the
zebras/rhinos: the oxpecker helped nor harmed host) suffers
(a bird) lives on the rhino and • Ex. Hermit crabs live inside • Ex. Fleas or ticks that live on
eats all the bugs on rhino. the shells of dead snails. dogs and cats are parasites
The oxpeckers get food and Obviously, the snail is that harm the animal.
the rhino gets pest control. unaffected and the crab
gains shelter.
Animal Relationships

Lichen

Lichen is a symbiotic association between algae and

fungi. Alga is the source of food as it can synthesize
food for this symbiotic association and the fungus
absorbs water and minerals for the algae.
 Competition
the interaction between
organisms where they
compete for the same limited
resource (something that they
need to survive, such as food,
water, air, etc.)

[Link]
 Why do organisms compete?
• The survival of populations depends on resources.
• A limiting factor is any resource that restricts the growth of populations.
• Abiotic limiting factors include water, temperature, weather, soil type, space
to grow, shelter, and sunlight.
⚬ Ex. A forest gets more rainfall and is warmer in summer than winter. In
summer, the forest can support many more populations in the winter. In
this example, rainfall and temperature are limiting factors.
• Biotic limiting factors include the number of
producers (and therefore food), predators, and
disease-causing pathogens
⚬ Ex. A prairie has more producers than a desert.
Therefore, the prairie can support more herbivores,
which then supports more carnivores. In this
example, available food is the limiting factor.
[Link]
 Adaptation
a structure or
behavior that helps
an organism to
survive in its
environment

[Link]
 Structural Adaptations
• Examples include fur color, long limps, strong jaws,
and ability to run fast.
• Aquatic animals have certain structural adaptations to
let them live underwater:
⚬ streamlined structure to swim faster
⚬ can hold their breath for longer
• Prey have adaptations to protect them from predators:
⚬ Gazelles can run extremely fast to escape
predators.
⚬ Turtles have hard shells to protect them.
⚬ When skunks are threatened, they spray a bad-
smelling liquid.
• Predators have adaptations to make them better
hunters:
⚬ Owls have excellent hearing, large eyes, muscular
wings, and claws to grab prey.
[Link]
 Structural Adaptations
Camouflage: protective coloration, Mimicry: when one species “mimics”
which allows the animal to blend in another species in terms of sound,
with its environment and to mask its appearance, smell, behavior, or location
identity to protect itself

• White rabbits blend in snow. • When threatened, puff adders hiss

• In winter, the arctic fox has a white and puff up to look larger.
coat that blends in with the snow. In • The harmless robber fly resembles a
summer, the fox’s coat color changes dangerous bumblebee.
to blend in with plants that grow in • Some snapping turtles wag a fleshy
warm weather. lure that looks like a worm in order to
• A tiger’s stripes make it difficult to see trap fish.
in grass, helping it hide from prey.

[Link]
 Behavioral Adaptations
An adjustment in an organism’s behavior is a behavioral adaption.

Symbiotic relationships are Migration is a seasonal movement of animals to

behavioral adaptations that find food, reproduce in better conditions, or find
help organisms survive. less severe climates.

Hibernation is a long winter sleep by warm and cold-

blooded animals (polar bear) to slow down their
metabolic activities until warmer temperatures return.

Estivation is a short summer

sleep by only cold blooded
animals (snails, bees, frogs)

[Link]
 Desert Adaptations
Animals:
• Eat desert plants for water
• Nocturnal (active at night but sleep during day) to
escape the heat during the day
⚬ Ex. bat
• Large ears help rabbits in deserts lose heat
• Light body color reduces absorption of heat

Plants:
• Roots of plants spread wide to soak up water from
a large area
• Special thick stems help store water
• Waxy coating helps seal in water
• Spines/thorns protect plants from being eaten by
animals

[Link]
 Wetland Adaptations
These environments are very variable:
One day can be a lot of rain, the next may be very dry.

Animals:
• Animals have adaptations to survive
dry season.
• Ex. Catfish uses its fins to move on
land and find water somewhere

Plants:
• Plants can survive changing water
levels.
• Ex. Mangrove trees along rivers have
their prop roots spread out to get a
firm grip on the muddy ground
 Forest Adaptations
Animals: camouflage
• Camouflage: Animals blend in by looking like another
very different animal --> hide and be safe
• Hibernate: Animals go to a deep sleep in winter so that
they don’t have to go find food; uses less energy

Plants:
• In tropical forests: plants get lot of rain and not much
sunlight. Too much water can damage plants. So, they
have grooves and “drip tips” to help rainwater flow off.
Leaves are large to catch sunlight for photosynthesis
• In temperate forests: winters are cold and dry. Less
sunlight for trees to make food.
⚬ Trees shed their leaves in fall when temperature
becomes colder and save energy this way. drip tip
Evergreen conifers shed needles just as deciduous trees lose leaves; it just happens over a longer period of time.
 Ocean Animal Adaptations

Animals:
• Migration: Animals move from one
place to another to avoid too cold
/heat or in search of food
• A fish or dolphin has fins and tail to
help it move
• Fish have gills to breather under
water
• Angler fish – lives deep in the oceans
where it is dark It has a growth on its
head which lights up and attracts
other animals. The angler fish
attacks them when they come close

[Link]
 Ocean Plant Adaptations

Plants:
• Algae: seaweed floating in the ocean
(looks like plant)
⚬ can make their own food like
plants
⚬ have leaf like structures that can
take in light
⚬ live only in shallow water where
they can get sunlight
• Some have root like structure that
attach to ocean floor.
• Some do not have roots and can air
float. Balloon like structures called
bladders
air bladders help some algae (kelp)
float.
 [Link]
Water Cycle sDrjl
[Link]
• The water cycle (hydrologic cycle) Cw?si=5wvnzB2EeGeAvoSG
describes the continuous movement of
water on, above and below the surface of
the Earth and atmosphere.
• Liquid water evaporates into water vapor,
condenses to form clouds, and precipitates
back to earth in the form of rain and snow.
• Water in different phases moves through
the atmosphere (transportation).
• There are five processes at work in the
hydrologic cycle:
⚬ condensation
⚬ precipitation
⚬ infiltration
⚬ runoff
⚬ evaporation and transpiration
 The water cycle is driven by the Sun’s energy, which is
absorbed by water in oceans, lakes, ponds, and streams.

This heat speeds evaporation (liquid to gas). The

evaporated water rises into the atmosphere and cools.

Cooled water condenses (gas to liquid) into water droplets,

which gather with dust particles to form clouds.

Water becomes too heavy and drops as precipitation (water that

falls from the atmosphere, such as rain, sleet, snow, or hail).

Precipitation collects on land and flows downhill. Most water

flows into oceans, some settles underground, and some is taken
in by plants and animals.
 [Link]
Carbon Cycle [Link]
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• The carbon cycle is the biogeochemical cycle by
which carbon is exchanged among the
biosphere, pedosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere,
and atmosphere of the Earth.
• Carbon is the main component of biological
compounds, as well as a major component of
many minerals, such as limestone.

• During photosynthesis, plants combine carbon

dioxide from the air and hydrogen from water to
make carbohydrates.
• When that plant is eaten, the animal’s cells break
down the plant’s tissue and releases stored
carbon and other nutrients.
• As the animal exhales, carbon dioxide (CO2) is
released into the atmosphere and the cycle can
begin again. This is called respiration.
 [Link]
How can ecosystems change? 9Gc?si=D6ZVd1aJILUjdPff

Natural disasters Change caused by Human changes

• earthquakes organisms • often destroy or alter
• floods • Ex. Beavers build dams habitats for their own needs
• storms that create new • can introduce or remove
habitats but can also species
• volcanoes
cause flooding. • without natural predators,
• droughts introduced species can
• greatly change the • Ex. Large animals (like
threaten or kill off local
elephants) may trample
environment species
trees and seedlings.
• cannot be prevented ⚬ invasive species

zebra mussels
are invasive
 Threatened Endangered Extinct
any species that is likely to
any species that is at risk of no more individuals of that
become an endangered
extinction species is alive anywhere in the
species within the
Ex. Peregrine Falcon, Black world, they are all dead
foreseeable future
Footed Ferret Ex. Dodo bird, Tasmanian tiger,
Ex. Polar bear, Boreal toad
Dinosaur
 Biomes
A biome is one of Earth’s major land ecosystems with its own
characteristic animals, plants, soil, and climate. It is a set of habitats or
ecosystems all grouped together into a kind of “super-ecosystem”.

A climate is an average
weather pattern for a region.

6 major biomes:
• Desert – dryest, hottest
• tundra - coldest
• taiga - largest
• grassland - smallest
• tropical rain forest - rainiest
• temperate forest
 Biomes
A biome is one of Earth’s major land ecosystems with its own
characteristic animals, plants, soil, and climate. It is a set of habitats or
ecosystems all grouped together into a kind of “super-ecosystem”.

[Link]
[Link]
 Example Rainfall Climate Soil Plants Animals

Tropical Amazon Lots of rainfall Hot and damp Not very rich in Tall green trees; FUCE
Rainforest all year long nutrients but 4 layers: forest floor-
plants absorb all insects/frogs/mice; understory-tree
nutrients they trunks, shrubs, vines, leopards,
get jaguars, canopy- thick with plant
life, prevent sunlight from reaching
lower level, bats, monkeys; emergent
layer - upper part of large trees, bird
nest

Temperate Eastern US Moderate; Hot summer, Rich in nutrients large evergreen cougars, black
Rainforest Cold winter trees and bears, bobcats,
Enough rain for epiphytes owls, reptiles,
tall trees to grow (lichens, and many
(but half of that mosses, ferns) amphibians.
of Tropical)
Deciduous North America Moderate; Hot summer, Rich in nutrients Deciduous Squirrels, mice,
Forest 4 distinct Cold winter trees [oak, rabbits,
seasons maple, beech, raccoons,

Winter is snowy; and hickory] skunks,

birds migrate, porcupines,
animals white-tailed
hibernate deer, foxes, and
bears. ants,
beetles, and
butterflies

Grassland Pampas/ Moderate; Hot summer, Rich in nutrients Large open Bison, cheetah,
(smallest Savanna wetter than a Cold winter areas of grass; gazelle
biome) ([Link]) desert Grass is a rich
food source for
STeM
Dakota in US herbivores
TIGERS
 Example Rainfall Climate Soil Plants Animals

Ocean Atlantic/Indian/ Large body of Most of organisms live in the shallow waters(<300ft deep) as sunlight
Arctic/Antarctic SALT water can pass through which plants can use food; animals live as
to make
/Pacific(largest) they get food and shelter [sunlight zone]; Twilight zone bet SZ and MZ
-

Few creatures live in the cold dark ocean depths (>5000ft deep)
[midnight zone]

Wetland Everglades Dark muddy Warm and Full of minerals Help prevent land from by
Found along water covers humid ; may have fresh collecting water
edges of the soil for most or salt water Also help clean dirty water
rivers/lakes/pon of the year Crocodiles, frogs, fish, snakes
ds/oceans

STeM
TIGERS
 Plankton Nekton Bottom dweller
• live in large bodies of water • aquatic animals that are • a fish that lives and feeds on
• unable to swim against a able to swim and move the bottom of a body of
current independently of water water
• provide a source of food to currents • bottom-feeder
many small and large • ex. fish, squid, octopus, • ex. groundfish
aquatic organisms sharks, and marine
• include tiny plants mammals
(phytoplankton) and tiny
animals (zooplankton)

[Link] [Link]
 Water Ecosystems Classification

FRESHWATER OCEANWATER

INTERTIDAL OCEANIC NERITIC

RUNNING STANDING
BATHYAL ABYSSAL
SHALLOW
FAST TWILIGHT DARK
OPEN

SLOW BOTTOM
 Freshwater Ecosystems: Running Water Ecosystems
Faster-moving bodies Slower-moving bodies
• Faster-moving bodies of water (ex. • Have less oxygen
streams, some rivers) tend to have more • Are less dependent on the land for
oxygen because air mixes in as water flows nutrients
• Other nutrients are washed into the water • More producers, such as algae, can
from the land survive here
• Organisms that live here have adaptations ⚬ Mussels, minnow, and other
to prevent them from being swept away. organisms can also live here
⚬ Ex. salmon have strong muscles to
swim against strong currents.
STANDING
1 2 3
S O B
P N B

2N

nekton
1P
plankton

3B benthos
 Freshwater Ecosystems: Standing Water Ecosystems
Standing-water ecosystems include lakes and ponds.

Shallow-water zone: Open-water zone: Bottom-water zone:

• along the shore • water away from the • below the open water
• where most organisms shore zone
live • may be too deep for • includes the bottom of
• rooted plants grow here, rooted plants to survive the lake
which are eaten by • algae and plankton float • very little light --> very
insects, worms, tiny fish, near the surface few producers live here
larvae, and crustaceans • nekton are found here • result: little oxygen
• these animals are eaten • food must drift here
by larger organisms from other zones
Remember:
(frogs, birds, sunfish) • benthos are found here
Shallow water: plankton
• these are then eaten by
Open water: nekton
top predators (herons,
bass, turtles, etc.) Bottom water: benthos
Ocean = Bathyal + Abyssal Intertidal and Neritic both
Bathyal = Twilight + Dark are sunlight

Intertidal
Neritic
Oceanic Bathyal – Twilight
Dark
Abyssal - Midnight
 Ocean Ecosystems
Intertidal zone: Neritic zone: Oceanic zone:
• shallowest part of the • key resource: sunlight • divided into the bathyal
ocean • algae, kelp, and other zone and abyssal zone
• pull of Moon’s gravity producers grow in huge • bathyal zone:
causes tides to rise and numbers near the surface, ⚬ home to large
fall over this zone where sunlight can consumers (ex. sharks)
• covered by water at penetrate but few producers
high tide • attract herbivores like • abyssal zone:
• organisms of this zone small fish, animal-like ⚬ darker and colder
are exposed to air at plankton, crustaceans, and ⚬ little sunlight
low tide some whales ⚬ mostly scavengers or
• these attract larger decomposers
organisms, like seals, seat ⚬ live on nutrients that
turtles, jellyfish, & large fish float down from other
zones
Comprehension Check
Comprehension Check