Ecology and the Food Web

Ecology and the Food Web

The relationship between living organisms and their environment.

Multiple Choice

A system comprising all the biotic and abiotic factors in an area and all the interacts among them

• Ecosystem

• Community

• Population

​​All energy on Earth comes from the Sun.

So how do we get that energy?

​Food Chain

What do you notice about this pyramid?

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​Trophic Levels

​​Stop and Think:
Why are decomposers important?

Multiple Choice

An organism that needs to eat other organisms to obtain energy is known as a:

• Autotroph
• Producer
• Consumer

Multiple Choice

Which type of consumer is always a primary consumer?

• Herbivore

• Omnivore

• Carnivore

Multiple Choice

Where does the energy start in this food chain?

• Plant

• Sun

• Deer

• Wolf

Multiple Choice

The largest group of organisms found in a food web would be:

• Primary Consumers
• Producers
• Decomposers

Multiple Choice

The rabbit in this food web would be considered a:

• Decomposer
• Secondary Consumer
• Primary Consumer

Multiple Choice

Which organism recieves the least amount of energy from the producer?

• Owl
• Grasshopper
• Lilypad
• Mouse

Multiple Choice

What are the Abiotic factors in this image? 

• water, sunlight, dirt, air
• birds, water, dirt
• plants, water

​An organism that makes its own food is called a producer, or an autotroph.

An organism that cannot make its own food is called a consumer, or a heterotroph.

Produces and Consumers

​

Multiple Choice

What is a producer?

• an organism that gets energy from eating other organisms
• an organisms that uses sunlight to make its own food
• an organism that uses chemical energy to make its own food

Multiple Choice

What is a lily pad?

• autotroph

• heterotroph

Open Ended

What is the difference between heterotroph and autotroph?

Multiple Choice

Which organisms perform Photosynthesis?

• Only Autotrophs
• Only Heterotrophs
• Autotrophs and Heterotrophs

Multiple Choice

What is algae?

• autotroph

• heterotroph

Multiple Choice

What is an insect?

• autotroph

• heterotroph

Multiple Choice

Which category of organism cannot make its own food?

• Autotroph

• Heterotroph

Symbiotic Relationships

* any close relationship between two different species

​Symbiotic Relationships

Mutualism

• a relationship where both organisms benefit

Example of Mutualism

Lichen and Fungus

Lichen provides energy to fungus, while fungus gives the lichen a place to grow.

Examples of Mutualism

Commensalism

Example of Commensalism

Banrnacles, small crestaceans, attach themselves to larger organisms, such as a whale, to be transported to new food sources.

Example of Commensalism

As Caribou migrate, the arctic fox follows throughout its journey in order to hunt the small animals that have become exposed by the caribou.

Parasitism

Parasitism

The organism that is being benefitted is called the Parasite

The organism that is being harmed is called the Host

Example of Parasitism

A roundworm attaches itself inside the intestine of a puppy to feed on the nutrients in the puppy's blood.

The puppy is hurt by the parasite and looses blood.

The roundworm benefits by receiving food.

Example of Parasitism

The fungus (parasite) gets nutrients by breaking down the tree (host). As a result, the tree decays, gets weak, and becomes very vulnerable to the weather.

Multiple Choice

relationship in which two species live closely together

• mutualism
• succession
• symbiosis

Multiple Choice

What type of relationship is this?

• parasitism

• mutualism

• commensalism

• competition

Multiple Choice

symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit

• competition

• mutualism

• commensalism