life sciences

1. TheBiosphereTheBiosphere
-AlexisFolmer

2. What is it?What is it?
It extends from about 5 milesIt extends from about 5 miles
above the earths surface to as farabove the earths surface to as far
as 7 miles below theas 7 miles below the oceanocean..
The biosphere consists of all lifeThe biosphere consists of all life
on Earth and all parts of the earthon Earth and all parts of the earth
in which life exists, including land,in which life exists, including land,
water, and the atmosphere.water, and the atmosphere.

3. -Ecology--Ecology-
Ecology is when
organisms in the
biosphere interact with
each other and their
surroundings or
environment.

4. Biotic/Abiotic FactorsBiotic/Abiotic Factors
AA bioticbiotic factor is any living part offactor is any living part of
the environment with which anthe environment with which an
organism might interact. These areorganism might interact. These are
thethe biological influencesbiological influences onon
organisms.organisms.
AnAn abioticabiotic factor is any nonlivingfactor is any nonliving
part of the environment like heat,part of the environment like heat,
precipitation, wind currents, etc.precipitation, wind currents, etc.
These are theThese are the physical componentsphysical components
of an ecosystem.of an ecosystem.

5. EcologicalEcological
MethodsMethods
Ecologists use 3 methods in theirEcologists use 3 methods in their
work:work:
ObservationObservation
ExperimentationExperimentation
ModelingModeling

6. WhereDoesEnergy in LivingWhereDoesEnergy in Living
SystemsComeFrom?SystemsComeFrom?
Organismsget energy from other sources.Organismsget energy from other sources.
Sunlight istheultimateenergy source.Sunlight istheultimateenergy source.
Certain algae, bacteria, and plantscanCertain algae, bacteria, and plantscan
captureenergy and convert it into formsthatcaptureenergy and convert it into formsthat
living cellscan use.living cellscan use.
Theseorganismsarecalled primaryTheseorganismsarecalled primary
producers/Autotrophs.producers/Autotrophs.

7. PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis
It captures light
and uses it to
power chemical
reactions that
convert carbon
dioxide and water
into oxygen and
energy-rich
carbohydrates like
sugar and
starches.

8. ChemosynthesisChemosynthesis
• What deep-sea
ecosystems rely
on that harness
chemical energy
from inorganic
molecules and
produces
carbohydrates.

9. Consumers/HeterotrophsConsumers/Heterotrophs
• Organisms that rely on
other organisms for
energy and nutrients
by ingesting them in
one way or another.
• These consumers
include carnivores,
herbivores, omnivores,
scavengers,
decomposers, and
detritivores.

10. Food ChainFood Chain
• A food chain is a
series of steps in
which organisms
transfer energy by
eating and being
eaten.
• This chain usually
begins with a primary
producer, then a
herbivore, and finally
a carnivore.

11. PhytoplanktonPhytoplankton
• These are primaryThese are primary
producers whichproducers which
are a mixture ofare a mixture of
floating algae andfloating algae and
attached algae andattached algae and
may be eaten bymay be eaten by
small fish whosmall fish who
will be eaten bywill be eaten by
large fish who arelarge fish who are
eaten byeaten by
alligators.alligators.

12. Food WebFood Web•Network of complex
interactions formed by
the feeding
relationships among
the various organisms
in an ecosystem.

13. ZooplanktonZooplankton
•Small free-Small free-
floatingfloating
animalsanimals
that formthat form
part ofpart of
plankton.plankton.

14. Trophic LevelTrophic Level
•Each stepEach step
in a foodin a food
chain or achain or a
food webfood web

15. EcologicalEcological
PyramidsPyramids• Show therelative
amount of energy or
matter contained
within each trophic
level in agiven food
chain or food web.
Thetypesof these
pyramidsarepyramids
of energy, biomass,
and numbers.