Ecology Trophic Levels, Niches and Symbiotic Relationships

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Producers vs. Consumers

1. Autotrophs

  • Also called primary producers.

  • Make their own food through photosynthesis (e.g., plants, algae).

  • They form the base of the energy pyramid and food web.

2. Heterotrophs

  • Rely on consuming other organisms for food.

  • Includes various consumer categories:

Types of Heterotrophs:

  1. Carnivore – eats animals (e.g., hawks, lions).

  2. Herbivore – eats plants (e.g., rabbits).

  3. Omnivore – eats both plants and animals.

  4. Scavenger – feeds on dead animals (leftovers).

  5. Decomposer – fungi or bacteria that break down dead organisms.

  6. Detritivore – animals (like worms) that feed on decaying organic matter.

Trophic Pyramids and Energy Flow

Trophic Pyramid Structure:

  • Represents how energy moves through an ecosystem.

  • Each level passes on only 10% of energy to the next level; most is lost as heat or used for metabolic processes (like staying warm or moving).

Example Pyramid:

  • Primary Producers (Autotrophs) → 10,000 calories

  • Primary Consumers (Herbivores) → 1,000 calories

  • Secondary Consumers (Carnivores) → 100 calories

  • Tertiary Consumers (Bear, Lions) → 10 calories

  • Quaternary Consumers (e.g., alligators, hyenas) → 1 calorie

Energy is not recycled; it flows one way through the ecosystem.

Niche, Habitat, and Tolerance

Niche:

  • The role an organism plays in its ecosystem.

  • Includes what it eats, what eats it, and how it contributes (e.g., pollination, reproduction, building dams).

Habitat:

  • The physical location or environment where the organism lives.

Tolerance:

  • The range of environmental conditions in which a species can survive.

  • Examples: temperature, oxygen levels, water availability, altitude, and pollution tolerance.

Symbiotic Relationships

These are long-term interactions between different species:

  1. Mutualism (++ both benefit)

    • Examples: bees and flowers, pilot fish and shark

  2. Commensalism (+ 0 one benefits, the other is unaffected)

    • Example: barnacles attach to whales—barnacles gain transport, whales are unaffected.

  3. Parasitism (+ – one benefits, the other is harmed)

    • Examples: tapeworms, leeches, parasitic organisms.




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