Study Guide for Ecology Quest

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 1. Types of Organisms: Autotrophs vs. Heterotrophs

  • Autotrophs: "Self-feeders" (e.g., plants). They make their own food using sunlight (photosynthesis).

  • Heterotrophs: "Other-feeders". Rely on consuming other organisms.

    • Carnivores – Eat animals (e.g., lions).

    • Herbivores – Eat plants (e.g., rabbits).

    • Omnivores – Eat both plants and animals (e.g., humans).

    • Scavengers – Eat dead animals (e.g., vultures).

    • Decomposers – Break down dead organisms (e.g., fungi, bacteria).

    • Detritivores – Feed on decaying matter (e.g., worms).

2. Energy Flow in Ecosystems: Trophic Levels & Food Pyramids

Trophic Pyramid Structure

  • Primary Producers – Autotrophs like plants and algae.

  • Primary Consumers – Herbivores.

  • Secondary Consumers – Carnivores that eat herbivores.

  • Tertiary Consumers – Carnivores that eat other carnivores.

  • Quaternary Consumers – Apex predators (e.g., hawks, alligators).

Energy Transfer

  • Only 10% of energy is passed to the next level.

  • 90% is lost as heat (used in metabolism, movement, etc.).

  • Energy is lost as it moves up trophic levels.

  • Most energy (~90%) is used for body heat, movement, and maintaining life—not for growth.

  • Why it matters: Meat production is energy-intensive. It takes more energy to produce meat than plants. ex) Living off plants vs cow example done in class

3. Food Web vs. Food Chain

  • Food Chain: Linear sequence (one path of energy flow).

  • Food Web: Complex network showing multiple feeding relationships.

4. Ecosystem Roles: Niche, Habitat & Tolerance

  • Niche: The role an organism plays in its environment.

    • What it eats, how it reproduces, what eats it, etc.

  • Habitat: Where an organism lives.

  • Tolerance: The range of conditions (temp, pH, salinity) an organism can survive.

5. Symbiotic Relationships

TypeEffect on Species A     Effect on Species B     Example
Mutualism++Bees & flowers, hippos & birds
Commensalism    +0Barnacles on whales
Parasitism+–Tapeworms, leeches

6. Climate vs. Weather

  • Weather: Day-to-day atmospheric conditions (temperature, rain).

  • Climate: Long-term patterns of weather in a region.

7. Global Climate Change & The Greenhouse Effect

  • Greenhouse Gases: CO₂ (industry, respiration), CH₄ (methane from livestock).

  • These gases trap solar radiation, warming the Earth.

  • The greenhouse effect helps keep Earth’s temperature stable, but too much leads to climate change.

  • Some areas get warmer, others may get colder—climate change is complex and varied.

8. Greenhouse Gas Sources

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): Fossil fuel combustion, deforestation.

  • Methane (CH₄): Agriculture (especially cows), landfills, fossil fuels.

9. Human Impact on the Environment

  • Climate artifacts (activity in class)

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