hjwBioLab3

Lab Report 2
Ecology Concepts
Student Name: BIOL 1409

I. Producers

Define the following terms.

Ecology The study of the interactions of living organisms with their environment

A community of living organisms and their interactions with their abiotic (non-living)
Ecosystem
environment. The combination of a community of living organism and their environment.

Consists of the different species within an area, typically a three-dimensional space, and
Community
the interactions within and among these species.

A group of interbreeding organisms that are members of the same species living in the
Population
same area at the same time.

A physical location an individual organism occupies, it includes the chemical and physical
Habitat
features as well as the other organisms present.

A. Chloroplast Structure

Define the following terms.

Chloroplasts Plant organelles in which photosynthesis occurs

Chlorophyll Green pigment that traps the sun’s energy

Autotroph Plant species that produce their own food or self-nourish

Animal species that can’t self-nourish and must gain energy directly or
Heterotroph
indirectly from plants

B. Examples of Producers

EXERCISE 1 – Identification of producers

Step 2: Record the name of the specimen. For each specimen, identify distinguishing
characteristics and the reason why it is a producer.

Organism Characteristics Why is this a producer?

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 Flowering plant with leaves Chloroplast are concentrated in the upper layers of
Geranium
containing aroma the leaf cells
Contains chloroplasts arranged in a spiral in which
Spirogyra Floating filamentous green algae
photosynthesis occur
Non-flowering plants that help to
prevent erosion Vascular plant Produce spores from reproductive structures located
on the underside of fronds.
Fern found in moist shaded places. Has
horizontal stems and attached
leaves.
Colonies are photosynthetic and appears as green
Volvox Motile colonial algae
spheres
Common waterweed grows under
water and produces long strands
with short green leaves, less than 1
Contains chloroplast in its leaves in which
Elodea inch long, along the length of the
photosynthesis occurs
stem. By absorbing nutrients, it
helps control algae and keep waters
clear

Step 3:
 What are the spherical green structures in the leaf cytoplasm? Chloroplasts

 What is their function? Conduct photosynthesis

II. Consumers

EXERCISE 2 – Identification of consumers

Step 2: Record the name of the organism, its distinguishing characteristics, and whether it is a
primary or secondary consumer.
Organism Characteristics Type of Consumer
Sentinel species. Lack a swim
bladder and are benthic cryptic
species. Slimy sculpin generally
dwell in lake and stream habitats
with cobble substrate. More
Slimy Sculpin specifically, habitat selection by
slimy sculpins may be age Secondary
related. Prefer cold water.
Distinguishable by its pair of free
and independent pelvic fins and
its lack of scales

Begin an aquatic life as tadpoles

Frog and herbivores then continues as Secondary
terrestrial animal and a carnivore
Unicellular protozoa that ingest
Paramecia Primary
algae and other small organisms.

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 Obtain food from flowering
Honey Bee plants. Lives in 4 stages: egg, Primary
larva, pupa and adult
III. Decomposers

A. Examples of Decomposers
B. Examples of Detritivores

Define the following terms.

Microscopic single-celled organisms that inhabit virtually all environments on Earth,

Bacteria
including the bodies of multicellular animals.

Fungi A group of heterotroph without roots, stems leaves or flowers

Mycelium The nutrient absorbing body of a fungus

Hypha Microscopic filament that make the mycelium

Rhizoids The root-like hyphae that penetrate the food supply

Specialized hyphae that elevates on top of the food supply and support
Sporangiophores
sporangia

Sporangia. Container of spores that give rise to new mycelium

The fruiting of the body of a mushroom, it bears a lot of spores and

Basiodiocarp
consist of a stalk and cap

Basidiospores Reproductive cells produced in the gills

Decomposers that feed on particles of organic matter that are produced

Detritovores
by the partial decomposition of animal and plant tissues.

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 EXERCISE 3 – Identification of decomposers

Step 2: Record the name of each organism, its distinguishing characteristics, and why it is a
decomposer.

Organism Characteristics Why is this a decomposer?

One celled organisms
without membrane bound Reduce organic material into inorganic
Bacteria
nucleus or internal molecules plants can use
organelles

Produces enzymes that break materials into

Bread mold Grows on stale bread goods simple nutrients that is absorbed in the
rhizoids and returns to soil

Get nutrient from plant Vegetative portion spread through the soil or
Mushroom
debris body of decaying log and decompose it

Eats dead remains of the

Eats dead remains, breaks them into simplier
bottom of the pond and
Crayfish nutrients through its digestive system then
have front claws for
releases them through anus
protection and food

Obtains energy from dead Feeds on the soil that contains decomposing
Earthworm plant materials on the organic matter, digest and excretes abiotic
surface of the ground material used by plants

IV. Abiotic Material

 Which organisms break complex organic molecules down into simple inorganic molecules?
Decomposers

 Name the molecules that cycle through living systems.

Carbon dioxide, water, phosphate

V. Relationships Between Organisms

A. Vocabulary

What is the role of the following in an ecosystem?

Organism Role in Ecosystem

Green plants, some Protista and some monera that convert solar
Producers
energy into chemical energy

Organisms or herbivores that eat producers to gain nutrients and

Primary consumers
energy

Secondary consumers Eat primary consumers for nutrient and energy

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 Obtain food from other organism by ingesting blood and living
Parasites
tissues

Tertiary consumers Organisms that eat secondary consumers for energy and nutrients

Secondary consumers that eat both primary consumers and

Omnivores
producers

Herbivore Primary consumers

Carnivore Secondary consumers that only eat primary consumers

Break down complex organic compound into simple inorganic

Decomposer
compounds that producers use

B. Energy Relationships
C. Trophic Levels
D. Food Chains and Food Webs

Define the following terms.

Term Definition

Photosynthesis Light energy converted into chemical energy

Cellular respiration Chemical energy converted into ATP and heat energy

Metabolism Total chemical reaction in a cell

Trophic level Feeding level that identifies an organism’s energy source

Food chain Transfer of materials and energy between organisms

Food web Consists of interwoven food chain

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 In the space below, write the general equation summarizing photosynthesis.

6CO2 sunlight
+ 6H20 C6H12O6 + 6O2
chlorophyll
Carbon
dioxide Water Glucose Oxygen

In the space below, write the general equation summarizing cellular respiration.

C6H12O6 enzymes
+ 6O2 CO2 + H2O + 36ATP
Carbon
dioxide +
Glucose Oxygen Water ATP

EXERCISE 4 – Terrestrial ecosystem

Step 2: Name the producers, consumers, and decomposers.

 Producers: Flowers, trees, corn, weeds

 Consumers: Owl, rabbit, grasshopper, mouse, snake, butterfly, bird, rat,

mountain lion

 Decomposers: Bacteria and fungi

Step 3: What are the abiotic components of an ecosystem? Inorganic compounds

such as water, nitrates carbon dioxide and phosphate

Step 4: Draw a single food chain using the organisms from the food web.
Grass-grasshopper-bird-mountain lion-decomposers

Step 5: Identify the organisms that compete for food in the food web.
Competitors

Trees, flowers, corn, weeds

Rabbit, butterfly, rat, mouse, deer

Owl, snake, mountain lion

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VI. Flow of Energy

EXERCISE 5 – Energy flow in the ecosystem

 How much of the producer’s energy is captured by secondary consumers?

One percent is captured

 An omnivore, such as a bear, can obtain nutrition by eating plant and animal
material. Which source most efficiently utilizes the sun’s energy?
Plant material

 Explain how vegetarians obtain energy in the energy pyramid.

Obtain energy directly from producers thus are primary consumers

Summary Questions

1. What is the difference between an autotroph and a heterotroph? Give an example of

each.
Autotrophs are generally plant species that auto-nourish themselves by conducting
photosynthesis. EX: Trees
Heterotrophs are animal species that gain energy directly or indirectly from
plants EX: Herbivores

2. All the organisms of the same species in a given location make up a:

Population

3. What is the term for the place where an organism lives?

Habitat

4. What is the term for a community and its physical environment?

Ecosystem

5. Define and give an example of a parasite.

Secondary consumers that obtain nutrient by ingesting other organisms’ blood and
tissue. EX: mosquitoes

6. Define and give an example of a producer.

An organism that nourish itself by converting the sun’s energy into chemical energy
stored in glucose. EX: green plants

7. Define and give an example of a detritivore.

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 Decomposers that feed on particles of organic matter that are produced by the partial
decomposition of animal and plant tissues. EX: earthworm, crayfish

8. Name two groups of decomposers in an ecosystem. Give an example of each.

Bacteria EX: Fungi and cocci
Fungi EX: yeast, mold

9. What term is used to describe a primary consumer?

Herbivore – eat plant material

10. What term is used to describe a secondary consumer?

Omnivores and carnivores

11. What term describes the eating pattern of humans?

Secondary consumers and omnivores because humans eat producers and primary
consumers

12. Explain how energy enters, flows, and exits an ecosystem.

Energy enters the ecosystem in the form of sunlight; it flows through the ecosystem
by way of food and herbs; then it leaves the ecosystem as low grade heat at each
trophic level.

13. Explain how abiotic materials cycle in an ecosystem.

Abiotic materials (water and carbon dioxide) is absorbed by producers that are
eaten by consumers which remains is used by decomposers to make abiotic
material.

14. Describe the difference between the movement of energy and the movement of abiotic
materials in an ecosystem.
Abiotic materials movement are arranged in a closed cycle while the energy flow is
open.

15. Draw an energy pyramid and label each part.

Teritary
Consumers

Secondary Consumers

Primary Consumers

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 Producers

16. What determines the trophic level to which an organism belongs?

The type of food that organism consume

17. Compare a food chain to a food web. Draw an example of each using the following
organisms: grass, blackberry bush, grasshopper, spider, mouse, rabbit, owl, coyote,
and deer.
All living things are connected, especially when it comes to eating and being eaten. Food
chains and food webs are ways of showing the food relationships between organisms in any
given environment. The food chain can be said as the straight and single pathway for the flow
of energy in an ecosystem, through different species of organisms. Food web, on the other
hand, is defined as the convoluted or complicated pathway of an ecosystem consist of
numerous food chains of the different trophic level, through which the energy flow.
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17) Please see attached sheet for drawing.

18. Name the four components of an ecosystem. Give an example of each.

Producers - plants
Consumers – herbivores
Decomposers – bacteria
Abiotic material - water

19. A program was introduced to improve fishing in a pond. First all of the fish were
removed from the pond. Later the pond was restocked with young carnivorous fish.
Instead of growing into large fish, the new population contained many stunted
individuals. Explain.
Didn’t grow into large fish because they had no food.

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