Levels of Biological Organization

Life is both mysterious and amazing. Within a beautiful forest there are all kinds of interactions taking place between living and non-living factors. Let’s take a look at the different levels of biological organization found on Earth.

I would like to focus on levels of organization starting at the organism. However, an organism can be made up of cells, which make tissues, which may make organs, which make up organ systems, which may combine to make an organism. Now life is so varied on Earth some living organisms do not have tissues or organs.

An organism refers to a living thing that has an organized structure, can react to stimuli, reproduce, requires energy, plus grows and adapts.

Examples include animals, plants, fungi, protists, and many, many more.

Whenever you get a group of the same type of individuals together, like a group of Penguins or wolves, horses, or plants you have a population. The organisms are all of the same species.

If you have several different populations living together you have a community.

A community does not include the non-living factors also called abiotic factors.

An ecosystem is a community of living factors called biotic factors and non-living factors called abiotic factors interacting and living together.

A desert is an ecosystem.

A forest is an ecosystem.

A pond is an ecosystem, and a rotting log can even be an ecosystem.

An ecosystem is a community of living and non-living objects living together in a particular area.

A Biome is a large ecosystem that has formed in response to the physical environment in which they are found and a shared regional climate. Examples include a desert, a tropical rainforest, and a deciduous forest.

Finally, the Biosphere is part of the earth where life exists. It is the sum of all the ecosystems on Earth. The biosphere includes both non-living elements like sunlight, water, and living organisms such as a bear, insect, or a human.

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Food Chain in an Ecosystem

In ecology, a food chain is a diagram that illustrates organisms that eat one another so that energy and nutrients are transferred from one organism to the next. For example, take a look at this food chain involving a hawk.

Notice the hawk eats the snake which eats the mice which consumes the grasshopper which consumes the producers. At each level, energy is being transferred from one organism to another. 

There are a couple keywords that will help you understand a food chain. First is autotroph and heterotrophs. An autotroph which can also be called a producer creates its own food for energy. A producer may use photosynthesis or chemosynthesis. Autotrophs are the foundation of every ecosystem on the planet.

Most producers use sunlight to make food in a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, producers remember autotrophs are also called producers, make food from carbon dioxide water, and sunlight.

However, some autotrophs ( producers) are Chemoautotrophs that use energy from chemicals to build organic compounds without energy from the sun. This is called chemosynthesis.

Some bacteria found at deep ocean vents use chemosynthesis.

A heterotroph also called a consumer, eats other organisms for their energy.  A consumer that eats only plants is a herbivore. 

A carnivore like a wolf eats other animals.

An omnivore eats both plants and animals.

You may also notice in the food chain decomposers. These are organisms that gain energy by breaking down the remains of other organisms. Examples include fungi and bacteria.

Let’s take a closer look at a food chain of a fox.

At the base of the food chain lie the primary producers. The primary producers are autotrophs and are most often photosynthetic organisms such as grass.

The organisms that eat the primary producers are called primary consumers. Primary consumers are usually herbivores, plant-eaters, in this example it is a grasshopper.

The organisms that eat the primary consumers are called secondary consumers. In this example, the mouse eats the grasshopper.

The organisms that eat the secondary consumers are called tertiary consumers. In this food web, it is the fox.

Some food chains have additional levels, such as quaternary consumers—carnivores that eat tertiary consumers. Organisms at the very top of a food chain are called apex consumers.

The arrows always point in the direction of where the energy is being transferred.

The energy of the plants is transferred to the primary producers.

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The recyclers-Decomposers vs Scavengers

Types of Decomposers-Middle School Science

Learn about four types of decomposers,worms,bacteria,fungi, and some insects. Decomposers are important because they recycle important nutrients back into the environment.

Keywords | insects | fungi | bacteria | worms | ecosystem | recycle | science

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Decomposers vs Scavengers

Scavengers vs Decomposers

How is a scavenger different than a decomposer?

Both scavengers and decomposers are important for ecosystems. They both help recycle dead and decaying matter back into an ecosystem.

We would be covered up with dead stuff if we didn’t have scavengers and decomposers.

Many scavengers are animals. Common examples would be hyenas,vultures, and condors beetles and raccoons..

Some decomposers like fungi,bacteria are much smaller or even single cell organisms.

Scavengers break decaying animals into pieces that they ingest. Scavengers are the animals with scavenging habits. Scavengers’ role is vital for the ecosystem as they contribute to the decomposition, while decomposers are responsible for completing the process.

Decomposers break down the decaying organism on the molecular level and release new molecules like nitrogen into the atmosphere.

Several decomposers are used to make food like yogurt and sourdough bread.

Although decomposers and scavengers may be thought of as smelly, disgusting organisms, they play a very important role in keeping our world happy.

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