Principles of Ecology

1. Principles of Ecology

2. Principles of Ecology • Ecology • Scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environments • Relationships among living –BIOTIC- and nonliving – ABIOTIC- parts

3. Ecology • Biosphere: • Portion of the Earth that supports life; extends from the atmosphere to the bottom of the oceans • Ex. Compared to an apple would be the peel • Supports the diversity of organisms

5. Levels of Organization p.397/361 • Organism: an individual living thing • Population: group of same species living in one area • Community: group of different species living in one area • Ecosystem: includes all the organisms as well as the climate, soil, and other ABIOTIC factors in one area • Biome: a major global community of organisms • Biosphere

6. Biotic & Abiotic Factors • Abiotic factors • The nonliving parts of an organism’s environment • Ex. Plant growth • Ex: types of soil—sand, gravel, potting soil • Biodiversity: all of the varieties of life • Example of an ecosystem with lots of biodiversity? ______________________

7. Determine which species survive in a particular environment Drought Grasses grow more slowly Wildflowers produce fewer seeds Food supply shrinks Abiotic factors • Air currents • Temperature • Moisture • Light • Soil

8. BIOTIC FACTORS • All the living organisms that inhabit an environment • Animals, plants, microorganisms • Keystone species: a species that has an unusually HUGE effect on an ecosystem • Ex: a beaver • PIONEER SPECIES: 1st species to inhabit an area

9. Pioneer Species(after lava flow)

10. Population • In a population, organisms may compete for food, water, or other resources • competition occurs only if resources are in short supply

11. Populations • Some species have made adaptations to reduce the competition within the species

16. Community • A change in one population will change other populations and other species • EX: Mouse-eating hawks increase, the mice population will decrease

20. Ecosystem • 3 types • Terrestrial ecosystems • Forests, meadows, and desert • Aquatic ecosystems • Fresh water • Ponds, lakes, streams • Marine ecosystems • Saltwater • 75% of Earth

21. Habitat • The place where an organism lives out its life • Can change and disappear • Limiting Factors: -- “Limit” the size of the population • Human activities – human pop increasing • Agriculture • Air and water pollution • deforestation

22. Niche • Role and position a species has in its environment • Ex: what an organism eats, where it lives, etc • Reduces the amount of competition between different species

23. Niche -- examples DUNG BEETLE – SHAPES THE “DUNG” INTO A BALL ****************************************************************************************

24. Symbiotic Relationships: • Close, permanent relationship between organisms of different species • Symbiosis: different species living close together • 3 types: • Commensalism • Mutualism • Parasitism ***Predation and Competition are also types of relationships***

25. A. Commensalism • ONE species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited • Falcon protect nesting areas • Geese choose areas that are close to falcon and are also protected from predators • Geese benefit ---falcon nothing

26. Orchids grow on the branches of high trees. These orchids get more water and sunlight than those on the ground. The tree is unaffected by the orchid’s presence. This relationship is an example of…

29. C. Mutualism • BENEFICIAL to BOTH species • Ex: Sucker fish cleaning sharks – sharks get cleaned and fish get food and a ride around the ocean • Ex: Man and his dog, etc

30. In this photo the “cleaner fish” receives nourishment by dining off of the parasites and remaining food debris in the eel’s mouth. Is this an example of…

34. B. Parasitism • ONE species BENEFITS (parasite) and the OTHER is harmed (host) • Parasite – HOST relationship • Ex: lampreys, TICKS, fleas, ROUNDWORMS, tapeworms • The parasite needs the host for food in order to survive.

35. Lampreys are primitive fish with limited digestive systems. They attach to and feed on the body fluids of fish with more advanced digestive systems, often leading to the death of the host fish. This relationship is an example of…

38. QSR #5 • 1. T or F…parasites usually do not kill the host, but they usually just harm them. • 2. T or F… Symbiosis is a close relationship between organisms of the same species. • 3. Provide 1 example of the following: • Commensalism • Mutualism • Parasitism • Predation

39. Nutrition and Energy Flow • Producers: also called ___________________‏ • Make their own food from energy from the ______ usually thru the process of ____________ • Provide ____________ for all other organisms

40. Autotrophs/Producers • Organisms that convert _____________ or chemicals to energy • Plants • Bacteria • THINK...THEY “AUTOMATICALLY” MAKE THEIR OWN ______________.

41. Heterotrophs • Consumers: • Organisms that must consume food for energy • 1. Herbivores: eat __________________ • 2. Omnivores: eat __________________ • 3. Carnivores: eat __________________ • 4. Detritivores • (including scavengers and ___________)

43. Heterotrophs • Scavengers • They eat animals that have already ___________. • Vultures • Buzzards • Ants • beatles

44. Heterotrophs • Decomposers – a type of _____________ • Break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms • Protozoans • Bacteria • Fungi(mushrooms) YUM YUM

45. Pathways for energy • 1. Food chain • A simple model used to show how ______ and _________move through and ecosystem • Autotrophs to heterotrophs to decomposers • MADE OF ONE SINGLE PATHWAY

47. PATHWAYS • 2. Food Web: • Made of several different food ______________. • **NOT in a single pathway

49. Pathways for energy • 3. Ecological pyramid: • A pyramid that shows the different “trophic” or ____________levels of a food chain • The bottom layers are larger, representing more _____________at the bottom than at the top • What constitutes the most BIOMASS of the whole Earth?_______________________