1. Biological Diversity and Survival Topic 2 Habitat and Lifestyle

2. Like humans, plants and animals have variations that allow them to adapt and survive more effectively than other plants and animals in the same ecosystem

3. The Niche: What Makes an Organism Special? Niche: –The role or characteristic activity that is undertaken by an organism in an ecosystem; one organism may fill several different niches –An organism’s niche includes two parts: Where an organism lives (ie. its Habitat) What an organism does (ie. its Behaviour) Environment: –The area or conditions in which an organism lives; sometimes used to refer exclusively to natural areas on Earth

4. The Niche: What Makes an Organism Special? Ex. A Poplar Tree –Absorbs light for photosynthesis –Removes carbon dioxide from the air and releases oxygen into the air –Provides food and shelter for a wide variety of organisms –Stabilizes the soil from erosion (wearing away) –Covers the ground with leaves in the fall, which returns nutrients back into the soil –Removes water and nutrients from the soil

5. Variation and Competition Competition: –The struggle among individual organisms for access to a limited resource, such as food or territory –Competition can be between members of the same species (ie. Intraspecific Competition) or between member of different species (ie. Interspecific Competition)

6. Variation and Competition Ex. –Mule deer and White- tailed deer compete for food and variations can allow one species to adapt more rapidly to their environment. Those animals that are able to survive will reproduce more often and “take over” the habitat. –Bighorn Sheep Go Head To HeadBighorn Sheep Go Head To Head

7. Variation and Competition Some animals will avoid competition by changing their behaviours such as eating different food sources or hunting at night rather than during the day Ex. –There are a number of Warbler varieties across Canada and the United States. Each Warbler variety eats insects, however each type of Warbler has evolved to have different eating habits to avoid competition

8. Variation and Competition –Cape May warbler feeds on insects at the top and tips of the tree –Yellow-rumped warblers feed on insects near the trunk’s lower branches and on the ground –Black-throated green warblers feed near the middle of the tree –Blackburnian warblers feed from the outer tips from the middle to the top –Bay-breasted warblers feed from the lower half of the tree away from the tips

9. The Broad Niche Biodiversity: –The number of different types of species that live in one ecosystem Biodiversity in Canada –Canada has very few different types of species (low biodiversity), however these species have massive numbers –Ex. Caribou herds (Rangifer tarandus),, Wolves (Canis lupus), and Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus)

10. The Broad Niche Broad Niche: –The roles or characteristic activities filled by a generalist organism –Since Canada has such drastic climate changes during the year the organisms that live here must have a broad niche –These ecosystem conditions make it very difficult for many species to adapt Generalists –An organism with generalized requirements and adaptations that allow it to survive in variable conditions and depend on a variety of food sources; generalists tend to have broad niches

11. Diversity in the Tropics In the tropics, temperatures and food supplies are relatively stable allowing animals to become specialists The Amazon has a huge number of different types of species (high biodiversity), however these species have very low numbers Ex. –Some species of Leafhopper insects are found on only one tree in the entire Amazon

12. Diversity in the Tropics Specialists: –A type of organism that is adapted to very specific environments and having a narrow niche Narrow Niches –A highly specialized role or characteristic activity undertaken by an organism in an ecosystem –Cheetah vs gazelle - BBC wildlifeCheetah vs gazelle - BBC wildlife

13. Dependencies Between Species Many species rely on other species in order to survive These relationships are known as symbiotic relationships Symbiotic Relationship: –An interaction between organisms of different species living in close proximity to each other in a relationship that lasts over time –There are three major types of Symbiotic relationships

14. Dependencies Between Species –Mutualism: –A symbiotic relationship in which the organisms of both species benefit –Commensalism: –A form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits, and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed –Parasitism: –A symbiotic relationship in which one organism, called the parasite, derives benefit at the expense of another organism, called the host Nematodes in Gut Live Diphyllobothrium Latum during ColonoscopyLive Diphyllobothrium Latum during Colonoscopy Cordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlifeCordyceps: attack of the killer fungi - Planet Earth Attenborough BBC wildlife

15. Life in the Extreme Though you might not think it, life is found all over the planet no matter how extreme Organisms that live in extreme ecosystems are classified as Extremophyles (able to live in extreme ecosystems) –Halophiles: Live in extremely salty ecosystems –Thermophiles: Live in extremely hot conditions –Acidophiles: Live in extremely acidic conditions –Alkaliphiles: Live in extremely basic conditions