1. ECOLOGY

2. Ecology
Definition: the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment
Branch of biology that was developed from natural history
Study reveals the relationships between living and non-living parts of the world

3. Biosphere Definition: portion of Earth that supports life
Goes from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean
Supports a wide variety of organisms

4. Factors Involved Abiotic: non-living part of an organisms environment
Air, temperature, moisture, soil, light
Biotic: all the living organisms that inhabit an environment

5. Levels of Ecology Organism: living member of species
Population: group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time

6. Levels of Ecology Community: collection of interacting populations
Ecosystem: made up of interactions among populations in a community and the communities physical surroundings

7. Example…… In a desert Organism: coyote Population: pack of coyotes
Community: pack of coyotes, hawks, owls, snakes, scorpions, & reptiles
Ecosystem: populations of animals listed above, cacti, shrubs, sand dunes, climate, rocks, temperature

8. In an ecosystem Habitat: a place where an organism lives out its life
Niche: the role and position a species has in its environment
How it eats?
How it survives?
How it reproduces?

9. Succession
Primary Succession: colonization of new sites by communities of organisms
Secondary Succession: sequence of community changes that take place after its disrupted by natural disasters or human action

10. Relationships
Symbiosis: when species, alike or different, live together
Commensalism: one species benefits and the other is neither harmed or benefited
Like when moss (or plants) grow on a tree

11. Relationships Mutualism: both species benefit
Acacia trees and ants, never found apart
Parasitism: one species derives a benefit from the other
Fleas and ticks

12. Nutrition
Autotrophs: organisms that manufacture their own nutrients using stored energy or energy from the sun
Heterotrophs: cannot make their own food, they feed on autotrophs or other heterotrophs

13. Types of Heterotrophs Herbivores: feed on plants
Rabbits, grasshoppers, squirrels, etc
Carnivores: feed on other animals
Lions, snakes, wolves, etc
Scavengers: feed on dead animals
Vultures
Decomposers: break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms
Fungi and algae

14. Energy Flow
Food Chain: simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem
Algae Fish Heron
Trophic Level: each organisms in a food chain represents a feeding step
1st step 2nd step 3rd step

15. Energy Flow
Food web: expresses all the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community
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16. Communities
Limiting factors: factors that affect an organisms ability to survive in its environment
Food availability, predators, temperature
Succession: changes over time, species and environment replacements

17. Biomes
Definition: large group of ecosystems that share the same community
Freshwater, marine, and terrestrial

18. Marine Biomes Separated into two zones for easier study
Aphotic: deeper water that never recieves sunlight
Photic: portion of marine biome shallow enough for light to penetrate
Tides cause water levels to change

19. Marine Biomes
Hundreds of different types of organisms live in the oceans
From marine plankton in shallow waters to the humpback whales in the deep sea the ocean is full of biodiversity

21. Freshwater Biomes Home to different kinds of plants and organisms
Tadpoles, turtles, insects, lilies, shrubs
As depth increases, less light penetrates – no photosynthesis and no plants, decomposers at the bottom recycle nutrients

23. Terrestrial Biomes
As you move north, south, east, and west around the world temperature, precipitation, and surroundings change

24. Tundra Temperature: long summer days and short periods of winter
Plant Life: shallow rooted grasses, small plants
Soil: underneath soil is called permafrost
Animals: mosquitoes, lemmings, weasels, foxes, owls, hawks, oxen, caribou, reindeer

26. Taiga Temperature: long severe winters, short summers
Plant Life: large fir trees, hemlocks, and spruce trees
Soil: peat swamp habitat
Animals: lynx, snowshoe hares, caribou – like the tundra

28. Desert Temperature: arid, dry, hot
Plant Life: almost nonexistent, cacti
Soil: dry, sand dunes
Animals: coytoes, hawks, owls, snakes, scorpions, and reptiles

30. Grassland occupies more area than any other biome
Temperature: dry
Plant Life: grass roots, oats, rye, wheat
Soil: humus content high, sod underneath
Animals: bison, wolves, coyotes, rodents, birds, reptiles

32. Temperate Forest
Temperature: cool winters and summers there is moderate rainfall
Plant Life: hardwood trees
Soil: top layer humus, clay below
Animals: squirrels, mice, rabbits, deer, birds, bears

34. Tropical Rainforest Temperature: warm temperature, wet surroundings
Plant Life: deciduous trees, forest plants, lush growth
Soil: thick wet mat on surface
Animals: amazing amount of biodiversity

36. Populations
Population Growth: increase in the size of a population over time
Does not grow linear, J-shaped growth
Exponential Growth: as the population gets larger it grows faster

37. Population Growth
Growth of Houseflies
Population Size
Time

38. Can a population of organisms grow indefinitely?

39. Populations (cont)
Carrying capacity: the number of organisms of one species that an environment can support
Under: births exceed deaths
Over: deaths exceed births

40. Environmental Influences
Density-dependent factors: disease, competition, parasite, and food
Density-independent factors: (abiotic) temperature, storms, flood, drought, and habitat disruption

41. Demography
Definition: the study of human population growth characteristics
Study growth rate, age structure, and geographic distribution

42. Population Vocabulary
Growth rate: the difference between the birthrate and the death rate
Fertility rate: the number of offspring a female produces during her reproductive years
when high – population grows fast

43. Population Vocabulary
Age structure: proportions of a population that are of different levels
Depicted in graphs
Used to predict if a population is growing rapidly, slowly, or not at all

44. Mobility Immigration: movement of individuals into a population
Emigration: movement out of a population

45. Population Game
We will simulate a population today. Each person will imitate a particular trophic level.
Make sure that you read your “survival cards” before playing. They will be necessary to help you stay alive.

46. Wildebeests (10 students)
Population Game
Food Chain
Lions (2 students)
Hyenas (6 students)
Wildebeests (10 students)
Grass (13 students)

47. Population Game Rules
Make sure that you get all your energy tokens and water tickets.
Be careful of how many energy tokens you lose catching prey.
Upon catching prey – return to Miss Pfeiffer and cash in energy token.

48. Population Game Rules (2)
NO TACKLING OR FIGHTING.
Stay within the boundaries of the “ecosystem”.
Be sure to follow directions as far as eating different trophic levels.

49. Biodiversity Definition: variety of life in an area
Islands tend to have higher biodiversity
Includes all forms of life, plant and organism

50. Importance of Biodiversity
Nature: life depends on life
When organisms are removed it affects other organisms
Must have sufficient numbers in trophic levels

51. Importance of Biodiversity
People: humans depend on organisms for their needs
Oxygen is supplied and CO2 is removed by plants
Diet – beef, chicken, tuna, shrimp, pork, etc.
Health – antibiotics supplied by plants

52. Threats to Biodiversity
Habitat loss
Habitat fragmentation
Abiotic and Biotic Issues
Habitat Degredation
Water and land pollution

53. Conservation of Biodiversity
Conservation Biology: field of biology that studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity
Relatively new field of biology
Legal protection for endangered species implemented by government

54. Water Cycle

55. Water Cycle #2

56. Carbon Cycle

57. Nitrogen Cycle