1. Chapter 5 Ecosystems and Living Organisms

2. Case Study: o Where did all the aspen trees go? o How did the park rangers/biologists work to find an answer to this question? o What happens when a top predator is removed from an ecosystem? o How do you feel about “the solution” to Yellowstone’s problem? Did it improve the environment?

3. Re-introduction of Wolves to Yellowstone o Discussion of National Geographic article o Put your desks in a circle please!

4. Overview of Chapter 4 o Evolution Natural Selection Natural Selection Domains and Kingdoms Domains and Kingdoms o Biological Communities Primary & Secondary Succession Primary & Secondary Succession o Symbiosis Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism o Predation & Competition o Resource Partitioning o Keystone Species o Species Richness & Community Stability

5. Evolution o The cumulative genetic changes that occur in a population of organisms over time Current theories were proposed by Charles Darwin, a 19 th century naturalist Current theories were proposed by Charles Darwin, a 19 th century naturalist Evolution occurs through natural selection Evolution occurs through natural selection o Natural Selection Individuals with more favorable genetic traits are more likely to survive and reproduce Individuals with more favorable genetic traits are more likely to survive and reproduce Frequency of favorable traits increase in subsequent generations Frequency of favorable traits increase in subsequent generations

6. Natural Selection o Based on four observations about the natural world 1. Overproduction Each species produces more offspring than will survive to maturity Each species produces more offspring than will survive to maturity 2. Variation Individuals in a population exhibit variation Individuals in a population exhibit variation 3. Limits on Population Growth Resource limitations will keep population in check Resource limitations will keep population in check 4. Differential Reproductive Success Individuals with most favorable traits are more likely to reproduce Individuals with most favorable traits are more likely to reproduce

7. Natural Selection o Darwin’s finches exemplified the variation associated with natural selection

8. Domains and Kingdoms of Life

9. Biological Communities o Communities vary greatly in size and lack precise boundaries They are often nestled within each other They are often nestled within each other

10. Succession o The process where a community develops slowly through a series of species o Earlier species alter the environment in some way to make it more habitable by other species As more species arrive, the earlier species are outcompeted and replaced As more species arrive, the earlier species are outcompeted and replaced o Two types of succession Primary succession Primary succession Secondary succession Secondary succession

11. Primary Succession o Succession that begins in a previously uninhabited environment No soil is present! No soil is present! Ex: bare rocks, cooled lava fields, etc. Ex: bare rocks, cooled lava fields, etc. o General Succession Pattern Lichen secrete acids that crumble the rock (soil begins to form) Lichen secrete acids that crumble the rock (soil begins to form) Lichen mosses grasses shrubs forests

12. o Primary Succession 1. Bare rock with lichen 2. Grasses and shrubs 3. Forest community 12 3

13. Secondary Succession o Succession that begins in an environment following destruction of all or part of the earlier community Ex: abandoned farmland, open area after fire Ex: abandoned farmland, open area after fire o Does NOT follow primary succession! Even though name may imply this Even though name may imply this o Generally occurs more rapidly than primary succession

14. Secondary Succession of an abandoned farm field in North Carolina

15. How do organisms interact? o Activity with partners

16. Interactions Among Organisms o Symbiosis An intimate relationship between members of 2 or more species An intimate relationship between members of 2 or more species Participants may be benefited, harmed or unaffected by the relationship Participants may be benefited, harmed or unaffected by the relationship Results of coevolution Results of coevolution o Three types of symbiosis Mutualism Mutualism Commensalism Commensalism Parasitism Parasitism

17. Mutualism o Symbiotic relationship in which both members benefit o Ex: Mycorrihzal fungi and plant roots Fungus grows around and into roots providing roots with otherwise unavailable nitrogen from soil Fungus grows around and into roots providing roots with otherwise unavailable nitrogen from soil Roots provide fungi with food produced by photosynthesis in the plant Roots provide fungi with food produced by photosynthesis in the plant Left: root growth without fungi Right: root growth with fungi

18. Commensalism o Symbiotic relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped o Ex: epiphytes and tropical trees Epiphytes anchors itself to the tree, but does not take nutrients from the tree Epiphytes anchors itself to the tree, but does not take nutrients from the tree Epiphyte benefits from getting closer to sunlight, tropical tree is not affected Epiphyte benefits from getting closer to sunlight, tropical tree is not affected

19. Parasitism o Symbiotic relationship in which one species is benefited and the other is harmed Parasites rarely kill their hosts Parasites rarely kill their hosts o Ex: Varroa mites and honeybees Mites live in the breathing tubes of the bees, sucking their blood and weakening them Mites live in the breathing tubes of the bees, sucking their blood and weakening them

20. Coyote/Mice lab discussion o Go over and revise as needed

21. Predation o The consumption of one species by another o Many predator-prey interactions Most common is pursuit and ambush Most common is pursuit and ambush o Plants and animals have established specific defenses against predation through evolution

22. Pursuit and Ambush o Pursuing prey simply means chasing it down and catching it Ex: Day gecko and spider (see picture) Ex: Day gecko and spider (see picture) o Ambush is when predators catch prey unaware Camouflage Camouflage Attract prey with Attract prey with colors or light colors or light

23. Plant Defenses Against Predation o Plants cannot flee predators o Adaptations Spikes, thorns, leathery leaves, thick wax Spikes, thorns, leathery leaves, thick wax Protective chemicals that are poisonous or unpalatable Protective chemicals that are poisonous or unpalatable

24. Animal Defenses Against Predation o Fleeing or running o Mechanical defenses Ex: quills of porcupines, shell of turtles Ex: quills of porcupines, shell of turtles o Living in groups o Camouflage o Chemical defenses- poisons poisons Ex: brightly colored poison Ex: brightly colored poison arrow frog arrow frog

25. Competition o Interaction among organisms that vie for the same resource in an ecosystem o Intraspecific Competition between individuals in a population Competition between individuals in a population o Interspecific Competition between individuals in 2 different species Competition between individuals in 2 different species

26. Ecological Niche o The totality of an organisms adaptations, its use of resources, and the lifestyle to which it is fitted o Takes into account all aspect of an organisms existence Physical, chemical, biological factors needed to survive Physical, chemical, biological factors needed to survive Habitat Habitat Abiotic components of the environment Abiotic components of the environment Ex: Light, temperature, moisture Ex: Light, temperature, moisture

27. Ecological Niche o Fundamental niche Potential idealized ecological niche Potential idealized ecological niche o Realized niche The actual niche the organism occupies The actual niche the organism occupies o Ex: Green Anole and Brown Anole

28. Ecological Niche o Green Anole and Brown Anole Fundamental niches of 2 lizards initially overlapped Fundamental niches of 2 lizards initially overlapped Brown anole eventually out-competed the green anole- reduced the green anole’s realized niche Brown anole eventually out-competed the green anole- reduced the green anole’s realized niche

29. Limiting Resources o Any environmental resource that, because it is scarce or at unfavorable levels, restricts the ecological niche of an organism

30. Interspecific Competition

31. Competitive Exclusion & Resource Petitioning o Competitive Exclusion One species excludes another from a portion of the same niche as a result of competition for resources One species excludes another from a portion of the same niche as a result of competition for resources o Resource Partitioning Coexisting species’ niche differ from each other in some way Coexisting species’ niche differ from each other in some way

32. Keystone Species o A species that exerts profound influence on a community More important to the community than what would be expected based on abundance More important to the community than what would be expected based on abundance o The dependence of other species on the keystone species is apparent when the keystone species is removed Protecting keystone species is a goal to conservation biologists Protecting keystone species is a goal to conservation biologists

33. Species Richness o The number of species in a community Tropical rainforests = high species richness Tropical rainforests = high species richness Isolated island = low species richness Isolated island = low species richness o Related to the abundance of potential ecological niches

34. Ecosystem Services o Important environmental benefits that ecosystems provide, such as: Clean air to breathe Clean air to breathe Clean water to drink Clean water to drink Fertile soil in which to grow crops Fertile soil in which to grow crops

36. Delaware Estuary Ecosystem Services o What are some of the services provided? o How were costs/benefits measured? o Does this help us see (in $$) the benefits more clearly? o Why is it helpful to translate into economic terms?

38. Case Study: Lake Victoria Questions: 1. What is the economic impact of the Nile perch? 2. What is the environmental impact of the Nile perch?

39. Case Study: Lake Victoria o Ecosystem diversity and balance with different species of cichlids filling different niches. o Introduction of Nile perch: Shift in native species Shift in native species Eating all resources-smaller sizes now Eating all resources-smaller sizes now Trees/Forests cut for wood for fires to dry fish, loss of erosion control Trees/Forests cut for wood for fires to dry fish, loss of erosion control