1. Ecology (pt1)

2. What is Ecology? Study of interactions among Study of interactions among 1. Organisms (Living- Living) 2. Organisms and their environment (Living-Nonliving)

3. Species- a group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

4. Section 3-1 3-2 Ecological Levels of Organization Go to Section:

5. Levels of Organization Individual- one organism (living) Individual- one organism (living) Ex a moose Ex a moose

6. Levels of Organization Population- groups of individuals that belong to the species and live in the same area. (living-living same species) Population- groups of individuals that belong to the species and live in the same area. (living-living same species) Ex many moose Ex many moose

7. Levels of Organization Community- groups of different populations (more than one population or different groups of species) Community- groups of different populations (more than one population or different groups of species) Ex many groups of moose beavers, trees, grass (all living)

8. Levels of Organization Ecosystem- all organisms in a particular area along with the nonliving. (living and nonliving) Ecosystem- all organisms in a particular area along with the nonliving. (living and nonliving) Ex many groups of moose beavers, trees, grass, rocks, water, mountains

9. Levels of Organization Biome- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biome- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biomes: tropical rain forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savannah, temperate grassland, desert, temperate woodland and shrub land, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest (taiga), tundra, mountains and ice caps Biomes: tropical rain forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savannah, temperate grassland, desert, temperate woodland and shrub land, temperate forest, northwestern coniferous forest, boreal forest (taiga), tundra, mountains and ice caps

10. Levels of Organization Biosphere- all of the planet where life exhists, includes land, water, and, air Biosphere- all of the planet where life exhists, includes land, water, and, air Life extends 8 km up and 11 km below the surface Life extends 8 km up and 11 km below the surface

11. What shapes an ecosystem? Biotic factors- biological (living) influences on ecosystem Biotic factors- biological (living) influences on ecosystem Ex. Interactions between organisms, predation, symbiosis, etc. Ex. Interactions between organisms, predation, symbiosis, etc. Abiotic factors- nonliving influences on ecosystems Abiotic factors- nonliving influences on ecosystems Ex. Temperature, precipitation, nutrient availability, sol type, sunlight. Ex. Temperature, precipitation, nutrient availability, sol type, sunlight.

12. Biotic- anything living

13. Abiotic- anything non-living

14. Habitat vs. Niche Habitat- an area where an organism lives Habitat- an area where an organism lives Niche- full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions. Includes where in the food chain it is, where an organism feeds Niche- full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions. Includes where in the food chain it is, where an organism feeds Habitat is like an address in an ecosystem and a niche is like an occupation in an ecosystem. Habitat is like an address in an ecosystem and a niche is like an occupation in an ecosystem.

15. Community Interactions when organisms live together in an ecological community they interact constantly. when organisms live together in an ecological community they interact constantly. Three types of interactions Three types of interactions –Competition –Predation –Symbiosis

16. Competition- competing for resources occurs due to a limited number of resources occurs due to a limited number of resources Resource- any necessity of life. water, nutrients, light, food. Resource- any necessity of life. water, nutrients, light, food. Competitive exclusion principle- no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time Competitive exclusion principle- no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

17. Predation Predation- when an organism captures and feeds on another organism. Predation- when an organism captures and feeds on another organism. Predator- hunter Predator- hunter Prey- hunted Prey- hunted

18. Symbiosis Symbiosis- any relationship where two species live closely together. (3 types) Symbiosis- any relationship where two species live closely together. (3 types) –Mutualism –Commensalism –Parasitism

19. Symbiosis Mutualism- both species benefit from a relationship. Mutualism- both species benefit from a relationship. Lichens (fungus and Algae) Lichens (fungus and Algae) One example is the lichens, little non-descript patches of stuff you see growing on rocks and tree bark. This is a symbiosis, consisting of a fungus and an alga. The fungus provides a protective home for the algae, and gathers mineral nutrients from rainwater and from dissolving the rock underneath. The alga gathers energy from the sun. There are thousands of species of lichen in the world; actually thousands of species of fungi with just a few species of algae which can form a partnership with almost any of them.

20. Symbiosis Commensalism – One member of a symbiotic relationship benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed Commensalism – One member of a symbiotic relationship benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed Ex. Clownfish uses a sea anemone as shelter which does not harm the sea anemone Ex. Clownfish uses a sea anemone as shelter which does not harm the sea anemone

21. Symbiosis Parasitism- One creature benefits and one creature is harmed Parasitism- One creature benefits and one creature is harmed Ex tapeworm. Feeds in a humans intestines absorbing his/her nutrients. Ex tapeworm. Feeds in a humans intestines absorbing his/her nutrients.

22. Energy Flow (Trophic Levels) Producers- capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use the energy to produce food. Producers- capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use the energy to produce food. Producers are autotrophs- they make food from their environment photosynthesis Producers are autotrophs- they make food from their environment photosynthesis Get energy from the sun Get energy from the sun Consumers- get energy from consuming producer Consumers- get energy from consuming producer Consumers are heterotrophs- get energy from other organisms Consumers are heterotrophs- get energy from other organisms

23. Types of Consumers Herbivores- eat only plants Herbivores- eat only plants Carnivores- eat animals Carnivores- eat animals Omnivores- eat both plants and animals Omnivores- eat both plants and animals Detritivores- eat dead matter (plants and animals) Detritivores- eat dead matter (plants and animals)

24. Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from: Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from: –1. the sun or inorganic compounds –2. To autotrophs (producers) –3. To heterotrophs (consumers) –Decomposers get energy from decomposing dead organisms

25. Food Web- A network of feeding relationships. (More realistic that a food chain) Food Chain- a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating or being eaten.

26. Trophic levels Each step in a food chain or a food web is called a trophic level. Each step in a food chain or a food web is called a trophic level. –Producers are the first trophic level –Consumers are the second, third, or higher trophic level Each trophic level depends on the one below for energy Each trophic level depends on the one below for energy

27. Energy Pyramid Only part of the energy stored in one level can be passed to the next- most energy is consumed for life processes (respiration, movement, etc., and heat is given off) Only part of the energy stored in one level can be passed to the next- most energy is consumed for life processes (respiration, movement, etc., and heat is given off) Only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms in the next trophic level Only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms in the next trophic level

28. Biomass Pyramid Biomass- the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. Biomass- the total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level. A biomass pyramid represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem. A biomass pyramid represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem.