Living Earth Introduction to Ecology

What Is Ecology? Ecology - is the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment.

Environmental Factors When you study ecology, everything is dependent on environmental factors. (both biotic and abiotic) Ecology can range from study a single organism to the system as a whole.

Environmental Factors Biotic Factors – living or once- living environmental features.

Environmental Factors Abiotic Factors – nonliving physical features. –The abiotic factors in an environment often determine which kinds of organisms can live there.

Activity List all the abiotic and biotic factors that you see in this ecosystem.

Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors determine if the environment it suitable for a specific organism. Factors that determine the environment are… –Air –Water –Soil –Sunlight –Temperature/Climate –Elevation

Temperature The temperature of a region depends in part on the amount of sunlight it receives. The amount of sunlight depends on the land’s latitude and elevation.

Temperature –Latitude – areas closer to the equator are warmer than areas farther from the equator. MOST DIRECT SUNLIGHT

Temperature –Elevation – distance above sea level affects temperature, wind, and soil.

Biosphere All the abiotic components help to create different biospheres. Biosphere – the part of Earth that supports life. –The top portion of Earth’s crust, all the waters on Earth’s surface, and the surrounding atmosphere. –Made up of different environments called BIOMES that are home to different kinds of organisms.

Types of Biomes

The Biosphere Includes… Arctic Tundra Desert Saltwater Marine

The Biosphere Includes… Taiga Grasslands Freshwater

The Biosphere Includes… Deciduous Forest Alpine Forest Rainforest

Ecosystem Ecosystem – all the organisms living in an area (specific biome) and the nonliving features of their environment.

Ecosystem –A species is a group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed together and produce fertile offspring. –A population is made up of all the organisms in an ecosystem that belong to the same species. –A community is all the populations in an ecosystem. Organism Population Community

Habitat Habitat – the place in which an organism lives. –Must provide the kinds of food, shelter, temperature, and moisture (water) the organism needs to survive. –Example: Trees are the woodpecker’s habitat.

Niche Niche – the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.

Is There Change? The habitats and ecosystems are not permanent. They are very delicate and can be changed by a variety of factors. –Natural Disasters –Overpopulation –Human Impact

Primary Succession Primary Succession – New ecosystem forms over area devoid of life. Ecological growth starts after… –Lava flow –Glacier

Secondary Succession Secondary Succession – when one community replaces another community. Replacement caused by… –Fires –Tsunamis –Harvesting