ECOLOGY The Biosphere

Intro to Ecology Movie

I.General Info A. Ecology is the scientific study of the interactions of living (biotic) organisms with their non-living (abiotic) environment. B. Levels of Ecological Organization (smallest to largest) 1. Species - any organism that is able to interbreed and have fertile offspring ex: 2. Populations - groups of the same species living in the same area at the same time ex:

3.Communities - groups of populations that live together in a defined area ex: 4.Ecosystem - the relationship of the community with its nonliving environment ex: 5.Biomes - ecosystems in different locations with similar climate and communities (e.g. desert, temperate forest, arctic, etc) ex: 6.Biosphere - area on the planet where life exists (all biomes put together)

II.Abiotic Factors (Non-Living) A. Light 1. Sunlight is the main source of energy on the planet Why?  Photosynthesis and heat  Air  Air that surrounds earth is called atmosphere  Depth of life in soil is affected by oxygen  Aquatic organisms are limited by oxygen supply

C. Water 1. Water is necessary for life. Why? a. Cells are mostly made of water b. Water is good for dissolving chemicals c. Many organisms live in water D. Temperature  Temperature affects an organism’s metabolism  Normal range is 32° - 122° F

 Climate  An area’s weather conditions over time  Average temperature and precipitation influence the type of life in an area (e.g. desert cactus)  Soil Conditions  Soils physical makeup (clay, sand, rocks, etc.) affects organisms  Animals feed on plants, which are affected by soil conditions

III.Biotic Factors (Living)  Food  Disease  Community Interactions  Competition - organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place at the same time  Predation - interaction where one organism captures and feeds on another organism Give an example of a predator/prey relationship

 Symbiosis - relationship where two species live closely together (3 main types)  Mutualism – both species benefit (ex. honey bee and flower, clown fish and sea anemone, shark and remora)

 Commensalism - o ne organism benefits, while the other is neither helped or harmed (ex. barnacles and whale)

 Parasitism - o ne organism lives in or on another (host) and harms it (ex. mistletoe, fleas/ticks, tapeworm)

 Producer (autotrophs) - Any organism that produces its own food (ex. plants and algae) 2 types:  Photosynthetic - organisms use sunlight to make chemical energy in food (plants and algae) 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O → C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2  Chemosynthetic - organisms use chemical bonds in inorganic compounds for energy (performed by several types of bacteria; live in ocean floor thermal vents, Yellowstone hotsprings, etc.)

 Consumer (heterotroph) - anything that eats other organisms because it can’t make its own food 4 Types:  Herbivore - organism that eats plants

 Carnivore - organism that eats animals

 Omnivore - organism that eat both plants and animals

 Decomposer - organism that breaks down dead matter and returns its chemicals to the earth (e.g. bacteria and fungi)

 Habitat - species surroundings  Niche - a way of life or the role a species plays How would you describe a coyote’s niche? Biotic + Abiotic factors = Habitat

IV.Energy Flow A.Energy Transfer 1.As organisms eat and in turn are eaten, they transfer energy 2.This flow of energy begins with the sun or inorganic compounds and travels in one direction sun → producers → consumers→ decomposers Why 3. Illustrated by a food chain, web or pyramid

Food Chains and Webs Movie

 Food Chain  Series of steps in which energy is transferred as organisms eat and are eaten  Always begins with a plant or algae DRAW

 Food Web  Complex feeding relationship that links food chains  Each organism is placed in a different trophic level.

 Ecological Pyramids (3 types)  Diagram that shows the relative amount of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain/web

Energy Flow Movie

 Energy Pyramid - only about 10% of energy available at one trophic level is transferred to the next. Remaining energy (90%) is lost as?

 Biomass Pyramid – total amount of living tissue in a given trophic level is called the biomass.  Represents the total amount of potential food available for each trophic level

Biomass Movie

 Pyramid of Numbers - based on the number of individuals at each trophic level

V.Cycles of Matter  The 4 most common elements found in organisms are: A. These elements are continuously recycled throughout the biosphere moving between the water, air, land and organisms Hydrogen Oxygen Carbon Nitrogen HONCHONC

Cycles of Matter Movie

1. The Water Cycle a.Water continuously moves between the ocean, atmosphere, land and organisms

b.Evaporation - sun heats water on land and oceans causinge water to change from liquid to gas c. Transpiration - water evaporating from the leaves of plants d. Condensation - water changing from gas to liquid forming clouds e. Precipitation – rain, snow, sleet, etc. f. Runoff – water from precipitation runs down mountains is absorbed by soil or collects in bodies of water

2. The Carbon Cycle – how C moves between the living and non-living world a.Key ingredient in living tissues  C is involved in 4 main processes 1) Photosynthesis and respiration 2) volcanic eruptions and erosion 3) decomposition of dead organisms 4) Human activities (mining, burning fossil fuels and deforestation) release CO 2 into the air

Draw this picture

3. 3. The Nitrogen Cycle a. N is needed to make amino acids into proteins. b. Bacteria in the soil convert ammonia (NH 3 ) into nitrate (NO 3 - ), which plants can use to make protein. This is called nitrification c. Dead plants and animals or their waste is turned back into ammonia by bacteria through a process called ammonification

Nitrogen Cycle (DRAW)

VI.Ecological Succession  Succession 1.The process by which an existing community is gradually replaced by another one (may take hundreds or thousands of years ) Can you give an example of succession?  Types of Succession  Primary Succession - begins where there is no living organisms or soil (ex. lava flows, above the timberline or bare rock exposed after glaciers melt)

Lichen a. a. Pioneer Organisms - first species to populate; help build up the soil (ex. lichens, grasses and mosses; help build-up the soil) 1) Lichens are a combination of two organisms (fungus and algae) that obtain nutrients through photosynthesis and by breaking down rocks Lava flow

Primary Succession

  Climax Community - is a somewhat stable, permanent community (ex. forest, desert, grassland)

 Secondary Succession a. Occurs in an established ecosystem after it is destroyed or damaged by a disaster (ex. fires, plowed field, clear cut forest)