Environmental Science Chapter 4: The Organization of Life

The Organization of Life Big Ideas In an ecosystem, the biotic and abiotic components interact to form an interconnected system. Species adapt to their environment through the process of evolution by natural selection. Humans classify the diversity of life on Earth in order to better understand their relationships.

Section 1: Ecosystems GOALS Distinguish between biotic and abiotic factors in an ecosystem Describe how a population differs from a species Explain the importance of habitats

What is Ecology? The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

What is an ecosystem?

Defining an ecosystem Ecosystem: all the organisms living in an area together with their physical environment Forest Ecosystem Pond Ecosystem Vacant Lot Ecosystem Desert Ecosystem

All Ecosystems are connected How does your ecosystem impact the Atlantic Ocean?

Parts of an ecosystem

Parts of an ecosystem In order for an ecosystem to survive it needs five basic components: Energy Mineral Nutrients Water Oxygen Living Organisms

What are some parts of this ecosystem?

If your are conducting a study of the interactions of vegetation, animals, mineral composition of the soil, and water levels in a saltmarsh. You are studying the saltmarsh ___. ECOSYSTEM

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic: living & once living parts of an ecosystem Plants, animals, bacteria, dead organisms, wastes Abiotic: nonliving parts of an ecosystem Air, water, soil, sunlight, temperature

What are some biotic AND abiotic parts of this ecosystem?

Pair and Share Activity: With a partner of your choice, create a table that lists the abiotic and biotic things in this classroom. Abiotic Biotic

Organizing Biotic Parts

Smallest Unit Organism: an individual living thing like you, a tree, a fox, a rose Species: groups of closely related organisms that can mate & produce fertile offspring like red foxes or black widow spiders, or grizzly bears

Species Species: groups of organisms that resemble each other in appearance, behavior, chemistry and genetic makeup…able to reproduce 3.6 to 100 million species (1.4 identified) Mostly insects/micro Tropical forests

Insects 751,000 Known species 1,412,000 Plants 248,400

Population Population: all the members of the same species that live in the same place at the same time Field mice living in a corn field, grizzly bears of Yellowstone Park Members breed with one another, rather than with other populations

Community Community: a group of various species that live in the same place and interact with each other Pond Community Pineland Forest Community

Giraffes, lions, zebras, hyenas, and all the other living things of the Serengeti make up a(n) ___ COMMUNITY

Habitat Habitat: the place where an organism lives Organisms are well suited for their habitat

Habitat Habitats provide an organism with resources—anything an organism needs to survive and reproduce, including food, shelter, and mates

Biosphere All parts of the Earth where life is found

Section 1 Review Biotic are living factors in an ecosystem Abiotic are non-living factors in an ecosystem Biosphere is composed of ecosystems, ecosystems are composed of communities, community is made up of populations, populations are composed of species, species are composed of individuals Habitats provide organisms with the resources they need to survive

Section 2: Evolution GOALS Explain the process of evolution by natural selection Explain the concept of adaptation Describe the process of resistance

How have you changed (not just physically) since you were a child?

Change is one thing that is certain in life. Change occurs in many ways -cultures change -individuals change -species change

Essential Question: How did they get here? You’ve read about the diversity of living organisms on Earth (plants, animals, protists, fungi, bacteria) How did they get here?

Change in the genetic characteristics of a population over time! What is Evolution? Change in the genetic characteristics of a population over time!

- the best suited (most fit) organisms survive and reproduce - biologists say that the environment exerts a strong influence over which individuals survive to produce offspring - the best suited (most fit) organisms survive and reproduce - individuals with certain traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

“Survival of the Fittest” Natural Selection aka “Survival of the Fittest” - the unequal survival and reproduction that results from the presence or absence of particular traits

Evolution by Natural Selection 1-Organisms produce more offspring than can survive 2-The environment is hostile and contains limited resources 3-Organisms differ in the traits they have 4-Some inherited traits provide organisms with an advantage (ADAPTATION) 5-Each generation contains proportionately more organisms with advantageous traits

Natural Selection Hammer Orchid

Coevolution Process of 2 species evolving in response to long term interactions with each other

Question: If natural selection concludes that all dogs are closely related through a common ancestor, then how come this Chihuahua and this Great Dane are so different?

Artificial Selection: Artificial selection refers to the process where humans select organisms with certain traits to breed.

Resistance: Resistance occurs when humans expose organisms to certain conditions/chemicals, and those organisms become tolerant or “immune” to the conditions over time. Examples: Insects can become resistant to pesticides B. Bacteria can become resistance to antibiotics

Section 2 Review Evolution by natural selection is the unequal survival and reproduction that results from the presence or absence of particular traits Adaptation increase an organism’s chance of survival and reproduction in a certain environment Resistance is the ability of an organism to tolerate a particular chemical or condition designed to kill it

Question: What is your favorite organism(s) of all time? Why? This cat’s favorite organism is a frog.

Section 3: The Diversity of Living Things GOALS Name the five kingdoms of organization and identify characteristics of each Explain why bacteria and fungi are important Describe the importance of protists in the ocean environment Describe the interdependence of angiosperms and animals Explain why insect animals are so successful

-single-cell, no nucleus Bacteria: -single-cell, no nucleus -cell wall -reproduce by division -two types Archaebacteria (extremophiles) Eubacteria -most diverse & common organisms on Earth -many important roles decomposers, recyclers, assist in digestion Examples? - E. coli, cyanobacteria

Video: Bacteria - The Good and The Bad Link to video

Video: How Bacteria Talk Link to video

Airborne Bacteria Lab -Bacteria are so important, that humans (and many other organisms) would be extinct without them. -The point of this lab is to review the scientific method, and gain an appreciation for how much bacteria we are surrounds by.

Fungi: -single cell, nucleus, cell wall, no chlorophyll -absorb food from around them decomposers: feed on dead organisms Examples? (Athlete’s foot, cheese, yeast)

Protists: -many single-celled -very diverse, most live in water -important role (algae/phytoplankton)? Examples? Diatoms, dinoflagellates, amoeba, paramecium, amoeba, kelp

Plants: -many cells, cell wall -photosynthesize -most land dwellers -supply oxygen and food to much of the world -gymnosperms (conifers) -woody plants -seeds not enclosed in fruits -angiosperms (flowers/fruits) -flowering plants -produce seeds in fruit -important role? Most land animals depend on flowering plants for food

Animals: -many cells -no cell wall -must take in food -live on land or water

Animal Types: -Invertebrates -no backbone -Vertebrates -have backbone

Insect Success: -waterproof external skeleton -move quickly -reproduce quickly -most can fly -small size -little food needed -hide -insects & plants coevolved -pollination -eat plant pests

Section 3: Review The five kingdoms are bacteria, fungi, protists, plants, animals Bacteria and fungi are decomposers, recyclers and help release nutrients Protists in the ocean are the primary source of food Most animals rely on angiosperms for food Insect animals are so successful because of their exoskeleton, size, agility, capacity to fly and hide

The Organization of Life Big Ideas In an ecosystem, the biotic and abiotic components interact to form an interconnected system. Species adapt to their environment through the process of evolution by natural selection. Humans classify the diversity of life on Earth in order to better understand their relationships.