Ecology 1

Ecology? What is Ecology: The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment Ecology really examines two different factors of a system, and how they interact. Abiotic Factors: all the nonliving components of an ecosystem Ex. temperature, water, light, soils, minerals, air… a.k.a. Climate Biotic Factors: all the living (and once living) components of an ecosystem Ex. Living and dead organisms and their wastes

Each ecosystem is shaped by its climate along with other abiotic factors What is climate? The average (year to year) temperature and precipitation in an ecosystem The climate determines the ecosystem type (biome) of the region

Biomes- group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities

Biomes- a lot of variety Terrestrial Tropical rainforest Temperate rainforest Temperate deciduous forest Tiaga (boreal forest) Tundra Desert Temperate grassland Savannah Chaparral/Steppe Urban Biomes- a lot of variety Marine Open ocean Antarctic ocean (edge of the ice) Estuary Coral Reef Barrier Island Shallow ocean/bay Mangrove forests Freshwater River Lake Pond Wetlands (Swamps, marshes, etc.)

Tropical Rainforest

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Tiaga (Boreal Forest)

Temperate Rainforest

Desert

Temperate Grasslands

Wetlands

Marine Biomes Open Ocean Coral Reefs - Barrier Islands - Shallow Marine…

Mangrove “Forests”

Levels of Ecology Ecology takes a very broad view of organisms and their environment, this view point encompasses multiple levels of organization

Levels of Organization Organism- An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds to its environment, grows, and develops Population- a group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area at the same time Species= all organisms that breed with each other in nature competition occurs btw individuals

Levels of Organization II 3. Biological community- made up of interacting populations (different species) in an area at one time. 4. Ecosystem- Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area and the abiotic components of that area.

Levels of Organization III Biosphere: All the ecosystems on earth All portions of the planet in which life exists

Within an ecosystem, each organism has a… Habitat (home) the place where an organism lives

Within an ecosystem, each organism has a… Niche (job) the role or function of each organism in an ecosystem how it meets its specific needs for food and shelter, how and where it survives, and where it reproduces in its environment. includes all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic parts of its habitat. It is thought that two species can’t exist for long in the same community if their niches are the same.

Habitat and Niche

Roles Every living thing plays a role in it’s ecosystem. That role is it’s niche. The two most general classifications for a niche are: Producer (Autotroph)- use energy from the environment (sunlight, chemicals) to fuel the assembly of organic molecules and tissues Consumer (Heterotroph)- organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy and food supply

Autotrophs Photosynthesis: organisms use light to power chemical reactions that store energy as chemical bonds Plants, algae, bacteria Chemosynthesis: harvest energy from the chemical bonds of inorganic molecules bacteria

Heterotrophs There is a larger diversity of heterotrophs. These organisms live in a variety of habitats, and occupy a huge range of niches Carnivore Decomposers Herbivore Parasite Scavenger

Types of Heterotrophs Herbivores – eat ONLY plants Ex. – Cows, Elephants, Giraffes

Heterotrophs Carnivores – eat ONLY meat Ex. – Lions, Tigers, Sharks

Heterotrophs Omnivores – eat BOTH plants and animals Ex. – Bears and Humans

Heterotrophs Decomposers – absorb any dead material and break it down into simple nutrients or fertilizers and return it to the ecosystem (recyclers) Ex. – Bacteria and Mushrooms, Fungi, mold Feed on any living organism main recyclers of once living matter in the ecosystem

Heterotrophs Parasite- feed on other organisms while they are still alive

Heterotrophs display a variety of feeding relationships. II Scavengers eat animals that have already died