Introduction to Ecology

BELLRINGER Is this picture an example of a community? Why or Why not?

What is Ecology? Ecology is the study of interactions among organisms. Determines relationships among living and nonliving parts of the world within the biosphere, or portion of Earth that supports life.

ORGANISMS AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT I. ECOSYSTEMS: EVERYTHING IN AN ECOSYSTEM IS CONNECTED. AN ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES: A. BIOTIC- ALL LIVING THINGS IN AN ECOSYSTEM. B - ABIOTIC- ALL NON-LIVING THINGS IN AN ECOSYSTEM, SUCH AS SOIL, AIR AND WATER.

Biotic factors All the living things that affect the organism in its habitat. All living organisms affect each other … interdependance

Abiotic factors All of the non- living things that effect the organism in its habitat Acclimation – some organisms are able to adjust to abiotic factors in their surroundings.

Abiotic or Biotic?

II. ORGANIZATION OF LIVING THINGS: BIOSPHERE ECOSYSTEM COMMUNITY POPULATION ORGANISM

Organism A. ORGANISM- _A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL B. SPECIES- A GROUP OF ORGANISMS THAT CAN REPRODUCE AND PRODUCE FERTILE OFFSPRING.

C. Populations GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS OF THE SAME SPECIES_ LIVING IN THE _SAME AREA. Will compete with one another for food, mates, resources.

D. Communities D. COMMUNITIES- SEVERAL DIFFERENT POPULATIONS_ THAT INTERACT IN A SPECIFIC AREA. Communities will exhibit interdependence.

E. ecosystem All ORGANISMS AND ABIOTIC FACTORS Pond Ecosystem School Campus

F. Biosphere ALL COMMUNITIES OF THE EARTH.

ARE THE PICTURES BELOW COMMUNITIES OR POPULATIONS??

III. Niche VS. Habitat A. NICHE IS HOW AN ORGANISM LIVES (WHAT IT DOES) INCLUDING REPRODUCTION, TIME OF DAY IT IS MOST ACTIVE, TYPE OF SPECIES INTERACTIONS, ETC. B. HABITAT IS WHERE IT LIVES. Occupying different niches reduces competition among organisms Example: Butterfly & Caterpillar

IV. FIVE TYPES OF SPECIES INTERACTIONS:

A. Predation ONE ORGANISM (PREDATOR) kills and eats another (PREY). EXAMPLE: LION EATING ZEBRA. Organisms fight for survival (Natural Selection at work)

B. Competition two species THAT DEPEND ON THE same LIMITED RESOURCE. EXAMPLES: TWO FLOWERS NEEDING POLLINATION, LIONS AND HYENAS NEEDING FOOD.

C. Parasitism ONE SPECIES (PARASITE) THAT lives in or on another (HOST) WITHOUT IMMEDIATELY KILLING IT EXAMPLE: TICKS AND A DOG.

D. Mutualism A cooperative partnership BETWEEN TWO SPECIES THAT BENEFITS BOTH. EXAMPLE: HUMANS AND INTESTINAL BACTERIA. Bees and birds visit flowers in search of pollen and nectar. In the process flowers are pollinated.

E. Commensalism COMMENSALISM- A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO SPECIES where one benefits but the other is not harmed. EXAMPLE: SHARK AND REMORA. The Patella gets it food from the plant, the Euklonia, which is not harmed or damaged in the process.

NUTRITION AND ENERGY FLOW I. ENERGY FLOW IN ECOSYSTEMS A. ALMOST all ORGANISMS REQUIRE ENERGY FROM THE sun: 1. DIRECTLY- producers ( MAKES THEIR OWN FOOD-autotrophs) 2. INDIRECTLY- consumers (DO NOT MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD - heterotrophs) SOURCE OF ALL ENERGY

II. WHO EATS WHAT IN AN ECOSYSTEM? A. PRODUCER- MAKES ITS OWN FOOD, EXAMPLES - plants, algae, some bacteria B. CONSUMER- Gets energy by eating other organisms

1. Herbivore_ -EATS PRODUCERS, EXAMPLES - COWS, SHEEP, GRASSHOPPERS 2. Carnivore - EATS OTHER CONSUMERS, EXAMPLES - LION, WOLVES 3. Omnivore - EATS BOTH PRODUCERS AND CONSUMERS, EXAMPLES - HUMANS, BEARS, PIGS 4. Decomposer - BREAKS DOWN DEAD ORGANISMS, EXAMPLES - FUNGI AND BACTERIA 5. DETRITIOVORE – FEEDS ON THE GARBAGE OF AN ECOSYSTEM TWO TYPES: SCAVENGERS DECOMPOSERS

Scavengers Scavengers are animals that do not kill for food. Instead they eat animals that have already died.

Decomposers Organisms that cause decay by breaking down the larger molecules of dead organisms into smaller molecules Examples Bacteria (Methanogens) Fungi (Mushroom)

III. HOW ENERGY IS RELEASED? A. Photosynthesis (chloroplast)- CONVERTS ENERGY FROM THE SUN TO SUGAR 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + SUNLIGHT  C6H12 O6 + 6 O2 B. Respiration (mitochondria)- CONVERTS SUGAR INTO ENERGY C6H12 O6 + 6 O2  6 CO2 + 6 H2O + ENERGY

IV. ENERGY IS TRANSFERRED THROUGH FOOD CHAINS, FOOD WEBS, AND TROPHIC LEVELS A. Food Chain B. Food Web IS A SERIES OF ENERGY TRANSFERS AS ONE ORGANISM IS CONSUMED BY ANOTHER. EXAMPLE - ALGAE KRILL COD LEOPARD SEAL KILLER WHALE MORE THAN ONE FOOD CHAIN LINKED TOGETHER

C. Trophic Level Trophic Level_ - CHANGE IN USEABLE ENERGY IN A FOOD CHAIN/WEB, MOST ENERGY IS AT THE BOTTOM OF A TROPHIC LEVEL Remember: Energy is NEVER created…only cycled

V. WATER CYCLE: A. SUNLIGHT CAUSES evaporation & transpiration B. WATER VAPOR COOLS AND forms clouds C. CLOUDS BECOME saturated and precipitate D. CYCLE repeats_

Condensation Transpiration Precipitation Evaporation The Clouds form The movement through plants Precipitation The rain falls Evaporation The vapor rises

EVAPORATION

TRANSPIRATION

Precipitation

VI. CARBON CYCLE: A. CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ATMOSPHERE IS USED IN photosynthesis_ B. Oxygen_ IS RELEASED AS A BY PRODUCT OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS C. ORGANISMS TAKE IN OXYGEN breath out_ CARBON DIOXIDE. D. DECOMPOSING OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS PRODUCES carbon dioxide CO2__ E. BURNING OF _fossil fuels_ PRODUCES CARBON DIOXIDE

VI. The carbon cycle

VII. NITROGEN CYCLE: A. NITROGEN GAS FROM THE ATMOSPHERE IS ABSORBED INTO THE ROOTS OF PLANTS BY _nitrogen fixing bacteria_ B. ORGANISMS EAT plants C. ANIMALS RELEASE AMMONIA NH4 IN THEIR wastes AMMONIA IS BROKEN DOWN INTO NITROGEN BY decomposers OTHER CYCLES: SULFUR ,CALCIUM, PHOSPOROUS

NITROGEN CYCLE

Pictures and examples were taken from a variety of websites.