Ecology and Science of Natural Resources

Ecology Examine ecology. Define ecosystem and related terms. Describe the interdependence of organisms within an ecosystem. Describe the processes associated with ecological succession. Explain population ecology, population density, and population dispersion. Explain the importance of biodiversity. Explain the process of natural selection. Use taxonomy keys to identify common plants and animals. Identify and classify game birds and other local birds. Identify and classify game animals and other local animals. Define invasive species, and discuss factors that influence the establishment and spread of invasive species. Ecology

Ecology The study of the Relationship of living things to each other and their environment (surroundings) Ecosystems All of the living communities (Biotic) and non –living (Abiotic) parts of a set area. Parts of an ecosystem: Living Community (Biotic) Energy Nutrients Non-living factors (Abiotic) Ecology

Ecology Ecology involves the study of the following things: The interactions between members of the BIOTIC community (the living plants, animals and microbes) The interactions between members of the BIOTIC community and the NON-LIVING environment The interactions between the ABIOTIC environmental factors (such as light-temperature-moisture)

Biomes Organizational Levels: Community Biosphere Population Ecosystem Organism/Individuals Biomes

Biosphere The biosphere is the entire planet, including all biotic and abiotic factors.

Ecosystem The ecosystem includes all abiotic and biotic factors for a given area. For example the Salt Lake ecosystem includes all living and non-living factors in and around the Great Salt Lake. The Rocky Mountain ecosystem includes biotic and abiotic factors in the entire Rocky Mountain range.

The community are all the biotic factors in an given area.

The population are all organisms in the community that are the same species,

The individual or Organism is one member of a given population. Organism/ Individual

Capture light energy from the sun and convert it into food energy. Producers Green Plants Capture light energy from the sun and convert it into food energy.

Animals that depend upon green plants and other animals for food. Consumers Animals that depend upon green plants and other animals for food.

Food Chain – A linear relationship showing which organisms feed on each other. Food Web – A number of interconnecting food chains. Food Webs incubator

Predator-Prey One organisms depends on the other organism Predators are organisms that feed on the Prey. Predator-Prey

Symbiosis “Living Together” One species lives in close association with another species over a period of time Avoids competition for resources Examples: Mutualism Parasitism Commensalisms Symbiosis

Mutualism Both organisms benefit It is between two different organisms Example: Crocodile Bird and the Nile Crocodile Crocodile usually eats animals, but allows the bird to walk on its mouth Bird cleans parasites in the crocs teeth and removes and eats scraps of food Mutualism

Commensalism One organism benefits, one unharmed Sharing space, defense, shelter food “eating together at the same table” Neither one will die if relationship is ended Example: Shrimp and Sea Cucumber The shrimp spends the day inside the intestines of the sea cucumber and at night emerges from it to feed on small crustaceans The cucumber does not benefit from it, but is not harmed Commensalism

One organism, the parasite, secures a home on or inside another organism The parasite is the “guest” and the other organism is the “host” It usually harms the host and benefits the guest Parasitism

Ecosystem Activity Have students work in teams to develop a ecosystem. The ecosystem needs to include both biotic factors and abiotic factors. There needs to be at least one producer and one consumer in the system. Students need to also include a nutrient cycle and the water cycle. Ecosystem Activity

Ecological Succession Ecological succession is the gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time. Nothing remains the same and habitats are constantly changing. There are two main types of succession, primary and secondary. Primary is were the ecosystem starts from scratch or bare ground. Secondary is were a disturbance, like fire, has brought a ecosystem back to a former succession level and it starts to progress from this earlier state. Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession Primary Succession Not a common, normally only caused by new land formation, major disturbance, lava flows, etc. Starts with bare ground First organism are known as pioneering plants and animals These organism help develop nutrients and resources for future levels of succession. The system will develop into a more complex environment until it reaches the climax community Climax communities can be at any level of the succession and are limited by the environments natural disturbances. For example many grass prairies could reach a climax community like a forest, but fire keeps the prairie from progressing since it is a natural part of the ecosystem. Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession Secondary succession Common form of succession and is caused by fire, weather, flooding, and other common natural events including man made disturbances. Ecosystem is brought back to an earlier seral community or stage of succession and then continues moving forward towards the climax community as it recovers. Ecological Succession

Natural Selection Charles Darwin and Natural Selection Naturalist on the HMS Beagle Exploration of South America (3 ½ years) Visited the Galapagos Islands Natural Selection

Natural Selection Darwin’s theory of Natural Selection Living things increase in number geometrically (overproduction) There is no net increase in the number of individuals over a long period of time A “struggle for existence” since not all individuals can survive No two individuals exactly alike (variation) Natural Selection

Natural Selection – certain traits give an adaptive advantage to organisms and they leave behind more offspring Factors Influencing Natural Selection Mutation – a sudden change in the genetic material (a source of variation) Recombination of genes within a population (sexual reproduction) Isolation – separation of a population from others of the same kind (species) Natural Selection

Population – All of the members of the same species that live in a particular area at the same time. Factors that influence populations: Migration Immigration Emigration Density dependent factors Density independent factors Reproduction success Populations

Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of life. It can be studied on many levels.  At the highest level, you can look at all the different species on the entire Earth.  On a smaller scale, you can study biodiversity within a pond ecosystem or a neighborhood park.    Biodiversity

Dichotomous Keys Assists in Identification Contains pairs of contrasting descriptions The key directs the user to another pair of descriptors or Identifies an object Dichotomous Keys

Activity Dichotomous Keys

Plants Identification Plant identification activity Plants Identification

Animal Identification Animal identification Activity Animal Identification