Ecology 2

Energy Pyramids Energy Pyramids show the loss of energy at each feeding level in a food chain Only 10% of energy is passed onto the next level in a food chain. The other 90% is lost in the form of Heat as animals use energy for their metabolism

Energy Pyramids The Primary Source of energy for the energy pyramid is the Sun The Most Energy is found in the bottom of the pyramid The Least Energy is found at the top of the pyramid

Energy Pyramids The amount of energy available at each level determines how many organisms can survive The top of the pyramid has the least energy, so we have the least number of top consumers

Organism Relationships Organisms that live together have symbiotic relationships. These relationships have different names based on whether or not the animals help, hurt or don’t affect each other.

Organism Relationships 1) Commensalism is when one animal benefits and the other is NOT affected Egret and Grazing Mammals Barnacles and Whales

Organism Relationships 2) Mutualism is when both animals benefit Oxpecker and Zebra Bees and Flowers

Organism Relationships 3) Parasitism is when one animal benefits and the other animals is harmed Caterpillar and Leaf Tapeworm Fleas

Organism Relationships 4) Predation is when one animal hunts, kills and consumes another

Organism Relationships 5)Competition is when animals compete for the same resource

Organism Relationships

Carrying Capacity Carrying Capacity is the maximum number of organisms that can survive in an ecosystem This is based on Biotic (living) factors and Abiotic (nonliving) factors including: Food resources Predators Shelter Water Space Sunlight Temperature

Carrying Capacity Once a population continues to grow and grow, it will reach the carrying capacity. If it overshoots this point, then the organisms will not have enough food, water or shelter to survive and the ‘excess’ organisms will die off The carrying capacity of an ecosystem can decrease due to natural disasters like fires and earthquakes or human activity like deforestation

Population of World Link Carrying Capacity Population of World Link Based on our current resource use and waste generation and the ability of the Earth to replenish, some scientists believe we are already in an overshoot

Population Populations in ecosystems will change according to different factors such as natural disasters, droughts, disease, etc. There are 2 types of factors: Density-dependent factors: things that change a population and are affected by density such as the spread of disease or parasites 2) Density-independent factors: things that change a population regardless of density such as natural disasters

Biodiversity Biodiversity is the variety of life in an ecosystem Biodiversity is CRITICAL to having a stable and balanced environment! -More links on a food web -Larger variety of food sources and plants -Different niches/roles for more species If Biodiversity is decreased, an environment becomes less stable and less resilient (able to survive changes)

Biodiversity Biodiversity is impacted by a lot of factors including: Natural disasters Pollution Introduction of an invasive species (one that is not native) Oil spills Greenhouse effect (global warming) Deforestation Ecosystems heal themselves by a process called succession

Watch this video about Primary and Secondary Succession! https://youtu.be/YxuttSOtqNE

Review An Acacia ant lives inside of a particular plant. The plant provides protection for the ant, and the ant prevents harmful insects from invading the plant. What type of relationship is this? MUTUALISM!

Review Barnacles live on the skin of whales. The barnacles are able to acquire more food and the whale is unaffected. What type of relationship is this? COMMENSALISM!

Review Caterpillars eat the leaves of plants. What type of relationship is this? PARASITISM!

Quick Write For 2 minutes, write a short story of a Natural Disaster or other factor that has affected the Biodiversity of our area (Houston-Galveston) and how you think our area is recovering or not from this event.