Ecology What is “Ecology”? Are humans a part of ecology? The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their physical environment Are humans a part of ecology?
Levels of Organization Individual Organism Population: A group of individuals in the same species that live in the same place at the same time Community: A group of different populations living together in the same place Ecosystem: All the organisms that live in a place, together with their physical environment Biome: A group of ecosystems that share similar climates and typical organisms Biosphere: Our entire planet, with all the organisms and physical environments
Levels of Organization Yellowtail Snapper (Individual Organism) School of snapper (Population ) Coral Reef (Ecosystem) Coral Reef Distribution (Biome) Earth (Biosphere)
Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors ABIOTIC FACTORS BIOTIC FACTORS Definition Physical (non-living) components of an ecosystem that influence an organism Biological (living) components of an ecosystem that influences on rganism Examples Sunlight, heat, humidity, soil, rain Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors: Examples
Energy in Organisms Organisms need energy for: Growth Reproduction Metabolism BUT, no organism can create energy, they can only transform it. SO, where does it come from??
Primary Producers (a.k.a. Autotrophs) ENERGY SOURCE: Capture energy from SUN or CHEMICALS and convert it into forms that organisms can use (sugars) Photosynthesis = use of light energy Chemosynthesis = use of chemical energy Examples?
Consumers (a.k.a. Heterotrophs) ENERGY SOURCE: Acquire energy from other organisms Many types of consumers, classified by how they get energy and nutrients Herbivores: consume plants (leaves, seeds, fruits) Carnivores: kill and consume other animals Omnivores: consume a mix of plants and animals Scavengers: consume animals that have already been killed Detritivores: feed on detritus (dead organic matter) Decomposers: chemically digest dead organic matter
Classify that Organism!
Classify that Organism!