Everything is Connected Chapter 2: Principles of Ecology

Work in groups and try to arrange the following actual events that occurred in Borneo in chronological order: Rats brought plague Lizards ate roaches (with DDT) Cats died Caterpillar numbers went up WHO (World Health Organization) sent DDT to Borneo Mosquitoes were wiped out Caterpillars ate grass roofs Cats were parachuted in Cats caught lizards containing DDT Roaches stored DDT in their bodies Grass roofs collapse Lizards disappeared Lizards slowed down Rats increased

Lessons from Borneo DDT was used to kill mosquitoes that carried malaria There were some unintended consequences

Malaria in Borneo In the early 1950s, there was an outbreak of malaria among the Dayak people in Borneo.

World Health Organization Sprayed DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) to eradicate mosquitoes that carried malaria Mosquitoes died. Malaria declined. Everyone was happy…

Unintended Effects Until their thatched roofs started collapsing on their heads! DDT killed parasitic wasps that ate thatch-eating caterpillars

Other Unintended Effects Cockroaches survived and stored DDT in their bodies Gecko lizards ate toxic cockroaches and their movement slowed down Cats were able to catch and eat toxic lizards Cats died Rat population exploded Outbreaks of typhus and plague carried by rats

World Health Organization Initiated Operation Cat Drop Parachuted 14,000 cats into Borneo Rat population declined Everyone was happy

Correct order of events WHO (World Health Organization) sent DDT to Borneo Mosquitoes were wiped out Caterpillar numbers went up Caterpillars ate grass roofs Grass roofs collapse Roaches stored DDT in their bodies Lizards ate roaches (with DDT) Lizards slowed down Cats caught lizards containing DDT Lizards disappeared Cats died Rats increased Rats brought plague Cats were parachuted in

I. What is an ecosystem? All organisms living in a particular area, along with their physical environment A. Biotic Factors living organisms in an environment B. Abiotic Factors nonliving parts of an environment

II. Organization of Living Things A. Building blocks of one organism Atom Molecule Cell Tissue Organ Organ System Organism

B. Building blocks of groups of organisms Species - group of organisms that share common genes, resemble each other, and are able to reproduce Population - organisms of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time Biological Community – groups of populations that inhabit a common environment Ecosystem – groups of communities and their abiotic factors Biome – group of ecosystems Biosphere – portion of Earth that supports life

III. Organisms in Ecosystems A. Habitat Place an organism lives (like its address) Examples: Burrow Water Nest Tree Thicket Rock crevices or openings Cave Den Hollow log or hollow stump Shallow indentation in the ground

B. Niche How a species meets its needs for food, shelter, survival and reproduction (like its job) * Includes biotic and abiotic interactions

IV. Survival Relationships A. Symbiosis – association between organisms of different species B. 3 kinds: Mutualism – when both species benefit Commensalism – when one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited Parasitism – when one species benefits at the expense of another species

V. How Organisms Obtain Energy A. Autotroph Uses light energy to make its own food (producer) B. Heterotroph Feeds on other organisms, cannot make its own food (herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, scavenger, decomposer)