ECOLOGY Part 1

Ecology:the study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment.

BIOSPHERE: the portion of Earth that supports life . . . Air Land Water

Inorganic /Abiotic factors . . . (the non-living environment) Wind Temperature Moisture Light Soil Minerals Fire

Organic / Biotic Factors . . . (the living environment) Plants Animals Protists Bacteria Fungi (All living things containing carbon)

Abiotic and Biotic Factors (10:05 min) Abiotic or biotic factor?

Biotic and Abiotic Examples

Ecological (Energy) Pyramid Omnivores - eat anything Carnivores - eat meat Insectivores - eat insects Herbivores - eat plants Producers - make own food Trophic level = feeding step

Niche: the role and position a species has in its environment What it eats Where it eats When it eats

Food chain - shows how energy flows producer herbivore omnivore omnivore producer 1st order consumer 2nd order consumer 3rd order consumer

Food web: interconnected food chains Organisms almost always eat, and are eaten by, many different organisms.

chicken grass deer caterpillar hawk frog seeds snake beetle coyote turkey human rabbit

ECOLOGY Part 2

Population: a group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

Community: A group of organisms of different species living together in a particular place.

The physical location in which a given species lives. Habitat: The physical location in which a given species lives.

How energy flows . . . Sun - main source of energy Autotrophs / producers… can make own food Heterotrophs / consumers… must eat Decomposers / saprophytes… fungi & bacteria break down dead materials

Symbiosis: close association between two or more organisms of different species. Commensalism - one benefits, one isn’t affected (eg. Whale & Barnacles) Mutualism - both benefit (eg. Insects & Plants) Parasitism - one benefits, one is harmed (eg. Ticks & Dogs)

Adaptation: the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. Coloration Speed

Adaptation: the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. Migration Arctic Tern

Adaptation: the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. Thick fur Chemical defenses Hibernation/ Estivation Size (Gigantism & Dwarfism on Islands) Thorns and stickers

Cycles Within Ecosystems: Water cycle – precipitation and evaporation Carbon cycle – increasing carbon dioxide traps more heat and causes the “greenhouse effect.” Nitrogen cycle – (next slide)

WATER CYCLE

CARBON CYCLE

Nitrogen cycle  

NITROGEN CYCLE

Biogeochemical Cycles (10:07 minutes)

THE END!