Introduction to Ecology

Ecology The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment, or surroundings. Discovery Channel :: Planet Earth :: Portrait of the Planet

Ecosystem Living and non-living factors in the same place at the same time Ex: fish tank, pond, forest, etc.

Organization of the Ecosystem Go to Section:

Biotic Factors Living factors that has an effect on another living organism Example for a bird: Trees, other birds, insects, worms, etc

Abiotic Factors Non-living factors that has an effect on a living organism Example for a bird: Water, wind, temperature, light

Abiotic and Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM

Discuss 2 ways biotic factors and 2 ways abiotic factors can affect the life of a tree.

Habitat Pond Grassland The place where an organism lives The address The habitat for a bull frog = The habitat of the giant anteater = Pond Grassland

Niche What an organism does in an environment The occupation or the role of an organism Includes how an organism gets its food, reproduces, avoids predators, etc. Determines an organisms habitat Example: Wood peckers survive by finding insects in the bark of a tree

Three Species of Warblers and Their Niches Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Spruce tree

Limiting Factors Each species is adapted to a specific set of conditions Organisms thrive best in environments that have specific conditions that meet their needs. Example: Plants need sunlight. Certain fish may prefer certain water temperatures therefore will be found at certain depths.

Populations & Communities

Population All the organisms of one species that live in one place at a particular time Example: Herd of deer Flock of geese

Community All of the populations that interact with each other in a particular place Living Organisms Example: Bison, antelope, insects, grass

Wolf and Moose Populations on Isle Royale 60 2400 1990 1995 Moose Wolves 1960 1965 1985 1995 1955 1970 1975 1980 1990 Moose Wolf Go to Section:

Community Interactions Competition Predation Symbiosis Succession

Competition The main interaction between organisms May be for food, water, shelter, mate Results in natural selection= best fit survive (evolution) • Types of Competition: 1. interspecific: competition between two different species Ex: lions and hyenas 2. intraspecific: competition between members of the same species Ex: a female lion competes with other lions for food

Can you identify the types of competition??? Video - on CBS Number 2 Number 3

Predation As a member of a population, you either “eat or be eaten” Members of one population are the food source for another population Predator: The organism which is eating another Prey: The organism which is being eaten

Define interspecific and intraspecific forms of competition Define interspecific and intraspecific forms of competition. Give an example of each type.

Symbiosis When an organism has a close relationship with another organism Each partner can help the other, harm the other, or have no effect on the other partner Video clip of Symbiosis

Types of symbiosis 1. parasitism: A parasite lives on or in another organism for food or shelter The host usually continues to live, but it is harmed Ex: tapeworm in the human intestines 2. commensalism: One organism benefits while the other is unaffected Ex. birds on the back of a buffalo Fish attached to shark 3. mutualism: Both members of the relationship benefit Ex: bacteria in our intestines Bees and flowers

Succession The gradual replacement of one type of community for another Occurs 2 ways: 1. Primary succession: Occurs in areas where there is no soil (bare rock, hardened lava or ash) Lichens: first organism to appear; also called pioneer species 2. Secondary succession: Occurs in areas where soils present (after a forest fire)

Lichens

Ecosystems

Basic Characteristics of an Ecosystem: Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors Energy Flow between organisms and their environment

Freshwater Pond Ecosystem Spoonbill Frogs lay eggs in the shallow water near shore.The eggs hatch in the water as tadpoles and move to the land as adults. The shore is lined with grasses that provide shelter and nesting places for birds and other organisms. The roots of water lilies cling to the pond bottom, while their leaves, on long flexible stems, float on the surface. The bottom of the pond is inhabited by decomposers and other organisms that feed on particles drifting down from the Fish share the pond with turtles and other animals. Many of them feed on insects at the water’s edge. Plankton and the organisms that feed on them live near the surface where there is enough sunlight for photosynthesis. Microscopic algae are among the most important producers. Duck Water lilies Frog Dragonfly Mosquito larvae Duckweed Phytoplankton Snail Pickerel Diving beetle Trout Hydra Crayfish Snail Benthic crustaceans

Energy Flow through Ecosystems Sunlight: main source of energy for life on Earth Trophic levels: Trophic= feeding examples: producers consumers

Producers 1st level Also called autotrophs Uses energy from the environment (SUNLIGHT) plants

Primary Consumers Also called heterotrophs Organisms that feed on producers Deer, buffalo, mice, etc

Secondary Consumers Organisms that feed on primary consumers Birds, fox, etc

Tertiary Consumers Organisms that feed on secondary consumers Large hawk, cat, etc

Types of Consumers Herbivores: Eats plants Ex. cows, deer, caterpillars Carnivores: Meat eaters Ex: snakes, dogs, owls Omnivores: Eats both plants and animals Ex. humans Detritivores: Feeds on plant and animal remains and other dead matter Ex. mites, earthworms, snails, crabs Decomposers: Breaks down organic matter Ex. bacteria, fungi

Food Chain Energy that is passed from one trophic level to a trophic level that is higher Example:

Food Web Interconnected Food Chains

Food Pyramid Shows trophic levels Producers on lowest level Also can show total mass of each organism in the level

Ecological Pyramids Energy Pyramid Shows the relative amount of energy available at each trophic level. Organisms use about 10 percent of this energy for life processes. The rest is lost as heat. Pyramid of Numbers Shows the relative number of individual organisms at each trophic level. Biomass Pyramid Represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level. Typically, the greatest biomass is at the base of the pyramid.

DDT and Food Webs DDT was used as insecticide DDT does not break down in organisms and is passed from one trophic level to the next Highest levels found at the top of the food chain Known as biomagnifications

DDT in Eagles and Osprey Have highest levels of DDT Causes shells of eggs to be fragile Cause decrease of populations

 Why is a food web more accurate than a food chain in portraying the relationships that exist among organisms in an ecosystem?

Biome •Based on yearly precipitation and temperature (climate) Heating of the Earth’s Surface and Some Factors That Affect Climate Different Latitudes Greenhouse Effect 90°N North Pole Sunlight 66.5°N Sunlight Arctic circle Some heat escapes into space Sunlight Tropic of Cancer 23.5°N Equator Greenhouse gases trap some heat Most direct sunlight 0° Tropic of Capricorn 66.5°S 23.5°S Sunlight Atmosphere Arctic circle Sunlight Earth’s surface 90°S South Pole

The World’s Major Land Biomes Tropical rain forest Temperate grassland Temperate forest Tundra Tropical dry forest Desert Northwestern coniferous forest Mountains and ice caps Tropical savanna Temperate woodland and shrubland Boreal forest (Taiga)

Ten Major Biomes Biome Precipitation Temperature Soil Diversity Trees Grasses Tropical Rain Forest high hot poor dense sparse Tropical Dry Forest variable mild rich moderate medium Tropical Savanna clay Desert low Temperate Grassland summer hot absent Temperate woodland and Shrubland summer low, winter moderate Temperate Forest summer moderate, winter cold Northwestern Coniferous Forest summer mild, winter cold rocky, acidic Boreal Forest summer mild, winter cool poor, acidic Tundra summer mild, winter cold

Project Food Web Biome Poster

The Recycling of Materials in Ecosystems:

Carbon 4 ways carbon is recycled in an ecosystem: 1. photosynthesis 2. respiration 3. decomposition (decay) 4. burning

The Carbon Cycle CO2 in Atmosphere CO2 in Ocean

Oxygen Cycle

Nitrogen Nitrogen fixation: Special type of bacteria found on the roots of legumes (peas, beans, peanuts, alfalfa, clover) Take free nitrogen from air and change it into nitrates Nitrates used to make plant grow, plant produces nutrients for bacteria = mutualism

The Nitrogen Cycle N2 in Atmosphere NO3- and NO2- NH3

The Water Cycle Condensation Precipitation Evaporation Transpiration Runoff Seepage Root Uptake

Importance of Biodiversity

Hardy-Weinberg Law 5 conditions that must occur for a population not to change: 1. no mutations 2. no immigration (entering) and no emigration (leaving) 3. population must be large 4. individuals have the same chance of surviving 5. matings of individual organisms must be random

Biodiversity The amount of variety in a community Also called species diversity • Low biodiversity: Few species of plants and animals • High biodiversity: Many species in a community

Importance of Biodiversity 1. ecosystem stability 2. medicinal purposes, possible cures for diseases Main reason why biodiversity is decreasing: Habitat destruction Ways humans destroy habitats: Clearing land building dams highways, etc

Rain Forests 70 -90% of the earth’s biodiversity will be lost with destruction of rain forests Scientists are trying to identify and classify many newly discovered organisms Fear that we are losing valuable medicines

People and the Environment

Desertification Severe threat to our soil supply Loss due to drought or poor farming practices Ex. Cattle grazing: Eat plants down to the roots; plants can no longer hold nutrients. Land becomes dry and bare. Irrigation: water pumped from the ground contains minerals (salt). Water evaporates, minerals remain. Land is unsuitable for agriculture.

Erosion Increased as humans cut forests and removes plants Loose soil is washed away by rain Example: Dust Bowl: Great Plains 1930’s Farmers now grow crops in ways that reduce soil erosion

Water pollution Raw sewage Thermal pollution

Air pollution Addition of gases and tiny solid particles added to the air by human activities

Harmful Human Activities Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) Industry Forest fires

Natural Occurrences Forest fires Dust storms Erupting volcanoes

Global Air Pollution Problems

Acid Rain (Acid Precipitation) Harmful gases produced by burning coal, oil, and gasoline Gases carried by winds for long distances Gases combine with water droplets, making the rain acidic Damage has been done to many forests, lakes, rivers, etc. Also damage to statues.

Global Warming Earth kept warm by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (greenhouse effect) Burning of fossil fuels releases excessive amounts of carbon dioxide, which causes more heat to be trapped. Also caused by burning of rain forests as land is cleared. Average global temperatures have increased in the past 100 years Causes climate changes which result in movements in plant and animal species

The Greenhouse Effect Sunlight Some heat escapes into space Greenhouse gases trap some heat Atmosphere Earth’s surface

Ozone Depletion Caused by Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Found in air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosol cans (hair spray, deodorant, spray paint, etc) Ozone blocks UV radiation from the sun. UV rays damages DNA in our cells (skin cancer)

Montreal Protocol: 1987 Agreement between many countries listing steps needed to protect the ozone layer by limiting or eliminating the use of ozone-depleting chemicals by 1996.

Human Population Growth Most serious problem that affects all life on Earth Increasing Agricultural revolution (better tools and methods) and Industrial Revolution Advances in farming and medicine. 1960 3 billion vs. 2000 6 billion (?) What is Earth’s carrying capacity for the human population?

Human Population Growth Industrial Revolution begins Agriculture begins Bubonic plague Plowing and irrigation

International Conference on Population and Development: 1994 160 countries met Agreed that population growth can not continue at current rate Population of any organism can not increase forever. Polluted land, water, and air; lack of food and space; and widespread disease will limit population size

Direct Harvesting Destruction or removal of species from their habitats Can lead to the extinction of species Ex: Monkeys and parrots from the rain forest Baby harbor seals (for pelts) Elephants (tusks to make jewelry)

Saving the Biosphere

Dr. Seuss, The Lorax As an individual, make a list of things that you can do to protect our environment.

Reduce: (use less) skeeda.com Use a mug or glass instead of paper cups for drinks Make double sided photocopies Bring your own shopping bags to grocery store skeeda.com

Reuse Paper or plastic grocery bags Water jugs

Recycle Plastic Glass Metal Paper Examples: 1. Black Asphalt in NYC contains recycled glass 2. Building materials are made to look like wood (actually plastic)

Renewable vs. Nonrenewable

Renewable Can be replaced within a generation Enough is being made to replace what is being used Ex: Food Wood Oxygen

Nonrenewable: Can not be replaced Ex: Coal, oil, natural gas Gold, silver, iron, copper, aluminum Sand, gravel, limestone

Things humans can do to improve the biosphere Windmills, Endangered Species Act, The Environmental Protection Agency, etc

We are being invaded by aliens! HELP! We are being invaded by aliens!

Foreign Species Plants or animals that are not native to an area Multiply very quickly because they do not have any predators or competitors Often cause native species to decrease in number

Zebra Mussels (Russian native) When? 1980’s Where? St.Lawrence River Why? By accident, carried on boat What is the problem? Attach themselves to surfaces and colonize Clog piped, motors, bridges Found in many waters of the eastern United States

Zebra Mussels

Mongoose When? 1877 Where? Puerto Rico Why? Used to control rats that were damaging sugarcane crops What is the problem? Rats learned to avoid the mongoose. Mongoose began to eat poultry, birds, and lizards. As lizard population decreased, June beetle populations increased. The also are pests of the sugarcane.

Mongoose

Purple Loosestrife (European native) When? Early 1800’s Where? All of United States Why? Ornamental plant What is the problem? It has invaded the wetlands of all 48 states. It has crowded out 44 native plants and endangered the wildlife that depends on these plants. Approximately $45 million is spent a year trying to control it.

Purple Loosestrife

The English Sparrow When? 1853 Where? United States Why? Control canker worms (garden pests) What is the problem? Ate crops instead. Displaces native birds and harasses others. Carries 29 diseases that affect both humans and domestic animals. Canker worms are still garden pests!

English Sparrow