Science & Technology in the Environment Ecology

16.01 – Summarize how ecology and the environment affect an organism’s ability to adapt or change.

General Terms Ecosphere Where living things are found on Earth. Biosphere Area of the Earth that supports life Ecology Study of how living organisms exist in their natural environment Ecosystems Biotic Abiotic Terrestrial Aquatic July 22, 2012Footer text here3

Ecology and Ecosystems Ecosystems Living organisms interact with themselves and with nonliving parts of their environments These environments form communities The interaction within a community forms an ecosystem Factors Biotic Living things Abiotic Non living things July 22, 2012Footer text here4

Natural Selection If organisms do not adapt and change, then they will not survive Change and Adapation Living organisms vary greatly Variations help organisms survive Natural Selection Survival of life forms that are best adapted to their environment “Survival of the fittest” Adaptation Ability of an individual or a species to tolerate changes in their environment July 22, 2012Footer text here5

Succession The replacement of one community by another Tree species in a forest Types Terrestrial – on land Aquatic – in water July 22, 2012Footer text here6

Homeostasis Process by which an organism maintains a fairly constant internal environment when the external environment changes Climate, moisture, temperature, light, soil, and periodicity affect homeostasis in living organisms July 22, 2012Footer text here7

Periodicity The occurrence of things at regular intervals or periodically Moon Cycles Types Daily – includes night and day Seasonal – Season of the year July 22, 2012Footer text here8

Thermal Adaptations Based on how an organism responds to temperature changes Homeotherm An animal that maintains near constant internal body temperature Called warm-blooded Examples are humans, horses, cattle, deer, dogs, and birds Poikilotherm An animal that has a body temperature that is more or less in equilibrium with its environment Incorrectly called cold-blooded Body temperature varies with the environment AKA ectotherms Examples are reptiles, such as snakes, turtles, and fish July 22, 2012Footer text here9

Population Ecology – Discuss population ecology as it relates to living communities, population, ecology, food chains, and biomes.

Communities A collection of plants and animals that live together in a certain harmony Growth and Life May be on land or water Land = Terrestrial Water = Aquatic Dominance and Diversity Dominant species One that is stronger or has some advantage over another species Diversity The number of different types of living things in a community. July 22, 2012Footer text here11

Community Organization and Structure Habitat The natural home of a plant or animal May be aquatic, terrestrial, or combinations Niche Function or role of a living thing within its habitat or community. Vertical Structures Depends on plants. Tall trees provide habitats Horizontal Structures The arrangement of communities over the land area. July 22, 2012Footer text here12

Population Ecology Study of how populations of plants and animals affect each other in a community Population density Measure of how crowded organisms are in their environment Age Populations are characterized by age Distribution How organisms are distributed over the space they use July 22, 2012Footer text here13

Population Ecology Growth Natality The production of new individuals in a population Mortality The death rate in a population Competition The use of the same resources by different organisms to live Can cause stresses in the population Predation One living organism serving as food for another Predator – organism that consumes the other Prey – organism that is consumed July 22, 2012Footer text here14

Food Chains A sequence in which the living organisms in a community get their food Differs among species Interlinking of food chain forms the food web July 22, 2012Footer text here15

Feeding Groups Herbivore Eats only plant foods Carnivore East only flesh of other animals Omnivore Eats both plants and animals Biophage Eats living plants and animals Saprophage Eats nonliving matter July 22, 2012Footer text here16

Major Food Chains Grazing Chain When animals eat plants, and in some cases, humans or other animals eat these Detrital Chain When animals and plants eat detritus, which is decomposing plant and animal matter July 22, 2012Footer text here17

Biomass Weight of living organisms in an area Forests or water with much life has a high biomass Deserts have a low biomass July 22, 2012Footer text here18

Ecosystem Diversity: Biomes A distinctive combination of plants and animals July 22, 2012Footer text here19

Terrestrial Biomes Tropical Forests – near the equator Temperate Forests – may range from warm to cold and wet Grassland and Savanna Where grasses naturally grow Plans areas are examples of grasslands Savannas are found in soil with low fertility that has more rainfall than grasslands Tundra Low temperatures and short growing season Permafrost – permanently frozen ground Taiga Cold climate areas covered with large conifer forests Deserts Have little or no rainfall, extreme temperatures, and may be covered with sand or rock July 22, 2012Footer text here20

Aquatic Biomes Lakes and ponds – inland depressions containing freshwater Streams – flowing water ecosystems Oceans – large bodies of salt water Wetlands Called swamps, important as wildlife habitat and to aid the environment Estuary Where streams flow into oceans Important as breeding grounds for some saltwater species July 22, 2012Footer text here21

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