1 ECOLOGY

2 What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in.

3 Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life Habitat is the place a plant or animal livesHabitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism’s total way of lifeNiche is an organism’s total way of life

4 The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment.Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil.Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.

5 The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment.Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.

Succession Replacement of 1 type of community by another at a single location over a period of time Begins with pioneer species Goes thru succession to maintain equilibrium Replacement of 1 type of community by another at a single location over a period of time Begins with pioneer species Goes thru succession to maintain equilibrium copyright cmassengale6

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8 What are the Simplest Levels? AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem AtomAtom MoleculeMolecule OrganelleOrganelle CellCell TissueTissue OrganOrgan SystemSystem

9 1 st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsOrganism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

10 2 nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

11 3 rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

12 4 th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

13 5 th Level of Organization Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water.Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things.

14 Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

15 Energy Flow Energy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sunEnergy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sun Energy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumersEnergy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumers –Producers (make food) –Consumers (use food by eating producers or other consumers) Energy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sunEnergy in an ecosystem originally comes from the sun Energy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumersEnergy flows through Ecosystems from producers to consumers –Producers (make food) –Consumers (use food by eating producers or other consumers)

16 ProducersProducers Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth.Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth. Producers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sunProducers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth.Sunlight is the main source of energy for most life on earth. Producers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sunProducers contain chlorophyll & can use energy directly from the sun

17 AutotrophsAutotrophs An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply!An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply! Autotrophs are also called ProducersAutotrophs are also called Producers Plants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examplesPlants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examples An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply!An Autotroph is any organism that can produce its own food supply! Autotrophs are also called ProducersAutotrophs are also called Producers Plants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examplesPlants, algae, some protists, & some bacteria are examples

18 ConsumersConsumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. (e.g. animals) HerbivoresHerbivores –Eat Only Plants CarnivoresCarnivores –Eat Only Other Animals Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. (e.g. animals) HerbivoresHerbivores –Eat Only Plants CarnivoresCarnivores –Eat Only Other Animals

19 ConsumersConsumers Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. Omnivores (Humans)Omnivores (Humans) –Eat Plants & Animals Detritivores (Scavengers)Detritivores (Scavengers) –Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains (buzzards) DecomposersDecomposers –Fungi & Bacteria Heterotrophs eat other organisms to obtain energy. Omnivores (Humans)Omnivores (Humans) –Eat Plants & Animals Detritivores (Scavengers)Detritivores (Scavengers) –Feed On Dead Plant & Animal Remains (buzzards) DecomposersDecomposers –Fungi & Bacteria

20 Feeding Relationships Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from producers to various levels of consumers Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction from producers to various levels of consumers

21 Feeding Relationships Food ChainFood Chain –Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food WebFood Web –More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains Food ChainFood Chain –Simple Energy path through an ecosystem Food WebFood Web –More realistic path through an ecosystem made of many food chains

22 Food Web

23 Trophic Levels Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. ProducersProducers –Always The First Trophic Level –How Energy Enters The System HerbivoresHerbivores –Second Trophic Level Each Level In A Food Chain or Food Web is a Trophic Level. ProducersProducers –Always The First Trophic Level –How Energy Enters The System HerbivoresHerbivores –Second Trophic Level

24 Trophic Levels Carnivores/OmnivoresCarnivores/Omnivores –Make Up The Remaining Trophic Levels Each level depends on the one below it for energy. Carnivores/OmnivoresCarnivores/Omnivores –Make Up The Remaining Trophic Levels Each level depends on the one below it for energy.

The maximum amount of ENERGY that passes from one trophic level to the next is 10%. 90% of the ENERGY at each trophic level is used to keep the organisms alive and is converted to HEAT.

Ecological Relationships

competition predation parasitism mutualism commensalism symbiosis

Competition – two species share a requirement for a limited resource  reduces fitness of one or both species

Predation – one species feeds on another  enhances fitness of predator but reduces fitness of prey herbivory is a form of predation

Parasitism – one species feeds on another The parasite species benefits, but the host is harmed.

Mutualism – two species provide resources or services to each other. Both benefit.

Commensalism – one species receives a benefit from another species  enhances fitness of one species; no effect on fitness of the other species

Symbiosis – two species live together  can include parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism