ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY The study of the ABUNDANCE, DISTRIBUTION, and DIVERSITY of organisms and their interactions within an environment.

ECOLOGY ABUNDANCE - amount of individuals of one species DISTRIBUTION - the arrangement of different species in an area DIVERSITY - amounts of different species

TYPES OF DISTRIBUTION RANDOMCLUMPEDUNIFORM

Factors that affect distribution on a Rocky Shore predator/prey (seastars eat mussels) predator/prey (seastars eat mussels) shelter (seaweeds provide shelter for small crustaceans) shelter (seaweeds provide shelter for small crustaceans) food (seaweeds provide food for snails) food (seaweeds provide food for snails) competition (kelp for space) competition (kelp for space)

What ecology concentrates on is studying POPULATION DYNAMICS The changes in abundance (the amount of individuals) in an area over time

Ecology is different from ENVIRONMENTA L SCIENCE How?

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Incorporates the impact of human activities, both planned and unplanned on the environment.

ORGANISM ECOSYSTEM BIOSPHERE ORGANIZATION POPULATION COMMUNITY

POPULATION interbreeding assemblage of a single species in an area i.e. population of bunnies

COMMUNITY Populations of different species living and interacting together.

ECOSYSTEM Many communities together within an area that share common abiotic factors.

BIOSPHERE all ecosystems on Earth and the interactions between organisms and the environment within them composed of 2 types of ecosystems -biome (terrestrial) -aquatic life system (water)

HOMEOSTASIS Maintaining a stable environment Maintaining a stable environment when factors change organism must readjust to re-establish the balance (or die) when factors change organism must readjust to re-establish the balance (or die) Factors to be Maintained temperature amount of water amount of salts nutrients levels of waste products

ABIOTIC ENVIRONMENT temperature temperature salinity salinity pressure pressure sunlight sunlight sediments sediments nonliving components

TEMPERATURE Which are ectotherms? Which are endotherms? AS TEMPERATURE DECREASES, DENSITY INCREASES

SALINITY as salinity increases, density increases salinity is measured in parts of salt per thousand parts of water (ppt)

PRESSURE

Expanding swimbladder may push on eyes!

AMOUNT OF RAINFALL

SUNLIGHT

BIOTIC ENVIRONMENT all living components all living components i.e. fish, fern, etc

BIOTIC INTERACTIONS predator/prey interactions predator/prey interactions competition competition symbiosis symbiosis

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Abiotic and Biotic Components

HABITAT the environment in which an organism lives example: habitats of people rural suburban urban

MICROHABITAT

Rocky Shores Rocky Shore

Sandy Beaches

Coral Reef

Soil

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE total area in which a species can live

Biomes vs. Aquatic Life Systems Biomes are terrestrial regions inhabited by certain types of life, especially vegetation; each biome also has a characteristic climate and geographical location Biomes are terrestrial regions inhabited by certain types of life, especially vegetation; each biome also has a characteristic climate and geographical location

Aquatic life systems are marine and freshwater portions of the biosphere; Examples include freshwater systems (lakes, ponds, rives) or marine systems (estuaries, coastlines, coral reefs, deep ocean) Aquatic life systems are marine and freshwater portions of the biosphere; Examples include freshwater systems (lakes, ponds, rives) or marine systems (estuaries, coastlines, coral reefs, deep ocean)

Niches Niche- total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem. It includes all physical, chemical, and biological conditions a species needs to live and reproduce in an ecosystem Niche- total way of life or role of a species in an ecosystem. It includes all physical, chemical, and biological conditions a species needs to live and reproduce in an ecosystem

Biodiversity Biological diversity refers to the variety of different species (species diversity), genetic variability among individuals within a species (genetic diversity), and the variety of ecosystems (ecological diversity) Biological diversity refers to the variety of different species (species diversity), genetic variability among individuals within a species (genetic diversity), and the variety of ecosystems (ecological diversity)

Areas with higher numbers of DIFFERENT species are more diverse than those that have high numbers of the same type of species (abundance) Areas with higher numbers of DIFFERENT species are more diverse than those that have high numbers of the same type of species (abundance) Do not confuse biodiversity with abundance!!!!!! Do not confuse biodiversity with abundance!!!!!!

Interactions Organisms interact with one another and ecologists study these interactions Organisms interact with one another and ecologists study these interactions

Types of Interactions 1. Same species to same species 1. Same species to same species 2. Same species to different species 2. Same species to different species 3. Species to environment/surroundings 3. Species to environment/surroundings

Important Species Interactions Competition-2 or more organisms attempting to use the same scarce resources in the same ecosystem Competition-2 or more organisms attempting to use the same scarce resources in the same ecosystem Symbiosis-any intimate relationship or association between members of 2 or more species (5 types) Symbiosis-any intimate relationship or association between members of 2 or more species (5 types)

1. Competition 1. Competition 2. Predation 2. Predation 3. Mutualism- interaction where both species benefit 3. Mutualism- interaction where both species benefit 4. Commensalism- interaction in which one organisms benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed 4. Commensalism- interaction in which one organisms benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed

5. Parasitism- interaction in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed 5. Parasitism- interaction in which one organism benefits while the other is harmed