ECOLOGY

Ecology – the scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment.

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION Biosphere-portions of the planet in which all of life exists Biosphere-portions of the planet in which all of life exists Biome- a group of ecosystem that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Biome- a group of ecosystem that have the same climate and similar dominant communities Deciduous – forest with leafy trees Deciduous – forest with leafy trees Coniferous – forest with needle type trees ( Pine Trees) Coniferous – forest with needle type trees ( Pine Trees)

Ecosystem- collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, together with their non- living or physical, environment Ecosystem- collection of all organisms that live in a particular place, together with their non- living or physical, environment Communities – different populations that live in the same area Communities – different populations that live in the same area Species – organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring Species – organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring

Energy Flow Producers: Producers: Autotrophs – an organism that is capable of synthesizing its own food from an inorganic substance Autotrophs – an organism that is capable of synthesizing its own food from an inorganic substance Chemoautotrophs - An organism, such as a bacterium or protozoan, that obtains its nourishment through the oxidation of inorganic chemical compounds as opposed to photosynthesis. Chemoautotrophs - An organism, such as a bacterium or protozoan, that obtains its nourishment through the oxidation of inorganic chemical compounds as opposed to photosynthesis. Consumers: Consumers: Heterotrophs Heterotrophs Herbivores – eat plants Herbivores – eat plants Carnivores – eat meat Carnivores – eat meat Detritivores (scavangers) eat dead animals Detritivores (scavangers) eat dead animals Decomposers (bacteria/fungus) Decomposers (bacteria/fungus)

Feeding Relationships *Food Chain *Food Chain *Food Web

TROPHIC LEVELS Level’s within the Food Web Primary Producers Primary Producers Primary Consumer Primary Consumer Secondary Consumer Secondary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Quaternary Consumer Quaternary Consumer Primary Producers have the most impact on the food web impact on the food web

Ecological Pyramid Energy Pyramid – only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level Energy Pyramid – only 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level Humans get their energy from food we measure this energy in the form of calories Humans get their energy from food we measure this energy in the form of calories

Biomass Pyramid (Bio-living mass-weight) Amount of living Amount of living tissue tissue

Pyramid of Numbers Number of individuals Number of individuals at each trophic level at each trophic level

Water cycle Evaporation Evaporation Condensation Condensation Precipitation Precipitation Transpiration – Transpiration – evaporation from plants evaporation from plants

Carbon Cycle: The carbon cycle diagram serves to demonstrate how the various supplies of carbon on earth change forms and ultimately are released into the atmosphere in dangerous quantities, adding to the greenhouse effect and global warming. - greenhouseglobal warming greenhouseglobal warming

*Nitrogen Cycle *Phosphorus Cycle *Phosphorus Cycle

Nutrient Limitation Primary productivity – rate at which organic matter is created by producers (how much food a plant makes) Primary productivity – rate at which organic matter is created by producers (how much food a plant makes) Limiting nutrient when a single nutrient is scarce or cycles very slowly (farmers apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ) Limiting nutrient when a single nutrient is scarce or cycles very slowly (farmers apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium )

Algae Bloom When an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of limiting nutrient (run off) When an aquatic ecosystem receives a large input of limiting nutrient (run off) Immediate increase in the amount of algae Immediate increase in the amount of algae Algae can’t get enough sunlight die Algae can’t get enough sunlight die Decomposition user up the available oxygen Decomposition user up the available oxygen Fish die Fish die

Ecosystems Biotic – living factors Biotic – living factors Abiotic – non living factors Abiotic – non living factors Together the biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the ecosystem in which it lives Together the biotic and abiotic factors determine the survival and growth of an organism and the productivity of the ecosystem in which it lives

Habitat Area where an organism lives, includes both the biotic and abiotic factors Area where an organism lives, includes both the biotic and abiotic factors

Niche Includes the type of food the organism eats, how it obtains this food, and which other species use the organism for food Includes the type of food the organism eats, how it obtains this food, and which other species use the organism for food

Community Interactions Competition – when organisms of the same or different species attempts to use a resource in the same place or at the same time Competition – when organisms of the same or different species attempts to use a resource in the same place or at the same time Results in a winner and a loser Results in a winner and a loser

Competitive exclusion principle No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

Predation One organism captures and feeds on another organism One organism captures and feeds on another organism

Symbiosis 1. Mutalism – both benefit 2. Commensalism – one benefits other is neither helped or harmed is neither helped or harmed 3. Parasitism- parasite gets it needs from host, host weakend

Ecological Succession Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to natural and human disturbances Older inhabitants gradually die out and new organisms move in, causing further changes in the environment

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Movie: Ferngully (all about the rainforest)