Ecology What is in an Ecosystem?

What is ecology? The study of the relationships between living things and their environment In an ecosystem everything is connected

What will you learn? Abiotic/ biotic factors Population / community Habitat and niche

What is an Ecosystem? Includes all the different organisms living in a certain area Includes their physical environment Usually don’t have clear boundaries as organisms move from one place to another

Examples Soil and leaves wash into a lake from the forest Birds often migrate from winter homes to summer

Ecosystems Wetlands Desert Mountains Polar region Coral reef

Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic- living parts of an ecosystem Animals Plants microorganisms Abiotic- nonliving parts of an ecosystem Temperature Sunlight Humidity rainfall –water supply Soil Mineral nutrients –Nitrogen –Phosphorus –sulfer

All parts of the ecosystem Are interconnected – they depend on one another

organism population community

Organism One individual living thing –Humans –Ants –Plants in classroom –Bacterium in our intestines

Species Group of organisms able to produce offspring Share common genes Share common characteristics –Humans – Homo sapiens –Domestic dogs– Canis familiaris

DNA and Genes

Population Group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place

Examples Bullfrog population in a pond Lion population of the savanna Bluebonnet population of a field

Community All populations are part of a community- Group of interacting populations of different species All living inhabitants of an ecosystem make up a community

Pond community Includes populations of different plants Populations of Fish Populations of different insects Populations of different amphibians Populations of different microorganisms

Niche All of the relationships between an organism and its environment – both living and nonliving- make up its niche Think of an organisms niche as its lifestyle

Bear’s Niche Tick feeds on a bear blood Bear sunning on a rock Feeding on salmon in the river Drinking from the river

Niche Also includes –When and how often it reproduces –How many offspring it has –What time of day it is most active –Where it finds shelter –How it contributes to and fits in w/ its environment

How does a lion in Africa fit into its ecosystem? They survive by killing and eating other animals Other animals – scavengers- hyenas, vultures, pick over the meat left on the bones Bacteria, fungi, and insects in the soil also feed on the carcass causing it to rot

Soil Ecosystem Includes a variety of organisms Earthworms to aerate the soil and break it up Snakes feed on moles in the ground Insects tunnel through the soil Plants die and provide nutrients in the soil Fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms