AG-WL-3

What’s the difference?

What do the pliers look like? How do the pliers work? Which pliers would you want to use in a given situation? What’s the difference?

Ecosystems are similar. They are described by: What does it look like? How does it function? What value does it have? What’s the difference?

Study of how living things exist in the environment Environment consists of living organisms, non-living things, climate, air, water, and land Explains the roles of organisms in nature Ecologist – a person that studies ecology What is Ecology?

A community of living and non- living things interacting within their environment Interactions within an ecosystem are numerous and complex What is an ecosystem?

Biotic All living things such as plants, animals, and micro-organisms Abiotic Non-living parts of an environment Organisms cannot survive without abiotic factors Examples: energy, water, nutrients, and soil What is an ecosystem?

Ecosystems have no particular size Dependent on flora and fauna Flora – plant life Fauna – animal life Communities are interdependent (they depend on each other for survival) Community is a group of organisms living in relative harmony What is an ecosystem?

Ecology BiosphereBiomesEcosystems Communities PopulationsSpecies How are ecosystems organized?

Biosphere: largest of all ecosystems Biomes: Regional ecosystems Ecosystems are composed of communities Communities encompass populations Groups of organisms form populations How are ecosystems organized?

Soil Mixture of weathered rock, minerals, organic matter, and living organisms Provide nutrients, water, and growing media Atmosphere Provides organisms with carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and oxygen for respiration What are the major components of an ecosystem?

Solar Radiation Used to heat the atmosphere and to evaporate and transpire water Sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis What are the major components of ecosystems?

Water Medium by which mineral nutrients are translocated in plants Necessary for leaf turgidity and photosynthetic chemical reactions 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + Solar Energy = C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 What are the major components of ecosystems?

Organisms Three categories of organisms Producers (Autotrophs) Consumers (Heterotrophs) Decomposers or Detrivores What are the major components of ecosystems?

Producers Convert energy into food, generally plants Decomposers or Detrivores Degrade organic material What are the major components of ecosystems?

Consumers Animals, feed on producers Primary: herbivores (eats plants) Secondary: carnivores (eats meat) Tertiary: eats secondary consumers What are the major components of ecosystems?

Native species Normally live and thrive in an ecosystem Immigrant species Migrates into an ecosystem, may be introduced by humans What types of species are found in ecosystems?

Exotic species An organism that is not native to an environment, but has been introduced from another location Often the species of focus by researchers and managers What types of species are found in ecosystems?

Invasive species Non-native species of plants or animals that out-compete native species in a specific habitat Alters natural composition of ecosystems What types of species are found in ecosystems?

Indicator species Serves as early warning that ecosystem is degrading Keystone species Significant role affecting many organisms in an ecosystem Examples: bumblebee, longleaf pine, beaver, gopher, tortoise What types of species are found in ecosystems?

Interspecific competition Competition between species for resources Predation Predator feeds on prey Mutualism Both participating species benefit Commensalism One species benefit, while other organisms are not affected How do species interact in an ecosystem?

Variation of organisms within a given ecosystem or biome What is biodiversity?

Genetic diversity – variability in genetic material Small populations breeding results in narrow diversity Large populations breeding results in greater diversity Isolating populations to areas limits diversity Genetic deformities are more prevalent when diversity is low What are three types of biodiversity?

Species diversity – variety and number of different species that share an environment Available food supply impacts species diversity Warmer climates often have greater diversity than cooler climates What is biodiversity?

Environment diversity – variety of species in biological communities and their interaction with non-living elements What is biodiversity?

Habitat loss and fragmentation Invasive Species Pollution Climate Change How is biodiversity lost?

Home to 69 terrestrial animals 370 species of birds 163 species of reptiles and amphibians 219 native fish species Approximately 4,200 aquatic species insects 98 mollusks species More than 3,600 native wild plants How diverse is Georgia?

l_resources/wildlife/publications/pdfs/fs5_ basic_ecological_principles.pdf Basic Ecological Principles: Understanding How the System Works