1. Unit 9
Ecology

2. The Principles of Ecology
UNIT 9 : ECOLOGY
The Principles of Ecology
Ecology – study of the interactions among living things and their surrounding.
Name comes from Greek word “oikos”- meaning “house”.

3. Levels of Organization
Organism – an individual living thing
example:   

4. Population – group of same species that lives in one area
example:

5. Community – group of different species that live together in one area
example:

6. Ecosystem – includes all organisms as well as the climate, soil, water, rocks, and other non-living things in a given area.
example:

7. Biome – major regional or global community of organisms characterized by climate conditions and plant communities that thrive there.
example:

8. Biosphere – portion of planet where life exists
2 miles (↨)

9. Ecological research methods include observations , experimentation, and modeling
Observation – the act of carefully watching something over time.
May be long term or short term studies
Surveys are used to monitor and observe populations

10. Experimentation – may perform experiments in the lab or in the field
lab experiments give researcher more control, but artificial setting does not reflect complex interactions that occur in nature.
field experiments gives more accurate picture but is more difficult because of numerous factors at work in nature.

11. Modeling – use of computer or mathematical models to describe and model nature based on real data.
   
Can see how one variable affects another
Can create virtual ecosystem

12. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
An ecosystem includes both biotic and abiotic factors
Biotic – includes living things

13. Abiotic – includes nonliving things such as moisture, temperature, wind, sunlight, and soil

14. Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect many other factors
Biodiversity – the assortment, or variety, of living things in an ecosystem
amount depends on many factors
tropical rainforests have large biodiversity

15. Keystone species – a species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem
loss of this species may cause ripple effect felt across entire ecosystem

16. Example: beaver changes habitat for many other species by creating ponds

18. Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiosis- two species living together
3 Types of symbiosis:
1. Commensalism
2. Parasitism
3. Mutualism
Cleaning shrimp

19. Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism-
one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped
Ex. orchids on a tree

20. Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism-
one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped
Ex. polar bears and cyanobacteria
You can see here that this polar bear is no longer white.

21. Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitism-
one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host)
Parasite-Host relationship

22. Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitism- parasite-host
Ex. lampreys,
leeches, fleas,
ticks, tapeworm

23. Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism-
beneficial to both species
Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp
The Egyptian plover takes insects from the backs of buffaloes, giraffes and rhinos. The plover has also been observed taking leeches from the open mouths of crocodiles! In this association the plover receives a supply of food and the other animal rids itself of unwelcome pests

24. Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism-
beneficial to both species
Ex. lichen
The Egyptian plover takes insects from the backs of buffaloes, giraffes and rhinos. The plover has also been observed taking leeches from the open mouths of crocodiles! In this association the plover receives a supply of food and the other animal rids itself of unwelcome pests

26. X = 1 species Type of relationship Species harmed Species benefits
Species neutral
Commensalism X
Parasitism
Mutualism XX
X = 1 species