1. Moretz, 10th grade science 2007-2008
Ecology
Moretz, 10th grade science

2. Outline Roles of organisms in the ecosystem.
Interactions of organisms in the ecosystem.
Symbiosis
Predator-prey
Competition
Population ecology
Exponential growth
Carrying capacity
Limiting factors

3. Ecology
Study of the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things in the environment.

4. Species
Species – group of organisms that share similar characteristics and are able to reproduce among themselves to produce fertile offspring.

5. Population
Population – organisms of the same species occupying the same area at the same time

6. Community
Community – all of the populations in an area.

7. Ecosystem
Ecosystem – all of the living and nonliving things in an area
Abiotic – nonliving things in the ecosystem
Biotic – living things in the ecosystem

8. Roles of Organisms in the Ecosystem
Producer – organism that is able to photosynthesize to get food.
Autotroph - organism that is able to photosynthesize to get food.

9. Roles of Organisms in the Ecosystem
Consumer – organism that must eat another organism to get food.
Heterotroph - organism that must eat another organism to get food.

10. Types of Consumers
Herbivore – consumer that only eats producers

11. Types of Consumers
Carnivore – consumer that only eats other consumers

12. Types of Consumers
Omnivore – consumer that eats both producers and consumers

13. Types of Consumers
Scavenger – animal that feeds off of organisms that were killed by another organism

14. Types of Consumers Decomposer
organisms that break down organic material
broken down organic material is then used by the producers and are passed through the food chain
Ex. bacteria

15. Food Chain
A unidirectional, linear feeding relationship between organisms.
Shows how an organism gets food in the ecosystem.

16. Food Web All of the food chains in the ecosystem.
Shows how energy is recycled through the ecosystem.

18. Food Web Producer Tertiary Consumer Tertiary Consumer Primary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Secondary, Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Producer
Primary Consumer

19. Trophic Levels Each level in a food chain of food web.
Trophic level = food level
1st trophic level is ALWAYS Producers.
Each level depends on the level below it for energy.

20. Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Tertiary Consumer
Quaternary Consumer
Producer

21. Trophic Levels 3rd Trophic Level 2nd Trophic Level 4th Trophic Level
1st Trophic Level

22. Ecological Pyramids
Energy pyramid - Drawing of the amount of energy at each trophic level in a food web.
Pyramid of Numbers – Drawing of the number of organisms at each trophic level

25. Producer
Producer

26. Primary Consumer
Primary Consumer
Primary Consumer

27. Secondary Consumer
Secondary Consumer

28. 1st Trophic Level
1st Trophic Level

29. 2nd Trophic Level
2nd Trophic Level
2nd Trophic Level

30. 3rd Trophic Level
3rd Trophic Level

32. Name the Producer, Consumers &
Decomposers in this food chain:

33. Relationships in the Food Web
Symbiotic relationships
Producer Consumer
Predator prey
Competition

34. Symbiosis
A close, long-term relationship between two or more organisms of different species.
At least one organism benefits from the relationship.
Types:
Parasitism
Mutualism
Commensalism

35. Symbiosis Host – larger organism in a symbiotic relationship
Symbiont – smaller organism in a symbiotic relationship.

36. Parasitism
Close, long-term relationship in which one organism is harmed while the other organism benefits.
Ex. Tick feeding on your blood.

38. Mutualism
Close, long-term relationship in which both organisms benefit.
Ex. E.coli living in your stomach. The E.coli gets nutrients from the food you eat, and the E.coli helps you digest the food.

40. Commensalism
Close, long-term relationship in which one organism benefits and one organism neither benefits nor is harmed.
Ex. Barnacles live on whales. The barnacles get food and shelter and the whale is unharmed.

42. Competition
Two or more organisms attempt to use the same scarce resource.
Organisms may compete for space, food, water, mates, light, & nutrients

43. Niche Niche All of an organism’s interactions with:
its physical environment
other organisms
The “role” an organism has in its ecosystem

44. Types of Niche
Two types of niches:
Fundamental Niche
Realized Niche

45. Fundamental Niche
Niche an organism could potentially use within an ecosystem.
Ex. A Jaguar hunts during the day and night; feeds on mammals, fish, and turtles; and give birth between June & August.

46. Realized Niche
Part of the fundamental niche that an organism actually uses.
Determined by competition.
Ex. A Jaguar hunts during the day and night but is only able to feed on fish; it gives birth between June & August.

47. Zones I,
II, & III
Zones II
& III
B: Zones II & III
C: Zone I

49. Niche Overlap
Species may share parts of another species’ niche, but different species NEVER have the same niche.
Niche overlap
Shared part of the niche.
Competition occurs where niches overlap.

50. Niche Overlap
Leopard
Algae

51. Niche Overlap
Hawk
Owl

52. Niche Overlap
Hawk
Owl
Shared Resources
Competition

53. Example: Tale of Two Anoles
The Ecological Niche
Example: Tale of Two Anoles
Green Anole
Brown Anole

54. The Ecological Niche Fundamental vs. Realized Niche COMPETITION
Fundamental Niche of Green Anole
Fundamental Niche of Brown Anole
Overlap
Brown anole out-competes green anole, therefore . . .

55. The Ecological Niche Fundamental vs. Realized Niche
Realized Niche of Green Anole
Realized Niche of Brown Anole
Overlap

56. The Ecological Niche Competitive Exclusion
- no 2 species can occupy the same niche indefinitely.
- one species is excluded from part of the niche because of interspecific competition.

57. The Ecological Niche
Competitive Exclusion

58. The Ecological Niche
Competitive Exclusion

59. Results of Competition
More unique niches.
Species share less of each other’s niche.
Competitive exclusion
The process in which one species is out-competed and dies out within an ecosystem.

60. Types of Competitors
Generalist – species that are able to use many different resources & has a broad niche.
Specialist – species that uses specific resources & has a narrow niche.

62. Succession Succession Change in a community over time.
Caused by COMPETITION
Species presently living in a community are out-competed; different species move into the ecosystem.

63. Types of Succession Primary Succession: Secondary Succession:
Occurs where plants and soil did NOT previously exist.
Secondary Succession:
Occurs in an area where plants and soil previously existed.

64. Biological Communities
Primary succession –
Rocks
Lichens
Mosses

65. Biological Communities
Primary succession –
Rocks
Lichens
Mosses
Grasses
Shrubs

66. Biological Communities
Primary succession –
Rocks
Lichens
Mosses
Grasses
Shrubs
Trees

67. Secondary Succession

68. Succession Species
Pioneer species - 1st plants to grow in a changing habitat.
Climax species - final plants to inhabit the mature stages of a habitat.

70. Exponential Growth Describes the rate of growth of a population.
Caused by doubling the number of organisms in a population.

71. Limiting Factor Abiotic factor that limits the growth of a population.
Ex. Water, temperature, food, space, light.

72. Carrying Capacity
Maximum number of organisms in a population an area can support.