1. Ecology Part II Some of 3-3, mostly Ch. 4

2. Water Cycle

3. Carbon Cycle

4. Nutrient Limitation Producers produce organic matter at a steady rate This rate is effected by amounts of available nutrients This rate is effected by amounts of available nutrients When one nutrient is severely limited (ex: Nitrogen) it is called a Limiting Nutrient When one nutrient is severely limited (ex: Nitrogen) it is called a Limiting Nutrient Limiting nutrients can be different depending on the location of the ecosystem Limiting nutrients can be different depending on the location of the ecosystem Humans are amazing at throwing Limited nutrients out of wack! Fertilizers contain Nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium, three limited nutrients Fertilizers contain Nitrogen, Phosphorous and potassium, three limited nutrients When these three nutrients run off crop fields into the water, it throws the water ecosystem out of balance and Algae Blooms appear….these destroy aquatic habitats When these three nutrients run off crop fields into the water, it throws the water ecosystem out of balance and Algae Blooms appear….these destroy aquatic habitats

5. Ch. 4: Climate and Ecosystems Climate refers to the repeated year-after-year conditions of a location Caused by: heat trapped by atmosphere heat trapped by atmosphere Latitude of location Latitude of location Transport of heat by wind and ocean currents Transport of heat by wind and ocean currents Amount of percipitation Amount of percipitation Greenhouse Effect: Gases found in the atmosphere act like the reflective glass windows of a greenhouse Heat and other gases are trapped in our atmosphere which causes steady predictable temperatures and climate Heat and other gases are trapped in our atmosphere which causes steady predictable temperatures and climate Sunlight is permitted through the gases, but the heat energy it turns into cannot pass back out Sunlight is permitted through the gases, but the heat energy it turns into cannot pass back out

6. Ecosystems: How they function and Why Ecosystems depend on various Biotic (living) and Abiotic (non-living) factors Biotic factors include: Every living organism an organism can come in contact with. (Includes plants, algae, fungus, animals, insects, birds, etc, etc.) Every living organism an organism can come in contact with. (Includes plants, algae, fungus, animals, insects, birds, etc, etc.) Abiotic factors include: Climate, temperature, percipitation, wind, nutrients, sunlight, rocks Climate, temperature, percipitation, wind, nutrients, sunlight, rocks The place where an organism lives is called a Habitat

7. Niches Ecosystems are like office buildings…everyone has a job. A Niche is the special job of each individual This includes a wide rage of physical and biological conditions Ex: Where the organism is in the food web, what it eats, how it makes a home, what eats it

8. Community Interactions Organisms rely on each other to make each ecosystem run smoothly Competition: occurs when organisms attempt to use the same stuff at the same time. The result is a winner (who survives) and a loser (who fails to survive) No two species can occupy the same niche at the same time The result is a winner (who survives) and a loser (who fails to survive) No two species can occupy the same niche at the same time Predation: occurs when one organism feeds on another The organism who does the killing is the predator, the one who is killed it the prey (Ex: Deep sea Angler fish) The organism who does the killing is the predator, the one who is killed it the prey (Ex: Deep sea Angler fish) Parasitism: occurs when one organism lives on or in another organism usually causing harm to the host. Parasites get most or all of their nutrients from the host and can weaken but do not usually kill the host (Ex: Fleas, ticks, tapeworms) Parasites get most or all of their nutrients from the host and can weaken but do not usually kill the host (Ex: Fleas, ticks, tapeworms)