1. Ecological interactions Stuff that make the Ecosphere “work”.

2. Levels of organization I. Levels of life organization. A. Species – Organisms that are similar, can reproduce, and produce viable/ fertile offspring. - Dogs and wolves

3. Levels of organization B. Populations – Groups of individuals of one species, living in the same area (i.e. interbreeding)

4. Levels of organization C. Communities – A group of organisms of various species, living in one place, at one time.

5. Levels of organization D. Ecosystem – The collection of organisms that live in one place at one time, with non-living systems (considers the lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere).

8. Fly mouth

9. Moth mouth.

10. Rush Skeleton grass

11. Goat head

12. Levels of organization E. Biome – A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar communities (eg. Deserts, coral reefs, rain forests etc…)

13. Biomes

14. F. Biosphere – collection of all of the biomes on earth. *pic is from inside biosphere 2

15. II. Energy flow. A. Most of the energy sustaining life on earth originates at the core of the sun (Nuclear fusion). -There are a couple of exceptions at the bottom of the sea. What are they? Energy Flow

16. B. The flow of the sun’s energy through the biosphere goes in one direction.flow of the sun’s energy -That means we constantly need a fresh supply. - It begins with the Producers. Energy Flow

17. C. Producers – Organisms that capture the radiation energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy (i.e. sugar) by photosynthesis. 1. Referred to as autotrophs. Energy Flow

18. D. Consumers – Organisms that harness energy from the consumption of other organisms. 1. Referred to as heterotrophs. 2. There are several types. a. Herbivores – eat plants Energy Flow

19. b. Carnivores – eat other animals. c. Omnivores – eat both plants and animals (humans, bears, etc.) Energy Flow

20. d. Decomposers – break down organic matter (bacteria and fungi, worms etc.). Energy Flow

21. 2. Levels of consumers. a. First-level consumers are those that eat producers directly (herbivores). Energy Flow

22. b. Second-level consumers eat herbivores (carnivores). c. Third-level consumers eat other carnivores (carnivores). Energy Flow

23. E. Trophic pyramid (energy transfer beginning at the sun). 1. Trophic levels a. First trophic level are producers (like plants). b. Second trophic level are those that eat the producers. Energy Flow

24. c. Third trophic level are the carnivores eating the second trophic level. d. Fourth level are carnivores feeding off third level (rare). Energy Flow

25. 2. As you move from one trophic level to the next only 10% of the energy is transferred. a. Most energy is lost between trophic levels as heat. Energy Flow

26. 3. The Bio-mass pyramid is a measure of living matter at each trophic level. -Same 10% rule applies. Energy Flow

27. F. Other feeding relationships 1. Food chain is a simple representation of feeding tendencies. One way chain.

28. 2. Food web – All interconnected feeding relationships within an ecosystem. Energy Flow

29. III. Nutrient cycles – nutrients are constantly cycled through the ecosystem (as opposed to energy which is one way. Example: you are breathing in some of the same carbon a dinosaur exhaled. Conservation of Matter

30. A.Water Cycle- Water enters atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. 1. Through condensation and precipitation, water forms streams, rivers lakes and eventually returns to the ocean. ………Repeat. Conservation of Matter

31. B.Carbon cycle – The sugar in your coffee. 1. Biological processes. a. Respiration, and decomposition release CO 2 (gas) into the atmosphere. b. Photosynthesis takes CO2 from atmosphere and turns it into sugar (solid). Conservation of Matter

32. 2. Geochemical Processes- - Volcanoes. Conservation of Matter

33. 3.Human activities – a. Burning fossil fuels –releases CO 2 b. Burning forests – releases CO 2 c. Breathing too much (joke) d. deforestation Conservation of Matter

34. C.Nitrogen Cycle- 70% of our atmosphere is N 2 (nitrogen gas) – we cannot use it (makes proteins). Conservation of Matter

35. 1. Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7.

36. 2. Bacteria living in Legumes (eg. Peas) changes N2 into Amonia (N3) which can then be used by other organisms for protein production. Conservation of Matter

39. 3. Nitrogen gas (N2) is balanced, non water soluble and difficult for living things to use. 4. Nitrogen fixation and ammonification convert Nitrogen gas (N2) into ammonia (NH3).

40. 5. While many bacteria can utilize ammonia, it is toxic to most organisms. These bacteria “nitrify” the ammonia into highly biodegradable and water-soluble Nitrates…. Fertilizer.

41. D. Phosphorous cycle – P does not enter Atmosphere. Cycles from soil to organisms. Conservation of Matter

42. 1. Phosphorous is highly reactive and rarely found in pure form. It has an atomic number of 15

43. 2. Phosphate is a form of phosphorous that us highly organically active and soluble in water (PO4-) ………. Fertilizer

44. 2. Phosphate is essential to multiple functions within living organisms including, DNA and RNA, ATP, photosynthesis, plant growth etc. ATP

45. DNA/RNA

46. IV. What Shapes an Ecosystem

47. Factors Shaping Ecosystems A. Niche- A niche is an organisms Occupation. 1. Defined by how an organism uses physical (abiotic) and biological (biotic) conditions in their environment. a. food it eats b. What eats it

48. B. Community interactions – 1. Competition – Organisms within a community compete for resources and space (including energy and nutrients). Factors Shaping Ecosystems

49. 2. Predation – An interaction between organisms in which one feeds on another. Factors Shaping Ecosystems

50. 3. Symbiosis – A relationship in which two species live closely to one another. There are 3 basic types a. mutualism – Both species benefit from the relationship. Eg. Bees and flowers. mutualism Factors Shaping Ecosystems

51. b. Commensalism – One of the species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. -example – Nemo and sea anemone. Factors Shaping Ecosystems

52. c. Parasitism – One organism lives in or on another and causes it harm.Parasitismharm Factors Shaping Ecosystems

53. C (capitol C). Ecological Succession (1:21 eco succession animation)– A predictable series of changes that take place in an ecosystem over time following a disturbance. There are 2 major types of succession.Ecological Succession Factors Shaping Ecosystems

54. 1.Primary Succession- (3:51 Mt. St. Helens) Occurs on land where No soil exists.Primary Succession- a. For example after a lava flow = no soil. Factors Shaping Ecosystems

55. 2. Secondary Succession- Occurs after some sort of disturbance changes a community, but does not remove soil. a. For example after a flood or tsunami. Factors Shaping Ecosystems

56. V. Land Biomes – A biome is an environment containing a characteristic group of plants and animals (ecological community…biotic) and it’s particular set of abiotic factors (example climate). Biomes

58. - Major biomes include…. A.Tropical rain forest (36 sec. Nasa deforestation)Tropical rain forest 1. highest species diversity of land biomes 2. high rate of precipitation 3. consistent warm conditions Biomes

59. B. Deserts (10 min) Deserts 1. very low level of precipitation (<25cm per year) 2. High temperature variation. 3. Organisms evolved to withstand extreme conditions. Biomes

60. C. Tundra 1. Characterized by permafrost. 2. High latitude and cold conditions. 3. Very little precipitation. 4. Ground hugging plants. Biomes

61. D. Boreal forest (Tiaga) (4:41 Happy People)Tiaga 1. Medium precipitation 2. long cold winter, short summer. 3. Lots of conifer trees and Moose. Biomes

62. E. Northwestern Coniferous Forest (Think McCall). 1. Cold to moderate winters and warm summers. 2. coniferous trees and some broadleaf trees 3. Ferns, Flowering shrubs and White Tailed Deer are common. Biomes

63. F. Others include Temperate Forest (Think New Hampshire), Temperate grassland (Think prairie), Temperate Woodland and Shrubland (Think S. California foothills)……and more. Biomes

64. VI. Populations A. How populations grow

65. 1. Characteristics of Populations. a. Population density – number of individuals per unit area. -number of Saguro cacti plants per square km is an example. Populations

66. b. Geographic Distribution – Area inhabited by population Populations

67. 2. Population Growth factors (3 of them) Stuff that makes them grow or shrink. a. Birth Rate – number born annually. Populations

68. b. Death Rate – number dying annually. Populations

69. c. Population Movement i. Immigration – movement of individuals into a population. ii. Emigration – movement of individuals out of a population. Populations

70. d. Death rate increases as space and resources are used up. i. As resources get used up, population growth reaches Carrying Capacity. ii. Carrying Capacity is a populations limit in an ecosystem (growth slows and stops) Populations

71. 3. Limiting factors (LF)are any Biotic or Abiotic resource causing a population to decrease. a. Biotic LF– AKA density dependent, i. Competition ii. Disease iii. Predation Populations

72. b. Abiotic LF- AKA density-independent. i. natural disasters are an example. Populations

73. 4. Growth curves- a. Exponential growth phase – Uncontrolled growth i. Constant birth rt. + no LF = Exponential growth. Populations

74. b. Logistic growth curve – Once carrying capacity is reached populations stop growing. Populations

75. VII. Human Ecosystem interactions.

76. A. Renewable sources of fuel are renewable within a short period of time. 1. Fossils fuels are not renewable. 2. Sustainability means using renewable energy while ensuring they are not depleted.

77. B. Human activities lower Biodiversity (pollution, deforestation etc.) 1. Biodiversity is number of different species in the biosphere.

78. C. Biomagnification means pollutants increase in concentration as they move up the trophic levels. 1. DDT and plasticizers are examples.

79. D. The release of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses causes global warming 1. A net increase in earth’s surface temp. 2. Burning fossil fuels, and forests release CO2.

80. The End Lingering points for the exam. A. What is the term for year after year precipitation and temp in a particular location? B. What is the greenhouse effect?