Ecology Ecology Study of our interactions with the

Ecology

Ecology • Study of our interactions with the environment (abiotic factors) and each other (biotic factor)

Species • Identical members that can reproduce

Community • Different species living together

Ecosystem • community plus environmental conditions

Main Energy Source THE SUN

Producers • Absorb sunlight to make their own food by the process of photosynthesis. • Also called Autotrophs (plants)

Chemosynthesis • Used in areas with NO sunlight (bacteria)

Consumers • Eat producers or other consumers to get food • Also called Heterotrophs

5 Kinds

1. Herbivores • Eat plants

2. Carnivores • Eat Meat

3. Omnivores • Eat plants and animals

4. Detritivores • Eat Dead Material

5. Decomposers • Recycle Materials back to the soil (Bacteria, Fungi, Insects)

Food chains and Food Webs • ONLY 10% of energy goes to the next level • Start of a food chain is always the producer

Energy Pyramid • Base of energy pyramid is always a producer • Most energy is at the base of the pyramid

Water Cycle • Evaporation- water turning into gas from a body of water. • Transpiration- water turning into gas from plant leaves • BOTH processes put water into the atmosphere

Water Cycle • Condensation- Gas turning to liquid water in the clouds • Precipitation- Liquid water falling back to earth • Both processes put water back on land

Carbon Cycle • Photosynthesis. Takes CO 2 out of the atmosphere • Respiration- Puts CO 2 back into the atmosphere

Nitrogen Cycle • Bacteria “fix” nitrogen and put it back into the soil.

Difference Energy: NOT recycled Nutrients: Recycled

Biotic Factor • Living things that affect us • Plants, animals, etc.

Abiotic Factor • Nonliving things that affect us • Temperature, water, air quality

Habitat • Where you live

Niche • How you live

Two Different species CAN share a habitat, But they CANNOT share a niche.

Symbiosis • Two species living together

Mutualism • Both species benefit • Flower/Bee • Human/Bacteria

Commensalism • One species benefits, the other is unaffected • Whale/barnacle

Parasitism • One species benefits, the other is harmed • Dog/Tick • Humans/Tapeworm

Predator/Prey • One species benefits, the other species dies • Wolf/Rabbit

Populations • Immigration • Moving into a population Emigration ●Moving out of a population ●

Carrying Capacity • Maximum number of individuals an environment can support.

Limiting Factors • Things that limit population growth

Density-dependent • Felt more strongly as population gets bigger • Disease, competition

Density-independent • Felt the same NO matter how big or small the population • Weather, Natural Disasters

Overpopulation • Human population is out of control • Putting TOO much pressure on the earth and its resources

Environmental Issues

Deforestation • Raising CO 2 levels from tree loss • Lack of photosynthesis

Acid Rain • Chemicals from factories combine with water vapor • Fall back to earth as acid rain

Biomagnification • DDT, and other pesticides build up in food chain webs, and harm top consumers • Bald Eagle

Invasive Species • Species get into habitats where they don’t belong, out compete natural species

Ozone layer • CFC’s cause ozone layer to have holes, UV light gets in, causes skin cancer and other types of cancers

Global Warming • High CO 2 levels trap heat, planet warms, causing many problems