Ecology study of the interactions between organisms and

Ecology- study of the interactions between organisms and their environment How is all life on Earth connected? Biology Ecology

Ecological Factors ● A factor is: § Anything an organism needs to survive. § Found in an ecosystem. § Fluctuates with time. ●Biotic – living things ●Abiotic – nonliving things Biology Ecology

Ecosystem Includes Both ECOSYSTEM Abiotic Biology Ecology

Ecological Levels of Organization Biology Organism Ecology

Levels of Organization ORGANISMS: Individuals (Species): smallest level; individuals that can mate and produce FERTILE offspring. Populations: all individuals of the same species in an area. Biology Ecology

Levels of Organization Community: different populations living in the same area. Biology Ecology

Levels of Organization Ecosystem: communities of organisms living in a similar place, includes non -living parts of environment Biology Ecology

Levels of Organization Biome: group of ecosystems with similar climate (temp. and precipitation) and communities. Biology Ecology

Levels of Organization Biosphere: largest level; includes life, water, land, air. Biology Ecology

● Ecosystem is stable if: § Population numbers of each organism fluctuate at a predictable rate § Supply of resources in the environment fluctuates at a predictable rate § Energy flows through the ecosystem at a fairly constant rate over time § Organisms constantly interact to create stability Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms • Autotrophs (Producers) – Produce the worlds glucose through photosynthesis. Chemical Formula for Photosynthesis Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Heterotrophs (Consumers) – Consume the world’s glucose by eating other organisms. § § § Biology Decomposers Carnivores Omnivores Herbivores Scavengers Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Decomposers (a. k. a “detritivores”) ● Breaks plants, animals, etc. down. RECYCLES nutrients back into soil ● CRITICAL in every ecosystem Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Carnivores – Eat other animals only. Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Omnivores – Eat plants and animals. Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Herbivores – Eat herbs (plants) only. Biology Ecology

Types of Organisms ● Scavengers – Eat already dead plant and animal matter Biology Ecology

Ecological Terms ● Food Chain – describes simple feeding relationship (seeds mouse hawk) ● Food Web – includes multiple food chains ● Trophic Level – feeding level Biology Ecology

Food Chains and Food Webs https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Cd 1 M 9 x. D 482 s Biology Ecology

Food Chains Food chains are a simple feeding relationship; one way A trophic level is a feeding → level Biology Fig. 4– 18 Ecology

Food Web includes multiple Food Chains in an ecosystem. Biology Ecology

n Ecological pyramid: a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level 1) Energy Pyramid: amt. of energy in a system 2) Biomass Pyramid: total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level 3) Pyramid of Numbers: numbers of individual organisms at each trophic level Biology Ecology

Pyramids and Food Chains ● Trophic Levels Biology Quaternary Consumers 4˚C Tertiary Consumers 3˚C Secondary Consumers 2˚C Primary Consumers 1˚C Primary Producers 1˚P Ecology

Energy Transfer System sun Producers Secondary consumers Primary consumers Tertiary consumers Biology Ecology

Energy Pyramids ● 10% Rule: Only 10% of the available energy is left to 7 kcal transfer to the 70 kcal next trophic level 700 kcal 7000 kcal Biology Ecology

Biomass Pyramids Shows the mass of producers needed to support 1◦ consumers, the mass of 1◦ consumers to support 2◦ consumers and so on Biology 75 g/m 2 150 g/m 2 675 g/m 2 2000 g/m 2 Ecology

Pyramid of Numbers ● Each level represents the actual number of organisms present in each trophic level 3◦ Consumers =5 2◦ consumers = 5000 1◦ consumers = 500, 000 Producers = 5, 000 Biology Ecology

Biodiversity ● The variety of organisms in an ecosystem. § § Biology Helps to stabilize an ecosystem. Many different organisms. Many different niches. All interconnected. Ecology

Habitat ● The place in an ecosystem where an organism lives. ● Must have the factors an organism needs to survive. § Energy § Nutrients § Temperature § Shelter § Water § Ect. Biology Ecology

Organism Use of Factors ● A niche is a special role or way of living. § Each niche uses factors differently. § Each niche helps support the ecosystem. ● Reginald the Red Wolf ● Glow worm: https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=JC 41 M 7 RP Sec Biology Ecology

Keystone Species ● Keystone species- has a unique role in the shaping of an ecosystem; if it were removed, the ecosystem would change drastically https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=_IW w 8 Ruz 8 Uo Biology Ecology

Relationships between Organisms ● Competition ● Predator/Prey ● Symbiosis Biology Ecology

Relationships between Organisms ● Competition – two organisms fight for the same factors: food, space, mates, etc. Results in a decrease in the population of the species less adapted Biology Ecology

Relationships between Organisms ● Predator/Prey – One organism (predator) eats another (prey). ● Helps regulate population size, thus ecosystem stability Biology Ecology

CRelationships between Organisms Symbiosis 2 species interacting Symbiosis: Close relationship between two species ● PARASITISM (+, -) COMMENSALISM (+, 0) ● MUTUALISM (+, +) Biology Ecology

Symbiosis Stations ● Number a piece of paper 1 -32 ● Visit the stations. ● Look at the pictures. ● Read the statements. ● Decide if the symbiosis is: § § Biology Parasitism (P) Mutualism (M) Commensalism (C) No symbiosis (N) Ecology

Populations Described according to: n 1. Geographic distribution: range or area n 2. Density: # individuals/unit area n 3. Growth rate: affected by # births # deaths emigration immigration Biology Ecology

Estimating Population Size Activity Biology Ecology

Limiting Factors ● Any factor that limits growth of a population. Biology Ecology

Two kinds of limiting factors. ● density dependent limiting factor – a limiting factor that depends on the density of the population. ● density independent limiting factor – a limiting factor that will stop a population from growing no matter how dense the population is. Biology Ecology

Density Dependent Limiting Factors These limiting factors are triggered by crowding ● Parasites ● Disease ● Predation ● Competition: § Food § Mates Biology Ecology

Density Independent Limiting Factors These limiting factors affect all the same. Population size doesn’t matter ● Natural Disasters, Weather, Etc: § § § Biology Forest Fire Drought Flood Tornado Hurricane Ecology

Exponential Growth n Under IDEAL conditions (unlimited resources) populations will increase/grows at a CONSTANT RATE. n J shaped curve: Biology Ecology

Logistic Growth ● As resources become less available, the growth of a population slows or stops. ● Carrying capacity(k): largest # of individuals that can be supported. ● S-shaped curve: Biology Ecology

Biology Ecology

Ecological Succession ● Gradual change in community structure resulting from new environmental conditions (disturbance). ● May result in some species occupying new areas and their population increasing or a decline in their populations. ● Two types: primary and secondary Biology Ecology

Primary Succession Biology Ecology

Primary Succession ● Disturbance occurs that removes all biotic and abiotic factors. Barren rock is left. § Ex: Lava flow, abandoned highway, severe soil erosion, shallow farm pond (sedimentation), glacier recession Biology ● Organisms that inhabit: 1. Pioneer species (early successional plants): first species to inhabit the area. Ex: LICHENS and MOSS. They help create soil. 2. Midsuccesional plants: small shrubs, grasses, 3. Late successional plants: trees Ecology

Secondary Succession ● Communities of organisms have been removed, but soil is present. § Ex: Forest fires, Abandoned farms, Flooded areas, Polluted streams, etc. ● Occurs much faster, because soil is in place. ● Begins with shrubs and grasses. Biology Ecology

Secondary Succession Biology Ecology

Pond Succession ● Put the ponds in order from first to last. Biology Ecology

POND SUCCESSION Biology Ecology

Succession is a continual process ● Some stages are short, some last hundreds of years ● Secondary succession occurs faster than primary succession due to previous soil ● Occurs in all ecosystems Biology Ecology

How are nutrients from the earth utilized by all organisms in an ecosystem? Nutrients cycle through ecosystems. Biology Ecology

Remember… ● All life grows, repairs damage, and reproduces. ● In order to build organic molecules, cells, and tissues life needs nutrients (atoms). ● Nutrients include: water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous, and others. Biology Ecology

Nutrients can be stored in environmental reservoirs. • Atmosphere • Soil • Oceans Biology Ecology

Biogeochemical Cycles ● Cycling of matter through a system. ● Include: Water, Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Phosphorus Biology Ecology

● Organisms play a role in recycling water from one form to another in the water cycle. § Elimination: Most organisms use water to eliminate waste products § Respiration: All organisms produce water as by product of releasing energy from food § Transpiration: Plants release water into atmosphere through the leaves § Intake of water by organism: Organisms take in water to use for vital life functions Biology Ecology

Biology Ecology

● Hydrological cycle purifies water by: § Evaporation: Evaporated water is pure § Seepage through soil: serves as filter § Water flow changes: As water flow slows, heavier particles settle out leaving purified water to travel to oceans Biology Ecology

The Carbon Cycle The atmosphere is the Earth’s major reservoir of carbon, in the form of carbon dioxide. It enters living things through photosynthesis. Biology Ecology

Biology Ecology

Nitrogen Cycle ● Nitrogen § Critical component of amino acids (needed to build proteins in your body) § Found in atmosphere, in living organisms, or in soil and aquatic sediment Biology Ecology

● Organisms play a major role in recycling Nitrogen by the following processes: § N fixation: N-fixing bacteria in soil, or roots, or aquatic ecosystems are capable of converting N 2 in air (or water) to forms that plants can use- Ammonia (NH 3) § Nitrification: conversion of NH 4 into NO 3 § Assimilation (N intake): Plants take in N through roots as ammonia or nitrate § Decomposition: Organism dies (or waste products) and decomposers return N to soil § Denitrification: Bacteria break down NO 3 compounds in soil and release N 2 into atmosphere Biology Ecology

Biology Ecology