Principles of Ecology A What is Ecology Ecology

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Principles of Ecology

Principles of Ecology

A. What is Ecology? • Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and

A. What is Ecology? • Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. B. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors 1. Biosphere – portion of the Earth supporting life 2. Biotic factors a. All organisms inhabiting the environment b. Each organism adapts to its part of the biosphere 3. Abiotic factors a. Nonliving parts of the environment b. Can determine which species will survive examples: rainfall, temperature, light, soil

Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM

Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM

C. Levels of Biological Organization 1. Populations a. A group of organisms of the

C. Levels of Biological Organization 1. Populations a. A group of organisms of the same species living together b. Must compete for resources 2. Community a. Several populations that interact b. Changes in one population will cause changes in the others 3. Ecosystem a. Interactions between populations and their surroundings b. 2 main types: 1. Terrestrial – land 2. Aquatic – fresh or salt water

Levels of Biological Organization

Levels of Biological Organization

D. Niche vs. Habitat 1. Niche • The role an organism plays in the

D. Niche vs. Habitat 1. Niche • The role an organism plays in the environment (Its “job” in the community) 2. Habitat • Place where an organism lives Three Species of Warblers and their niches Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Spruce tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches

E. Types of Feeding Relationships 1. Autotrophs a. Self-feeders, produce their own food b.

E. Types of Feeding Relationships 1. Autotrophs a. Self-feeders, produce their own food b. Example: plants, algae 2. Heterotrophs a. Depend on other organisms for food b. Herbivore – eats only plants c. Carnivore – eats only meat d. Omnivore – eats both

3. Decomposers a. Break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms b. Example: mushrooms,

3. Decomposers a. Break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms b. Example: mushrooms, bacteria 4. Commensalism bacteria a. Relationship in which one species benefits and the other is not affected b. Example: remoras that live on/around a shark’s mouth Remora on a Ray

tickbirds 5. Mutualism a. Both species benefit b. Example: tickbirds eat parasites off of

tickbirds 5. Mutualism a. Both species benefit b. Example: tickbirds eat parasites off of a rhino oxpeckers 6. Parasitism a. One organism benefits and the other is harmed b. Example: tapeworm living inside a person’s intestine

F. Compare Food Chains and Food Webs 1. Food Chains a. Model showing movement

F. Compare Food Chains and Food Webs 1. Food Chains a. Model showing movement of energy through the ecosystem b. Uses arrows to show “what eats what” 2. Food Web a. More complicated than a food chain b. Shows more than one food source for each organism c. More realistic view of energy transfer Food Chain Grass Cow Human Food Web