Ecology

Ecology

• In your mind, picture organisms that you think may live in a forest. Then, write about one of the organisms. Tell what part of the forest the organisms may live in and how it survives.

Biodiversity - is the variety of species, their genetic make-up, and the natural communities in which they occur.

What is ecology?

Ecology- the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments, focusing on energy transfer

• It is a science of relationships.

What do you mean by environment?

The environment is made up of two factors:

Biotic factors- all living organisms inhabiting the Earth

Abiotic factors- nonliving parts of the environment (i.e. temperature, soil, light, moisture, air currents)

Organism

Population

Community

Biosphere

Ecosystem

Organism- any unicellular or multicellular form exhibiting all of the characteristics of life, an individual.•The lowest level of organization

Population-a group of organisms of one species living in the same place at the same time that interbreed and compete with each other for resources (ex. food, mates, shelter)

Community- several interacting populations that inhabit a common environment and are interdependent.

Ecosystem- populations in a community and the abiotic factors with which they interact (ex. marine, terrestrial)

Biosphere- life supporting portions of Earth composed of air, land, fresh water, and salt water.•The highest level of organization

“The ecological niche of an organism depends not only on where it lives but also on what it does. By analogy, it may be said that the habitat is the organism's ‘address’, and the niche is its ‘profession’, biologically speaking.”

Odum - Fundamentals of Ecology

Habitat vs. NicheNiche - the role a species plays in a community (job)

Habitat- the place in which an organism lives out its life (address)

Habitat vs. NicheA niche is determined by the tolerance limitations of an organism, or a limiting factor.

Limiting factor- any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment.

Examples of limiting factors-

•Amount of water•Amount of food•Temperature

Habitat vs. Niche

Feeding Relationships• There are 3 main types of

feeding relationships1. Producer- Consumer

2. Predator- Prey3. Parasite- Host

Feeding RelationshipsProducer- all

autotrophs (plants), they trap energy from the sun

• Bottom of the food chain

Feeding RelationshipsConsumer- all heterotrophs:

they ingest food containing the sun’s energy

• Herbivores• Carnivores• Omnivores

• Decomposers

Feeding RelationshipsConsumer-

Herbivores–Eat plants

• Primary consumers

• Prey animals

Feeding RelationshipsConsumer-Carnivores-eat

meat• Predators

–Hunt prey animals for food.

Feeding RelationshipsConsumer- Carnivores- eat

meat• Scavengers

–Feed on carrion, dead animals

Feeding Relationships

Consumer- Omnivores -eat both plants and animals

Feeding Relationships

Consumer- Decomposers

• Breakdown the complex compounds of dead and decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules that can be absorbed

Type of Symbiosis

Effect on One Organism

Effect on the other Organism

Neutralism    

Amensalism    

Mutualism    

Predation    

Competition    

Commensalism    

Parasitism    

1. The barnacles live on the whale’s skin and feed on the resources near the whale while remains unaffected directly or indirectly.

2. A stampede of African mammals destroys the savannah grass as they run over it to get to a watering hole. The grass is crushed and dies, but this does not benefit or harm the animals in any way.

3. Males of the stream goby Rhinogobius sp. Dark type court females in deep pools and care for the eggs under stones in shallow riffles. In field observations, larger males win in fighting with other males.

4.Mistletoe is plant that lives and grows in trees. Its roots grow into the tree’s tissue in order to obtain food and water. The tree may become weak from loss of these nutrients.

4. In lichens the fungus benefits from the algae because fungi, having no chlorophyll, cannot photosynthesize their own food. A lichen’s fungal part is thus “ fed” by its photosynthesizing algal part. The algae benefit from the association because the fungus is better able to find, soak up, and retain water and nutrients than the algae. Also, the fungus gives the resulting lichen shape, and provides the reproductive structures.

5. House flies and mosquitoes are both present in one place. These organisms do not affect each other, directly or indirectly, since they have different resources of food.

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiosis- two species living

together3 Types of symbiosis:1. Commensalism2. Parasitism3. Mutualism

Symbiotic RelationshipsCommensalism-

one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped

Ex. orchids on a treeEpiphytes: A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a bromeliad, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.

Symbiotic RelationshipsCommensalism-

one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped

Ex. polar bears and cyanobacteria

Symbiotic RelationshipsParasitism- one species benefits (parasite)

and the other is harmed (host)

• Parasite-Host relationship

Symbiotic RelationshipsParasitism- parasite-hostEx. lampreys, leeches, fleas,ticks,tapeworm

Symbiotic RelationshipsMutualism-

beneficial to both species

Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp

Symbiotic RelationshipsMutualism-

beneficial to both species

Ex. lichen

Ammensalism

• Association between two species in which one is inhibited or destroyed and the other is unaffected.

A black walnut secretechemicals from its roots that harms neighboring

plants

• algal blooms can lead to the death of many species of fish, however the algae do not benefit from the deaths of these individuals.

• when penicillum (bread mold), secretes penicillin and kills bacteria. The penicillum does not benefit from killing the bacteria

Neutralism

• relationship between two species which interact but do not affect each other.

• None of the organisms are harmed or benefitted

Neutralism

• Example: the tarantulas living in a desert and the cacti living in a desert

Type of relationship

Species harmed

Species benefits

Species neutral

CommensalismParasitism

Mutualism

= 1 species

Trophic Levels

• Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level.

• Trophic levels represent a feeding step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem.

Trophic LevelsBiomass- the amount of organic

matter comprising a group of organisms in a habitat.

• As you move up a food chain, both available energy and biomass decrease.

• Energy is transferred upwards but is diminished with each transfer.

Trophic Levels

Producers- Autotrophs

Primary consumers- Herbivores

Secondary consumers-small

carnivores

Tertiary consumers-

top carnivores

ENERGY

Direction: Refer to the pyramid of energy diagram –provide the correct concept of the statement by completing the sentence.

• When an ecosystem is healthy - ________________________________________________________________

• Answer : the ecosystem can sustain itself, there is more energy at lower trophic level than there is at higher trophic level.

• When energy is transferred to the next trophic level _______________________________________________________________

• Only 10% of it is used to build body mass, it is becomes a stored energy and is used in respiration

• At each level of the food chain - _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• energy is lost because it is used by the organism itself for respiration. This limits the number of steps there can be on a food chain.

Fill in the number of organisms needed at each level of the pyramid to support the organisms at the next level of organisms in the pyramid.

175 producers

1st order

2nd order

3rd order

Consumers

Trophic LevelsFood chain- simple model

that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

Trophic Levels

Food web- shows all possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level

• Represents a network of interconnected food chains

Food chain Food web(just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy

paths)

1. Predicting: How might a large omnivore change the flow of energy in Figure 3-5, Diagram II? 2.  Interpreting Graphics How many Kilocalories (Kcal) can the top carnivore in Figure 3-5, Diagram I store? Explain.3.  According to figure 3-5, what are the secondary consumers in diagram I?4.  How many grams per square meter of biomass are in trophic level 2 of diagram II?5.  What are the tertiary consumers in diagram II ?6.  Which pyramid is a pyramid of energy, I or II ?

The Biogeochemical Cycles

Nutrient Cycles

Cycling maintains homeostasis (balance) in the environment.

•3 cycles to investigate:1. Water cycle2. Carbon cycle3. Nitrogen cycle

Water cycle-

•Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation

Water cycle-

Carbon cycle-

•Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon and

oxygen through the environment.

Carbon cycle-

Nitrogen cycle- Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) makes up nearly 78%-80% of air. Organisms can not use it in that form.Lightning and bacteria convert nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen cycle- Only in certain bacteria and industrial technologies can fix nitrogen.Nitrogen fixation-convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4

+) which can be used to make organic compounds like amino acids.

N2 NH4+

Nitrogen cycle-Nitrogen-fixing bacteria:Some live in a symbiotic relationship with plants of the legume family (e.g., soybeans, clover, peanuts).

Nitrogen cycle- •Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria live free in the soil.

•Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are essential to maintaining the fertility of semi-aquatic environments like rice paddies.

Atmospheric nitrogenLightnin

g

Nitrogen fixing

bacteria

Ammonium Nitrification by bacteria

Nitrites Nitrates

Denitrification by bacteria

Plants

Animals

Decomposers

Nitrogen Cycle

Toxins in food chains- While energy decreases as it moves up the food chain, toxins increase in potency. •This is called biological magnification

Ex: DDT & Bald Eagles

2. Why is so little of the energy from one trophic level is transferred to the next trophic level?

• Essay: b.Why is a small amount of energy from one trophic level is transferred up to the next trophic level? ( 2 pts.)

Objectives:

1. The learner will characterize biomes according to their climate and the plant and animal life found in the biome.

2. The learner will state that the climate of an area determines plant life and that the plant life of an area determines animal life.

3. The learner will compare and contrast the plant and animal life of various biomes.

4. The learner will explain ways that animals are adapted to live in a particular biome.

Materials: • Large wall map of the world• Biome map of the world (see website links)• Post-it notes - large and small (2 different

colors for small)

Informational BrochureProcedure

• Page 1 – Left Hand Column -

• Describe ecological issues & concerns of the biome

– Catastrophic events – Human impact

• A graphic is optional

– Middle Column - • Insert a Text Box for your WORKS CITED

– Include ALL sources of information, including graphics • Include your names • Include your class period • A graphic is optional

– Right Hand Column - • Include a descriptive title

(Ex. - The Rainforest - The Diverse Biome ) • Describe your biome

– Location – General characteristics

• A graphic is required

– Left Hand Column - • Describe the Physical / Abiotic features

of the biome – Temperature – Precipitation – Landforms – Bodies of water

• A graphic is optional in this column, but there must be at least one graphic in one of the columns on page 2

– Middle Column - • Describe the Living / Biotic factors of the

biome – Plants

» minimum of 3 – Animals

» minimum of 3 • Describe one example of competition • Describe one example of a predator-prey relationship • A graphic is optional in this column,

but there must be at least one graphic in one of the columns on page 2

– Right Hand Column - • Describe the adaptations of plants and

animals that are needed to survive in the biome

– Give at least two examples of animal adaptations – Give at least one example of a plant adaptation

• A graphic is optional in this column, but there must be at least one graphic in one of the columns on page 2

Cover Biome Name, Landforms, Picture

2. Location Map Graphic, Text Description

3. ClimateTemperature, Seasons, Precipitation, Text and Graphics

4. Animals Types of animals found, Examples, Text and Graphics

5. Vegetation Types of vegetation found, Examples, Text and Graphics

6. Facts Interesting facts about the biome (At least 6)

Biome Travel Brochure

 1. Pick one of the biomes you have read studied. This should be informative and

visually please. The guidelines for the brochure are below.2. Must be on a sheet of 8.5 x 11” unlined paper.3. Must be folded as a trifold brochure, with information on 5 sides. The front

cover should have a title and include the name of the biome.4. Any color of ink or marker may be used as long as it is clearly visible on the

paper you are using. Make sure your markers do not bleed through the paper. You may also cut out picture from magazine or do it on the computer and download pictures.

4. Written information or drawings must cover 75% of each side used. You must have all the major information about your biome contained in the brochure (e.g. precipitation, average temperatures, types of plants and animals found there, etc) be descriptive and creative.

5. Your name, block and the class appear on the last page of the brochure.6. Remember, this is a travel brochure-if you don’t make it informative and attractive, I won’t want to visit, and if I don’t want o visit you won’t get a good grade! 

Sources:• www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss5/biome

•Evergreen Project Adventurembgnet.mobot.org•Tundra Biomesths.sps.lane.edu/biomes/tundra4/tundra4.html•Blue Planet - Taigawww.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htm•Cyber Zoo Biomeslsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/biome.html•Climate Biomes - Alien Explorerwww.alienexplorer.com/ecology/e1.html•Student Checklistpblchecklist.4teachers.org/view.php3?id=55290•Biome Maponcampus.richmond.edu/academics/as/education/projects/webunits/biomes/biomes.html