EcologyEcologyChapter 3Chapter 3

EcologyThe study of the relationship between

organisms and their environments.

5 Levels Studied in Ecology 1 2 3 4 5

Organisms Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere

Old People Can’t Eat

Beans!

Population• A group of 1

species that interbreed and live in the same place.

Ecosystem• Groups of many

species coexisting in an environment.

Biosphere• All of the earth’s

organisms and their environments.

Biotic• Living parts.

Abiotic• Non-living parts.

Examples: – Soil

– Air

– Temperature

– Water

– Sun

Habitat

•Where an organism lives its life.

Niche

• The role a species plays in a community.

– What it eats.

– What it does.

4 Tropic Levels 1. Producer- plants

2. 1st order Consumer- eats plants

3. 2nd order Consumer- eats 1st order consumers

4. 3rd order Consumer- eats 2nd order consumers

Food Chain• A simple show of energy transfer.

Food Web• A complex

show of energy transfer.

• (most organisms

feed at more than one trophic level!)

3 Types of Symbiosis• Mutualism

+ +

• Commensalism + o

• Parasitism

+ –

Look! I found Nemo!!!

Here are some examples of Symbiosis…Can you tell what they

are?

• Mutualism + +

• Commensalism + o

• Parasitism

+ –

Parasitism: one benefits, one is harmed

Example 1: Acacia plant with ant galls

Ants lay eggs on

acacia treeAcacia

covers the infected area with

brown flesh (gall)

Mutualism: both benefit

Example 2: Moray Eel with Cleaner Fish

Moray Eel gets a clean mouth Cleaner Fish gets a meal

Commensalism: one benefits, one is unaffected

Example 3: Cattle with cattle

egretsCattle stir up insects

as they eat grass

Egrets hang

around and eat insects

Mutualism: both benefit

Example 4: Clown fish with anemone

Clown fish gets

protection Anemone gets food

scraps

Mutualism: both benefit

Example 5: Antelope with Oxbird

Antelope gets rid of

parasites Oxbird gets a meal

Parasitism: one benefits, one is harmed

Example 6: Taenia worm in human eye

Worm infects human blood

streamHuman may go

blind

Any questions before we go on?

Our beautiful planet at night.

Vocabulary• Producers

– Lowest in the food chain.

– Most abundant!

– Gets energy from the SUN!!!

• Consumers– ANY living thing that eats other living

things.

Vocabulary• Decomposers

– Feeds on ALL other organisms.

– Breaks down dead organisms.

• Predators– Preys on other living things.

• Scavengers– Gets food from waste products.

– Also from already dead organisms. – (Doesn’t actually kill.)

The end.