Ecology

Ecology

• Ecology = the study of interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment (soil, water, climate, etc.)

• Who studies this? ecologists

• 2 sets of environmental factors

– Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Ecosystem Factors

Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors

Biotic Factors = factors in an ecosystem that are living Examples: -Tree -Rabbit -Frog

Abiotic Factors = factors in a ecosystem that are NON-living Examples: -Sun -Water -Weather -Fire

Abiotic Factors = nonliving things

• Soil and rocks

• Weather

• Water/rain

• Temperature

Biotic Factors = Living things

• Plants

• Fox

• Fungi

• Bacteria

• Protists

• You!

Levels of organization… can you remember?

1. Atom 2. Molecule 3. Cell 4. Tissue 5. Organ 6. Organ system 7. Organism 8. Population 9. Community 10. Ecosystem 11. Biome 12. Biosphere

6 Levels of Ecology focus on organism biome

1. Organism = one individual (you)

2. Population = 2+ of the same organism (our classroom)

3. Community = All types of living organisms in an area (our school population)

4. Ecosystem = All living organisms AND nonliving factors in an area (our school and everything in it)

5. Biome = group of similar ecosystems (our country)

6. Biosphere = all areas on earth where life exists (all life on Earth!)

Habitat

• Habitat = a place where a particular population lives

What might you find if you turn over a log?

• Are all of these things competing for the same food?

• Each population feeds in different ways, on different materials, and at different times this leads to reduced competition

Niche • Niche = The role or function of an organism or species in an

ecosystem

– All the strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment

– How it meets its specific needs for food and shelter

– How and where it survives

– Where it reproduces

– Includes all interactions with biotic and abiotic factors

Kind of like an organism’s “job”

How do organisms interact?

Interactions in Ecosystems

• Competition

• Predator/Prey

• Symbiosis

Interactions in Ecosystems

• Competition = when organisms compete or fight over a limited resource

• Competition can be reduced by organisms having different niches in an ecosystem

What is competition?

• Predator = organism that hunts other organisms for food

• Prey = organisms that are hunted

• Populations of directly impact each other!

Predator/Prey Interactions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZynrBA91fY

• Density Dependent Factors = factors in the ecosystem that can change as a result of the population density (# of organism in an area)

• Examples:

– Food

– Shelter

– Water

– Disease

• For example, more organisms might mean less food

Density Dependent Factors

• Symbiosis = organisms living together

• 3 Types of symbiotic relationships

– Mutualism

– Commensalism

– Parasitism

Not all interactions among organisms involve eating each other…

• Mutualism = benefits both organisms in relationship

Mutualism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm2qdxVVRm4

• Commensalism = one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Commensalism

• Cattle Egrets live near cattle because the cattle stir up insects that the birds can eat. The cattle are neither benefited nor harmed by the birds presence!

Example: Cattle Egrets

• Parasitism = one organism benefits and the other is harmed

– PARASITES (like viruses) don’t immediately kill host… use it first – sometimes kill it later!

Parasitism

• Maximum population size of species that environment can sustain, given food, habitat, water and other necessities are available in environment

Carrying Capacity

Food Chains and Food Webs

And the organisms within them!

All living things must have energy in order to maintain homeostasis (balance)

• Where does ALL energy originate?

• #1 source of energy = SUN (radiation)

• Energy flow is a “one way” street

Can you get energy from the sun?

• What organisms can use the sun’s energy for food? – Autotrophs!

• Autotroph = organisms that can make their own food (usually from sun or chemicals in environment) – Examples: plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria,

chemotrophs

• AKA: Producers

What are organisms called that can’t make their own food?

• Heterotrophs = organisms that must “eat” their food to get energy

• Examples: protists, fungi, animals, you!

• AKA : Consumers

Types of Heterotrophs

• Herbivore

• Carnivore

• Omnivore

• Scavenger

• Decomposer

Herbivore

• Herbivore = organism that only eats plants

Carnivore • Carnivore = organism that eats meat/other

animals

Omnivore • Omnivore = organism that survives by eating

both plants and animals

Scavengers

• Scavenger = organisms that eat dead material

Decomposer

• Decomposer = organisms that break down organic matter

How is the flow of energy shown?

• Energy flow is shown with a food chain or food web.

Food Chain vs. Food Web

• What do you think the difference(s) might be?

Food Chain Food Chains follow a single path of consumption!

Food Web • Food webs show multiple pathways!

• ALL the possible paths energy could take!

What food relationships do you see taking place in the web to the left?

Chemical Cycles

What are nutrients?

• If nutrients are made of matter, can we create or destroy nutrients?

• Matter (and nutrients) cannot be created nor destroyed!

Of what substance are all living things made?

• Carbon… and other nutrients!

• Nutrients = substances (elements/compounds) that are needed for life

How are nutrients cycled through ecosystems?

• Nutrients cycle between living and nonliving factors in the environment

• Matter is constantly recycled… never lost!

• What kinds of nutrients/chemicals are cycled in ecosystems?

What processes involve carbon?

• Carbon Cycle = the movement of carbon from living things into the atmosphere and back

• Involves: plants, animals, and atmosphere

Carbon Cycle

• All living things are made of carbon

• Where can you find carbon on earth?

• How does it move/cycle around?

Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle Terms

• Photosynthesis = plants take in carbon and water and energy from the sun release oxygen and sugar (glucose-food)

• Respiration = cells take in oxygen and sugar (glucose-food) release carbon and water and energy!

• Eating = organisms use carbon in food to gain energy for growth

Carbon Cycle Terms

• Atmospheric CO2 = carbon dioxide in atmosphere (comes from fuel combustion, burning, respiration)

• Dissolved CO2 = carbon dioxide in bodies of water (comes from respiration of bacteria and fish)

Carbon Cycle Terms

• Fuel combustion = burning fossil fuels

• Fossil fuels = hydrocarbons that form from life forms millions of years ago (petroleum, natural gas, oil shale, tar sands)

Closed Carbon Cycle

•Closed carbon cycle = carbon burned originated in atmosphere and can be replaced within a human lifetime

•Example: burning wood, biofuel •Cellulose ethanol •Biodiesel •Wood chips •Torrification/gassification

Open Carbon Cycle

• Open carbon cycle = carbon burned cannot be replaced within a human lifetime

– Example: burning fossil fuels

Chemical Cycles

Continued

Nitrogen Cycle

• Where do you use nitrogen?

– 78% of the air in the atmosphere is made up of nitrogen

• Why do we have to give plants nitrogen in fertilizer?

• Nitrogen must be converted to a USABLE form!

Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle Terms

• Nitrogen fixer = bacteria that converts nitrogen from the atmosphere into nitrogen in the soil (usable form) for other plants to use

• Urea = nitrogenous waste released from animals in urine; puts nitrogen back in soil

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NKGS4bj7cc

Life in a community

• How do plants and animals survive where they live?

• Various combinations of abiotic and biotic factors interact around the world.

• What does this mean about the different communities around the world?

Limiting Factor

• Limiting Factor = any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms

• Examples: availability of water/food, predators, temperature

• Recall that the carrying capacity is the maximum population size of species that environment can sustain, given food, habitat, water and other necessities are available in environment

Carrying Capacity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QI2ixJeIxEU

What is the limiting factor?

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Temperature (C)

Food Production in Saltbush (Altriplex)

Temperatureand FoodProduction

Can factors indirectly affect populations?

• Lack of rain prevents grass from producing seeds

• Can this indirectly affect another population (other than just the grass?)

Ranges of tolerance

• What does corn need to survive?

• What if corn is grown in the shade… what will this do to the crop?

• Tolerance = the ability of an organism to withstand fluctuations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors

What is the range of tolerance?

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Temperature (C)

Food Production in Saltbush (Altriplex)

Temperature andFoodProduction

Succession

Changes Over Time

Succession: Changes Over Time

• If you stopped cutting the grass in your front yard, what would happen?

• In 1 year?

• 5 years?

• 90 years?

Succession

• Ecological Succession = the orderly, natural changes and species replacements that take place in the communities of an ecosystem

• Occurs in stages

• Each stage has different plants and animals

• Conditions of each stage are suitable for some organisms but not others

Succession

• Can you observe succession?

– It can take decades or even centuries to observe

• 2 types of succession:

– Primary succession

– Secondary succession

Primary Succession • Primary succession = the colonization of barren

land by communities of organisms

• Land must have: No living organisms – Example: island forming/land after lava flow

• Pioneer species = first species to take hold in an area – Example: lichen

• Different organisms

(usually algae, bacteria,

Fungus), that allow it to

mutuallistically survive

harsh conditions

Primary Succession

• What happens to the pioneer species (lichen, moss) over time?

• Decaying lichen and sediment develop soil

• Soil small plants

• Small plants die more soil bigger plants

• Over time the primary succession slows down and the community becomes stable

Ecological Succession

Climax Community

• Climax community = stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species

• May last for 100’s of years

• *** If its stable, does it still change?***

• YES!

• … but the changes are balanced!

Secondary Succession

• What if there’s a fire that destroys a community?

• What if a field isn’t replanted?

• What if a building is demolished and nothing is built on the site?

Secondary Succession

• Secondary succession = the sequence of changes that takes place after an existing community is severely disrupted in some way

• What are some possible disruptions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIxyUcb2wqI

Secondary Succession

• What does secondary succession have that primary does not?

– SOIL!

• Will the species be the same?

• Will secondary succession still reach climax community status?

• Which will get there faster? (primary or secondary?)

What does the sudden drop in series 1 represent?

High

Species Biodiversity

Low

Time -->

Series 2

Series 1

BIOMES

• The biosphere, as you know, comprises all life on Earth

• Biome = a major biological community that occurs over a large area – A BIG group of LIVING

things

– Different kinds of species

– Large geographical area/ REGION

BIOMES

• Biomes are commonly identified by the Biome’s dominant plant species

How are biomes commonly identified?

Aquatic

• WATER

• Examples:

– Ocean

– Creek

– River

2 major kinds of BIOMES

Terrestrial

• LAND

• Examples:

– Forest

– Desert

– Grasslands

Saltwater

• Ocean

• Marine

• Salt Lakes

3 kinds of Aquatic Biomes

Freshwater • Pond, lake,

river

Estuary

• Mix of fresh and saltwater

• Marsh/ICW

• LIGHT is a major resource when talking about aquatic biomes.

• 2 zones based on the AMOUNT of light:

Aquatic Biomes and LIGHT

Photic light shallow water

Aphotic no light deep water

1. Temperature

2. Amount of

Precipitation

2 most important factors in determining the BIOME

• Tundra

• Taiga

• Temperate Forest

• Grassland

• Desert

• Tropical Rain Forest

6 major Terrestrial Biomes

Biomes: Where in the world…?

• Northern/Polar regions

• Very cold temperatures (long winter/short summer)

• Permafrost = permanent layer of frost in the ground – only small plants can grow

Tundra

• Mountainous regions with mostly conifers

• Cold winters, cool/short summer

• Conifer = mainly pines

Taiga

• Clearly defined seasons

– Mild winters/warm summers

• Some conifers, but mostly deciduous trees

• Deciduous Tree = tree that loses its leaves in the fall (oak, maple)

Temperate Forest

• Dry summer/cool winter

• Mostly grasses and shrubs

• Grazing animals

• AKA “savannah”

Grassland

• Very little rain (<3cm/yr)

• Hot days/Cold nights

• Animal adaptations:

– Nocturnal = move/hunt at night to avoid heat

– Burrow = live in hole to avoid heat

– Must conserve water!

Desert

• Rains almost daily

• Located very close to equator (most sun)

– No seasons

• Most “biodiverse”: greatest variety of organisms in an area

Tropical Rainforest

As you can see, Biomes are classified by both Abiotic and Biotic factors!

• Each biome has different:

• Temperature

• Rainfall

• Altitude

• Latitude

• Types of plants and animals

• This booklet should be directed toward 5th graders.

• Your goal is to educate them on the six different terrestrial (land) biomes:

– Tundra, Taiga, Desert, Grasslands, Temperate Forest, and Tropical Rain Forest.

• Try to find creative and interesting ways to represent the following information using one page per biome.

Biome Booklet Time!

• Global location/ Description

• Climate/ Seasonal Extremes

• Average rainfall

• Animals (minimum of 2)

• Plants (minimum of 1-2)

• Describe at least one adaptation for plants AND animal in each biome

• Interesting facts (minimum of 2)

• **Include a decorative cover for your brochure!!!*** Use pictures/drawings/collage***

• Green and Black Text Book pgs 80-99 will help you!

Biome Booklet

Biodiversity and Conservation

What is biodiversity?

• Bio = life

• Diversity = differences among organisms

• Biodiversity = the variety of living organisms found in an area

Biodiversity varies around the world:

Do you see a pattern?

• Number of species of mammals:

– Canada – 163

– US – 367

– Mexico – 439

• In one hectare of forest you are likely to find:

– Peru – 300 tree species

– US – 30 tree species or less

Why is biodiversity important?

• Organisms are adapted to live together!

• Ecologists know many relationships – many have yet to be discovered

• Biodiversity decreases competition, and increases the amount of genetic material in the environment!

What is meant by the phrase “Life depends on life?”

• Animals need plants

• Plants couldn’t exist without animals to pollinate

• Plants need decomposers to break down nutrients

• Living things create niches for other living things!

Importance to People • What does biodiversity offer to Humans? • Biodiversity gives humans:

– Oxygen – Diverse diet – Materials (clothes, furniture, buildings) – Medicinal supplies (world pharmacy)

• Penicillin cam from the mold Penicillium • Antimalarial drug came from the cinchona tree

Preserving biodiversity ensures there will be living things to use in the future!

Loss of Biodiversity Extinct Endangered Threatened

Disappearance of a species

numbers so low that extinction is possible

Population declining rapidly

Ex) Dodo Bird, Tasmanian tiger

Ex) Peregrine Falcon, Black Footed Ferret

Ex) Polar Bear, Boreal Toad

Threats to Biodiversity

• Species are usually well adapted to their habitats…

• What happens when these habitats are changed?

Habitat Loss

• Habitat loss = removal/disappearance of habitat

• Effect: organism are displaced (must go somewhere else)

• Ex:

– deer in your yard

– bears in garbage

Habitat Fragmentation • Habitat fragmentation = obstruction (road,

development, etc) that separates a habitat into sections

• Example: Road through a forest prevents animals/plants from moving to other side

Habitat Fragmentation

• Can cause problems with

– Migration

– “island effect” or – smaller less biodiversity

– Invasion of exotic species

– Lack of reintroduction after fires

– Changes is climate

– Edge effect

Habitat Fragmentation

• Edge Effect= changes along ecosystem boundaries

Habitat Degradation= to make a habitat unlivable

Habitat Degradation: Pollution

• Pollution can be air, water, or land

• Examples:

• Acid Precipitation

• CFC’s in atmosphere

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Do not belong in habitat

• Few/no predators in new habitat

• Reproduce/spread out of control

Introduction of Exotic/Invasive Species

• Kudzu

Conservation of Biodiversity

• Conservation biology = a new field that studies methods and implements plans to protect biodiversity

• Effective strategies are based on ecological principles

• Many species are threatened because of people, so working with humans is a major part of conservation biology

Legal Protection • US Endangered Species Act

• CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species)

Habitat Preservation

Habitat Preservation

• What does it mean to be sustainable?

• Sustainable use = using resources wisely – waste less

• Habitat Corridors = connect pieces of land to overcome habitat fragmentation

Preservation

• What does a reintroduction program try to do?

– Example: California condors

• What does a zoo/captivity aim to do?

• What is a seed bank?

Preservation

• Captivity – under human control

• Reintroduction – putting species back in natural environment

What kinds of problems are there with reintroduction?

• Animals may lose natural instinct

• Loss of natural instincts is harder on animals than plants

• What kinds of problems might plant reintroductions have?