EcologyEcologyRelationships in the Relationships in the

environmentenvironment

Vocabulary of EcologyVocabulary of Ecology

Ecology- The study of the interaction between organisms and between organisms and their environment.

Sometimes the interactions are positive, sometimes negative

SpeciesSpecies

Two organisms are in the same species if they can reproduce in their environment and produce fertile offspring

PopulationPopulation

Population-all of the organisms of one species living in a given area

Community – A community is a Community – A community is a group of interacting populationsgroup of interacting populations

EcosystemEcosystem

An An ecosystem ecosystem consists of consists of the living the living and the non-and the non-living things living things in an area.in an area.

BiomeBiome

Biomes are large geographic areas Biomes are large geographic areas with the same type of communities.with the same type of communities.

Examples would be freshwater, Examples would be freshwater, marine, estuarine, tundra, taiga, marine, estuarine, tundra, taiga, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, grassland, and desert biomesgrassland, and desert biomes

Tundra and TaigaTundra and Taiga

Grasslands and DesertsGrasslands and Deserts

Temperate Forest and Rain ForestTemperate Forest and Rain Forest

What are some other biomes?What are some other biomes?

The biosphere is that portion of the earth that supports life.

Where is it? It includes the

surface of the crust, as well as the crust to a depth of many meters, and the atmosphere

How do living things affect each How do living things affect each other and their environment?other and their environment?

The The rolerole of an organism in its of an organism in its environment is called the organism’s environment is called the organism’s nicheniche..

One way to understand the term One way to understand the term niche is to ask yourself, “How would niche is to ask yourself, “How would things change if that organism were things change if that organism were no longer here?no longer here?

Consider the niche of this guyConsider the niche of this guy

How would life be different for other organisms if all beavers disappeared?

Don’t confuse “niche” and “habitat”Don’t confuse “niche” and “habitat”

Niche is the Niche is the rolerole played by the played by the organism in the organism in the communitycommunity

HabitatHabitat is a is a place. place. It It is the is the place where an place where an organism lives organism lives out its life.out its life.

Question: True or False? Two organisms Question: True or False? Two organisms which occupy the same habitat must also which occupy the same habitat must also

occupy the same niche?occupy the same niche? Answer: Answer: FALSEFALSE. .

Consider the two Consider the two organisms organisms pictured. They pictured. They occupy the same occupy the same habitat, but is habitat, but is their role in the their role in the community the community the same?same?

What factors affect the size of a What factors affect the size of a population of organisms?population of organisms?

First, it’s important to understand First, it’s important to understand biotic potentialbiotic potential. Biotic potential is . Biotic potential is the the highest rate of reproduction of a highest rate of reproduction of a populationpopulation under ideal conditions under ideal conditions..

Q: How often in nature are Q: How often in nature are conditions ideal?conditions ideal?

A: Never. Something (food, A: Never. Something (food, weather, predation etc.) is always weather, predation etc.) is always less than idealless than ideal

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

Factors which prevent a population Factors which prevent a population from reaching its biotic potential are from reaching its biotic potential are called called limiting factorslimiting factors. .

Limiting factors may be either Limiting factors may be either bioticbiotic or or abioticabiotic..

BioticBiotic limiting factors are those which limiting factors are those which are are livingliving things. things.

AbioticAbiotic limiting factors are limiting factors are non-livingnon-living influences from the environmentinfluences from the environment

Q: What kinds of things in the Q: What kinds of things in the environment represent limiting factors?environment represent limiting factors?

SpaceSpace PredationPredation Food supplyFood supply ParasitesParasites DiseasesDiseases TemperatureTemperature OxygenOxygen WaterWater Soil type... And Soil type... And

othersothers

AbioticAbiotic BioticBiotic BioticBiotic BioticBiotic BioticBiotic AbioticAbiotic AbioticAbiotic AbioticAbiotic Abiotic…..Abiotic…..

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

MutualismMutualism is a is a symbiotic symbiotic relationship in relationship in which both which both organisms involved organisms involved benefitbenefit..

Example: Sharks Example: Sharks

and pilot fish.and pilot fish.

This Just In (Oct. 2014)This Just In (Oct. 2014)More Mutualism in the Ocean

CommensalismCommensalism

Commensalism is Commensalism is another symbiotic another symbiotic relationship.relationship.

In a commensal In a commensal relationship, one relationship, one organism organism benefitsbenefits, the other , the other is is neither harmed neither harmed nor benefitednor benefited..

Example: Spanish Example: Spanish MossMoss

ParasitismParasitism

Parasitism is also a Parasitism is also a form of symbiosisform of symbiosis

If a symbiotic If a symbiotic relationship is relationship is parasitic, the parasitic, the parasite benefits, parasite benefits, while the other while the other organism, called organism, called the hostthe host is is harmedharmed..

Close-up of a Deer Tick

Other relationships in the environmentDecomposers live on dead and decaying

matter. They break down dead organisms and waste and RECYCLE the nutrients back into the ecosystem

Scavengers eat, and then recycle nutrients from dead organisms

Now let’s look at the how we describe healthy ecosystems…… get ready to draw!