Ecology: the study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment

• Basic unit studied: the organism!• Abiotic = nonliving (air, water, soil)

Biotic = living (plants and animals)• Ecology is part of biology (the study of

___?)

• LIFE! (Bio = life)

Ecology: the study of interrelationships between organisms and their environment

• Ecology means the study of home

• Eco is also in economics

• How are ecology and economics similar??

• Benefit – cost = $$ in economics

• Benefit – cost = survival in ecology

(for the organism!)

Levels of organization

Subatomicparticles

atoms molecules organelles cells

tissues

organs

Organ systems

MulticellularORGANISM!populationcommunityecosystem

biosphere

Levels of organization

Subatomicparticles

atoms molecules organelles cells

tissues

organs

Organ systems

MulticellularORGANISM!populationcommunityecosystem

biosphere

Smallest living unit

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic EukaryoticPrimitive modernSimple complexDNA is in nucleiod regionDNA is in nucleusNo membrane bound membrane boundorganelles organellesSmaller Larger

Prokaryotic Cell

Eukaryotic Cell

1. Archae:Prokaryotic cellsExtreme environments

2. Bacteria:Prokaryotic cellsExtreme environments

3 Domains

3. Eukarya:Eukaryotic CellsProtisits, Fungi, Plants, Animals

Domains/Kingdoms• Archae: single-celled, prokaryotic, extreme

environments, look like bacteria• Bacteria (Eubacteria): true bacteria, single-celled,

prokaryotic, includes E. coli• Eukarya:

Protista: single-celled plants and animals, eukaryotic, includes Paramecium (pond water organisms)

Fungi: multicellular, eukaryotic, chemotrophs, decompsers, includes: yeasts, molds and mushrooms

Plantae: multicellular, eukaryotic, autotrophs (photosynthesis), includes: grass, shrubs, trees

Animalia: multicellular, eukaryotic, heterotrophs, motile, includes: you!

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic EukaryoticPrimitive modernSimple complexDNA is in nucleiod regionDNA is in nucleusNo membrane bound membrane boundorganelles organellesSmaller Larger Bacteria, Archae Protists, Fungi,

PlantsAnimals

Unnumbered Figure 15_UN310

Domain Eukarya

Taxonomy

• Linnaeus/binomial name (Genus species)• Humans = Homo sapiens• Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family,

Genus, Species• Homology = similarity in structure due to a

common ancestor• Analogy = similarity in function not due to

a common ancestor• DNA comparison

Homologous Structures

Let’s play:Which is more closely related?

• BAT, BIRD, DOG??• BAT & BIRD?• BAT & DOG?• DOG & BIRD?• BAT & DOG!!• WHY??• THEY ARE BOTH MAMMALS (fur and

teeth)

Schools of Taxonomy

• Phenetics: looks for similarity and differences whether homology or analogy

• Phylogenetics/systematics: use homologies to map evolutionary relationship

Phylogenetic tree: series of branches

Energy flow: Food Chain

Grass(producer)

Mouse(herbivore)

Snake(primarycarnivore)

Hawk(secondarycarnivore)

Should this be drawn in a line as above or another shape???

Energy pyramid

What did we leave out??

Grass(producer)

Mouse(herbivore)

Snake(primarycarnivore)

Hawk(secondarycarnivore)

Decomposers (detritivores) = the recyclers!!!

Food Web (multiple food chains)