EcologyEcology

What is Ecology?What is Ecology?A.A. The study of the The study of the interactions of interactions of

living things with each other & living things with each other & their physical environmenttheir physical environment..

Ecological OrganizationEcological OrganizationA.A. Population - all the members of a Population - all the members of a species species

inhabiting a given locationinhabiting a given location..B.B. Community - Community - all the interacting all the interacting

populationspopulations in a given area. in a given area.C.C. Ecosystem - the Ecosystem - the living communityliving community & the & the

physical environment functioning physical environment functioning togethertogether as an as an independent & relative independent & relative stablestable system. system.

D.D. Biosphere - portion of the Earth which Biosphere - portion of the Earth which all all living things existliving things exist. All the ecosystems . All the ecosystems of of the Earth.of of the Earth.

Sunlight Sunlight Why Is It Why Is It Important?Important?A.A. Source of energySource of energy for the for the

biosphere.biosphere.B.B. Source of energy taken by Source of energy taken by

autotrophs (green plants) & autotrophs (green plants) & passed on to heterotrophs passed on to heterotrophs (animals).(animals).

Ecosystem CharacteristicsEcosystem CharacteristicsA.A. Consists of 2 environments:Consists of 2 environments:

1. 1. AbioticAbiotic2. 2. BioticBiotic

Abiotic EnvironmentAbiotic EnvironmentA.A. Physical or Physical or nonlivingnonliving environment environment

factors:factors:1.1. LightLight intensity intensity2.2. Range ofRange of temperaturetemperature3.3. Amount of Amount of moisturemoisture4.4. Type ofType of soil or rocksoil or rock5. Availability of 5. Availability of mineralsminerals6. Supply of6. Supply of OO22, CO, CO22, N, N7.7. pHpH

Biotic EnvironmentBiotic EnvironmentA.A. Living partLiving part of the environment: of the environment:

1. All the populations1. All the populations2. Thus, the 2. Thus, the organisms, their organisms, their presence, parts, interactions & presence, parts, interactions & wastes are all biotic factorswastes are all biotic factors..

Biotic FactorsBiotic FactorsA.A. Autotrophs - Autotrophs - produce own foodproduce own food..B.B. Bacteria of decay (Bacteria of decay (decomposersdecomposers) - ) -

return organic material to environment return organic material to environment for reuse.for reuse.

C.C. Consuming of one organismConsuming of one organism by by another helps another helps transfer energytransfer energy in the in the ecosystem.ecosystem.

D.D. Branches of large trees Branches of large trees preventprevent small small plants from growing.plants from growing.

E.E. Flowers pollinatedFlowers pollinated by insects. by insects.

Nutritional RelationshipsNutritional RelationshipsA.A. Autotroph (green plant) Autotroph (green plant)

Nutrition - Nutrition - can synthesize their can synthesize their own food from inorganic own food from inorganic compoundscompounds & a usable energy & a usable energy source.source.

Nutritional RelationshipsNutritional RelationshipsB.B. Heterotroph Nutrition - Heterotroph Nutrition - dependent dependent

on other organisms for foodon other organisms for food..1. Saprophytes - include those 1. Saprophytes - include those heterotrophs plants, fungi & heterotrophs plants, fungi & bacteria which live on dead matter bacteria which live on dead matter (decomposers).(decomposers).2. Herbivores - 2. Herbivores - plant eating animalsplant eating animals..

Nutritional RelationshipsNutritional Relationships3.3. Carnivores - Carnivores - meat eating animalsmeat eating animals..

a. a. PredatorsPredators - animals which kill & - animals which kill & consume their prey.consume their prey.b. b. ScavengersScavengers - those animals that feed - those animals that feed on other animals threat they have not on other animals threat they have not killed.killed.

4.4. Omnivores - Omnivores - consume both plants & consume both plants & meatmeat..

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic RelationshipsA.A. Living togetherLiving together with another organism in with another organism in

close association.close association.Types of symbiosis:Types of symbiosis:1. Commensalism - 1. Commensalism - one organism is benefited one organism is benefited & other is not effected& other is not effected. Barnacles on whales.. Barnacles on whales.2. Mutualism - 2. Mutualism - both organisms benefitboth organisms benefit. . Microorganisms living in termites digestive tract.Microorganisms living in termites digestive tract.3. Parasitism - 3. Parasitism - parasite benefits at the parasite benefits at the expense of a hostexpense of a host. Tapeworm & heartworm in . Tapeworm & heartworm in dogs.dogs.

Energy FlowEnergy FlowA.A. All organisms All organisms need energyneed energy..B.B. Consumption of foodConsumption of food is a is a

transfertransfer of energy. of energy.C.C. Pathways of energyPathways of energy through the through the

living components of an ecosystem living components of an ecosystem are represented by are represented by food chains & food chains & food websfood webs..

Energy PathwaysEnergy PathwaysA.A. Food Food chainchainB.B. Food Food webwebC.C. PyramidPyramid of energy/pyramid of of energy/pyramid of

biomes.biomes.

Food ChainFood ChainA.A. Series of organismsSeries of organisms through through

which which food energy is passedfood energy is passed in in an ecosystem.an ecosystem.

B.B. Process of Process of organisms eating organisms eating other organismsother organisms..

Grass Grasshopper

Frog Hawk

Food WebFood WebA.A. All All interconnected food chainsinterconnected food chains in in

an ecosystem.an ecosystem.B.B. All food chains must have:All food chains must have:

1. 1. ProducersProducers - autotrophs- autotrophs2. 2. ConsumersConsumersa. Primary consumer (a. Primary consumer (always herbivorealways herbivore) - ) - feeds on plants. Rabbit, mouse, deer.feeds on plants. Rabbit, mouse, deer.b. Secondary consumer (b. Secondary consumer (always always carnivorecarnivore) - feeds upon other consumers. ) - feeds upon other consumers. Sparrows, snakes, hawks.Sparrows, snakes, hawks.3. 3. DecomposersDecomposers - breakdown organic - breakdown organic waste & dead organisms to simpler waste & dead organisms to simpler substances.substances.

Food WebFood WebC.C. Through Through decomposition chemical decomposition chemical

substances are returned to the substances are returned to the environmentenvironment where they can be where they can be used by other living organisms.used by other living organisms.

Pyramid of Energy/Pyramid Pyramid of Energy/Pyramid of of BiomassBiomass

Pyramid of Energy/Pyramid of Pyramid of Energy/Pyramid of BiomassBiomassA.A. As available As available energy decreasesenergy decreases, the , the

business decreasesbusiness decreases at that level. at that level.B.B. There is a There is a decrease in the overall decrease in the overall

energy in each level as you move energy in each level as you move upup the food web. the food web.

C.C. An ecosystem can not survive An ecosystem can not survive without the without the constant input of constant input of energyenergy from the sun. from the sun.

BiomassBiomassA.A. Amount of Amount of organic matterorganic matter..B.B. The The decrease of energydecrease of energy at each at each

successive feeding level (trophic successive feeding level (trophic level) means that level) means that less biomass can less biomass can be supportedbe supported at each level. at each level.

C.C. Thus, Thus, the total mass of carnivores the total mass of carnivores in a particular ecosystem is less in a particular ecosystem is less than the total mass of producersthan the total mass of producers..

Typical Typical Representation Representation

of NY of NY State State Terrestrial Terrestrial

Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid

Ecological SuccessionEcological SuccessionA.A. The process by which an The process by which an existing existing

community is slowly replaced by community is slowly replaced by another communityanother community..

B.B. Ecosystems tend to change with time Ecosystems tend to change with time until a stable system is formeduntil a stable system is formed..

C.C. The The types of ecosystemtypes of ecosystem that is that is formed formed depends on climate depends on climate limitationslimitations of a given geographical of a given geographical area.area.

Ecological SuccessionEcological SuccessionD.D. Climax community - a self perpetuating Climax community - a self perpetuating

ions ions remain stable & exist in balanceremain stable & exist in balance with each other & their environment.with each other & their environment.

E.E. Dominant species - the few species that Dominant species - the few species that have a have a great effect on the great effect on the environmentenvironment & on other members& on other members of of the community.the community.Ex. Dominant plant species dominate in Ex. Dominant plant species dominate in the sense that they are the most the sense that they are the most abundant food source.abundant food source.

Stages of SuccessionStages of SuccessionA.A. Pioneer organism - Pioneer organism - the first organisms the first organisms

to inhabit a given locationto inhabit a given location. Lichen on . Lichen on bare rock.bare rock.

B.B. Primary succession - the development of Primary succession - the development of plant communities on newly formed plant communities on newly formed habitatshabitats that previously lacked life. that previously lacked life.

C.C. Secondary succession - Secondary succession - return of an return of an area to its natural vegetation area to its natural vegetation following a disruptionfollowing a disruption (such as a fire or (such as a fire or flood), or removal of the original climax flood), or removal of the original climax community.community.

Competition in EcosystemsCompetition in EcosystemsA.A. Each type of organism with in an Each type of organism with in an

ecosystem has a particular part of ecosystem has a particular part of the environment which it lives.the environment which it lives.1. Habitat - 1. Habitat - place in ecosystem place in ecosystem where an organism liveswhere an organism lives..2. Carrying capacity - 2. Carrying capacity - the numberthe number of of organisms any habitat can organisms any habitat can support.support.3. Niche - 3. Niche - the organisms role in the organisms role in the communitythe community..

Competition in the Competition in the EcosystemEcosystem4.4. Inter-specific Competition - occurs when Inter-specific Competition - occurs when 2 2

different species or organisms living different species or organisms living in the same environmentin the same environment (habitat) (habitat) utilize the same resourcesutilize the same resources such as food, such as food, water, space, light, oxygen & minerals.water, space, light, oxygen & minerals.

5.5. Limiting Factor - a condition of the Limiting Factor - a condition of the environment that environment that limits the growth of a limits the growth of a populationpopulation..Ex. Food, water, space.Ex. Food, water, space.

Biomes of the EarthBiomes of the EarthA.A. Biome is a Biome is a large geographic arealarge geographic area of of

the Earth the Earth characterized by a characterized by a particular typeparticular type of climax community. of climax community.

B.B. Six different types of terrestrial biomes:Six different types of terrestrial biomes:1. Tundra1. Tundra2. Taiga2. Taiga3. Temperate-deciduous forest3. Temperate-deciduous forest4. Tropical forest4. Tropical forest5. Grassland5. Grassland6. Desert6. Desert

Temperate-Deciduous Temperate-Deciduous Forest (New York State)Forest (New York State)A.A. Moderate precipitation, cold Moderate precipitation, cold

winters, warm summerswinters, warm summers..B.B. Grey squirrel, fox, deer.Grey squirrel, fox, deer.C.C. Trees that shed leaves.Trees that shed leaves.

Effect on Formation of BiomesEffect on Formation of BiomesAltitude & Latitude ComparisonAltitude & Latitude Comparison

Water BiomesWater BiomesA.A. Largest ecosystem on Earth.Largest ecosystem on Earth.B.B. Consists of two types:Consists of two types:

1. Marine1. Marine2. Freshwater2. Freshwater

Marine BiomesMarine BiomesA.A. Holds in solar heatHolds in solar heat & stabilizes the atmosphere. & stabilizes the atmosphere.B.B. Contains Contains large supply of nutrientslarge supply of nutrients & dissolved & dissolved

salts.salts.C.C. Most photosynthesis on EarthMost photosynthesis on Earth occurs in the occurs in the

ocean.ocean.D.D. Types of organisms found in marine biomes:Types of organisms found in marine biomes:

1. 1. BenthosBenthos - floor dwelling. - floor dwelling.2. 2. PlanktonPlankton - surface dwelling. - surface dwelling.3. 3. NektonNekton - free swimming. - free swimming.

Cycles of MaterialsCycles of MaterialsA.A. In a self-sustaining ecosystem, In a self-sustaining ecosystem,

materials must be cycled among materials must be cycled among the organisms and the abiotic the organisms and the abiotic environmentenvironment. Thus the same . Thus the same materials can be reused.materials can be reused.

B.B. Types of cycles:Types of cycles:1. 1. Carbon-Oxygen CycleCarbon-Oxygen Cycle2. 2. Water CycleWater Cycle3. 3. Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Carbon-Oxygen CycleCarbon-Oxygen CycleA.A. Involves the processes of Involves the processes of

respiration & photosynthesisrespiration & photosynthesis..

Water CycleWater CycleA.A. Involves the Involves the processes of processes of

photosynthesis, transpiration, photosynthesis, transpiration, evaporation, condensation, evaporation, condensation, respiration & excretionrespiration & excretion..

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen CycleA.A. Nitrogenous Nitrogenous

wastes and the wastes and the remains of dead remains of dead organisms are organisms are converted by converted by decomposers decomposers and soil and soil bacteriabacteria into into compounds that compounds that can be used by can be used by autotroph.autotroph.