Notes 2.1: Introduction to Ecology

PAGES 359-365

Ecology: The study of homes•Study the relationships of animals, plants, and their environment (interdependence)

Interdependence

•Organisms rely on interactions with their environment for survival (living and non-living things)

•Changing one part of the environment affects all things it is connected to

Levels of Organization

Levels of Organization

•Biosphere: portion of the Earth & atmosphere supporting life

•Ecosystem: all the living & non-living things in a particular environment

•Community: all the living things in an area

•Population: all the same species living in the same area

•Organism: an individual in the area

Ecosystem Components•Biotic Factors: living parts of an environment

•Abiotic Factors: non-living parts of an environment (physical & chemical)

Organism’s Home and Role

•Habitat: place where an organism lives

•Niche: the organism’s role in the environment (usually based on what they eat)

• Based on resources it uses, methods by which it gets resources, time of reproduction, # of offspring

• Plants and animals are able to share the same habitat because they have different niches

• If two organisms share the same niche, competition for the niche occurs

Broad Niche◦Generalist: broad niche with a wide tolerance for changes◦Able to use a variety of resources. Ex: Rats

Narrow Niche◦Specialists: narrow niche with small tolerance level to changes ◦Uses specific resources. Ex: Koala

Dealing with the ecosystem•Tolerance Curve: a graph showing the range of conditions an organism can survive

Outside the curve performance decreases drastically. Conditions can include temp, pH, salinity, etc.

Dealing with the ecosystem•Acclimation: some living things can adjust their tolerance to abiotic factors in their environment•Ex: Goldfish raised in different temperatures of water

•Ex: Humans adjusting to lower levels of oxygen at higher altitudes

Dealing with the ecosystem•Control of Internal Conditions (2 ways)•Conformer: organisms that do not control their

internal conditions

◦ they conform to the environment – cold blooded

◦Regulator: organisms that use energy to control their internal conditions ◦ regulate despite the environment – warm blooded

Dealing with the EcosystemEscaping Unsuitable Conditions◦ Dormancy: hide and reduce activity for the duration of

the conditions

◦ Ex. bear hibernates for the winter

◦ Migration: relocate away from the conditions ◦ Ex. birds fly south for the winter