Principles of EcologyDefine Ecology

It is the study of the interactions of organisms with one another and their surroundings.

Ecology is Greek for oikos which means house or household.Biosphere is the part of the earth in which life occurs.

What is a population?# of a specific species in a given area.

What is a community?All the populations in a given area.

Ecosystem – consists of biotic and abiotic factors that surrounds organisms and affects their way of life.Organism Population Communities Ecosystems Biosphere (pg. 59)

EcosystemWhat are some examples of abiotic factors?

Precipitation, sunlight, weather, temp., ect.

What are some examples of biotic factors?

Animals, plants, fungus, algae, bacteria

What is a habitat?A physical area in which an organism lives.If you destroy or change the habitat an organism lives in, then you affect the organism itself.

Niche – the way of life of a species

Ex. A bird’s beak for cracking seeds or tearing meat are niches for birds.

Producers & ConsumersWhat are producers?

Organisms able to make their own food.These are autotrophs (plants)

What is a consumer?Organisms that get their energy either directly or indirectly from producers.

3 types of consumers1. Primary consumer Herbivores2. Secondary consumer Carnivores3. Tertiary consumers Top Carnivores (feed on secondary consumers)Omnivores eat consumers & producers.Scavengers feed on dead organisms.

Decomposers obtain their energy from non-living organic matter.Trophic levels are feeding levels that each organism is categorized into.

1st trophic level producer2nd trophic level herbivore3rd trophic level consumer

Food ChainWhat is a food chain

A specific sequence in which organisms obtain energy in an ecosystem.Usually only 4 to 5 levelsThe 1st level has the most energy and energy is lost as it keeps moving up energy levels.

Make your own food chain

Food Web

What is a food web?It is an interrelated sequence of food chains.More than 1 species can feed off of a specific species.This occurs more frequently

Make your own food web.

3 types of Ecological PyramidsAn ecological pyramid is used to represent the energy relationships among trophic levels.1. Energy Pyramid

Shows the total amount of incoming energy at each trophic level.

2. Biomass PyramidShows the total mass of living tissue at each level.

3. Numbers PyramidIllustrates the total number of organisms at each trophic level.

3 Biogeochemical Cycles1. Water cycle2. Nitrogen cycle3. Carbon cycle

Ch. 4 - Ecological SuccessionThis is where an existing community is gradually replaced by another community.2 types of successions

1. Primary – an area that has never supported life before.•Ex. Volcanic island, retreating glaciers

2. Secondary – an area that has supported previous life. Ex. Abandoned farmland

Climax community – is a relatively stable collection of plants and animals.

A balance in natureEcological successions will usually lead to a climax community.

Ex. An abandoned plowed field will eventually grow back to prairie grassland, which is what the field was originally.

2 Main Types of Biomes1. Terrestrial Biomes – Land2. Aquatic Biomes – WaterWhat is a Biome?It is an environment that has a characteristic climax community.

Terrestrial Biomes1. Polar Biome – ice

Surround North and South poles.Mainly penguinsColdest biome; little if any precipitation

2. TundraNearly treeless area that is covered by mosses, lichens, and grassesPermafrost soil – a layer of permanently frozen subsoil

Undergoes a freezing and thawing cycle. This stunts any plant growth.Caribou, reindeer, wolves, polar bears, ducks, geese.

3. Taiga (Coniferous forest)Dominated by conifers(pines, firs, spruce)Occurs in many of the higher elevations of many mountain ranges in the U.S.

Cold winters, but mild enough winters to allow many plants and animals to reproduce.Moose, elk, bears, mountain goats, ect.

4. Deciduous ForestAlong the eastern coast of the U.S. and southern coast of Canada.Known for its changing seasons (autumn)

Humus soil layer has an abundance of organic nutrients from decaying leaves. Very fertile soil.Mountain lions, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, foxes, deer

5. Grassland (4 main types)1. Plains & Prairies – North America2. Steppes – Soviet Union3. Veldt – South America4. Pampas - Argentina

Characteristics of the PrairieHot summers and cold wintersHeavily farmedA variety of grasses and leafy plantsGrazing mammals – gopher, deer, mice, rats, rabbits, turtles, buffalo, skunks

6. DesertLittle rainfall – less than 10 inches/year

Usually hot and dryLittle vegetationLizards, scorpions, snakes

7. Rain Forest (Tropical and Temperate)

Lots of rainfall – 75 to 150 inches/yearWarm and humidMost diverse biome with various plants & animals. Many organisms unnamed.

Temperate rainforests occur from central California to southern Alaska.Redwood forest and spruces.Rains a lot in Washington and Oregon.

Aquatic Biomes (3 types)1. Marine

Ocean water habitats2 main zones

1. Photic zone – where light penetrates (about 200m deep)2. Aphotic zone – where light doesn’t penetrate (more than 200m deep)

Most organisms in the marine biome live in the intertidal zone. The intertidal zone grows and shrinks as the tides move in and out with high & low tides.2. Freshwater Biome

Rivers, streams, lakesUse for drinking for organisms and life for organisms.

2 types of lakes and ponds1. Eutrophic lakes•Rich in organic matter & vegetation.

2. Oligotrophic lakes•Little organic matter. Clear water

3. EstuariesIt is a mixture of freshwater and salt water.

Where would estuaries be found?

Great for fish, shrimp, and crabs.As young mature they journey out into the open sea and then return to the estuaries to lay their young.