Turner College & Career High School Turner College & Career High School 2015 2015

EcologyEcology

What is What is EcologyEcology

EcologyEcology is the scientific study is the scientific study of interactions among of interactions among organisms and between organisms and between organisms and their organisms and their environment.environment.

Biotic & AbioticBiotic & Abiotic

• BioticBiotic – all living organisms (plants & animals). – all living organisms (plants & animals).• AbioticAbiotic – all nonliving things (rocks, gases, – all nonliving things (rocks, gases,

minerals).minerals).• BiosphereBiosphere – where all living and non living – where all living and non living

things are found (land, water, air).things are found (land, water, air).Abiotic Biotic

BiosphereBiosphere Different populations make up the biosphereDifferent populations make up the biosphere

• Population – groups of organisms of one species Population – groups of organisms of one species that live in the same placethat live in the same place

Populations use the same: food, water, Populations use the same: food, water, mates, territorymates, territory

• Different populations that interact make up Different populations that interact make up CommunitiesCommunities

Examples: fish and alligators share the same territory Examples: fish and alligators share the same territory (habitat) and interact with one another (predator/prey)(habitat) and interact with one another (predator/prey)

All the interactions make up the EcosystemAll the interactions make up the Ecosystem Biomass is the total amount of living tissue in a Biomass is the total amount of living tissue in a

given areagiven area

Levels of Levels of OrganizationOrganization

Biome

Levels of OrganizationLevels of OrganizationBiosphere

Biome

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Individual

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization

BiosphereBiosphere – part of Earth that contains life. – part of Earth that contains life.

BiomeBiome – group of ecosystems that have similar – group of ecosystems that have similar climate and dominant communities. climate and dominant communities.

EcosystemEcosystem – collection of all the organisms – collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place along with all that live in a particular place along with all abiotic factors (nonliving).abiotic factors (nonliving).

CommunityCommunity – different populations that live – different populations that live together in the same area.together in the same area.

PopulationPopulation - Groups of individuals that live in - Groups of individuals that live in same area.same area.

IndividualIndividual – one member of a species living in – one member of a species living in the population.the population.

Levels of OrganizationLevels of OrganizationAir, water, land

Rainforest, desert, tundra

Cactus, snakes, rocks, sand

Deer, rabbits, owls

Frogs in a lake

One frog

SunlightSunlight• SunlightSunlight is the main energy source for is the main energy source for

life on Earth.life on Earth.• Some organisms rely on the energy Some organisms rely on the energy

stored in stored in inorganic chemicalsinorganic chemicals..

InteractionsInteractions NicheNiche – role the organism plays in the environment. – role the organism plays in the environment.

• Ex. Bacteria decompose dead organic material.Ex. Bacteria decompose dead organic material. AutotrophsAutotrophs (producers) and (producers) and HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

(consumer).(consumer).• AutotrophAutotroph – use sunlight to make food/energy; ex. Plants. – use sunlight to make food/energy; ex. Plants.• HeterotrophHeterotroph – consume producers and other heterotrophs – consume producers and other heterotrophs

for food/energy.for food/energy. HerbivoreHerbivore – Consumer that eats only plant matter; ex. cow. – Consumer that eats only plant matter; ex. cow. CarnivoreCarnivore – Consumer that eats animals. There are two types: – Consumer that eats animals. There are two types:

• PredatorsPredators which prey on live animals; ex. lions, tigers. which prey on live animals; ex. lions, tigers.• ScavengersScavengers which eat dead animals; ex. vulture. which eat dead animals; ex. vulture.

OmnivoresOmnivores – eat both plants and animals; ex. humans, bears. – eat both plants and animals; ex. humans, bears. DecomposerDecomposer – breakdown (eat) dead organic materials.– breakdown (eat) dead organic materials.

AutotrophsAutotrophs Organisms that capture energy from Organisms that capture energy from

sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to sunlight or chemicals and use that energy to produce food are called produce food are called autotrophsautotrophs or or producersproducers..

They use light energy to convert carbon They use light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates during a process calledcarbohydrates during a process called

photosynthesisphotosynthesis.. Several types ofSeveral types of

bacteriabacteria do this do this process. process.

Green Slime

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs

Organisms that do not get energy directly Organisms that do not get energy directly from the physical environment, but from other from the physical environment, but from other organisms are called organisms are called heterotrophsheterotrophs or or consumersconsumers..

Heterotrophs are the consumersHeterotrophs are the consumers of the food chain.of the food chain.

They can't produce their ownThey can't produce their own food using energy from the sun food using energy from the sun like an autotroph can. like an autotroph can.

Heterotrophs eat plants or otherHeterotrophs eat plants or other animals to get energy for life.animals to get energy for life.

Types of HetrotrophsTypes of Hetrotrophs

• HerbivoresHerbivores - obtain energy by eating only - obtain energy by eating only plantsplants

ex: cows, caterpillars, deerex: cows, caterpillars, deer

• CarnivoresCarnivores - obtain energy by eating - obtain energy by eating animalsanimals ex: snakes, dogs, owlsex: snakes, dogs, owls

• OmnivoresOmnivores - obtain energy by eating both - obtain energy by eating both plantsplants and and animalsanimals

ex: humans, bears, crowsex: humans, bears, crows

• DetritivoreDetritivore - obtain energy by feeding on plant - obtain energy by feeding on plant and animal and animal remainsremains

ex: mites, earthworm, snails, crabsex: mites, earthworm, snails, crabs

• DecomposersDecomposers - - breakdownbreakdown organic matter organic matter ex: bacteria, fungiex: bacteria, fungi

Energy TransferEnergy Transfer

When an organism eats another When an organism eats another organism, organism, energyenergy is transferred. is transferred.

Energy flows through an Energy flows through an ecosystem in ecosystem in oneone direction, from direction, from the the sunsun or or inorganicinorganic compounds compounds to autotrophs (to autotrophs (producersproducers) and ) and then to various heterotrophs then to various heterotrophs ((consumersconsumers).).

Inter-DependenceInter-Dependence SymbiosisSymbiosis – living together. – living together.

• One organism depending on another One organism depending on another for it’s survival. This is a relationship for it’s survival. This is a relationship all living things share.all living things share.

Types of SymbiosisTypes of Symbiosis• MutualismMutualism – both organisms benefit; – both organisms benefit;

ex. plants giving off Oex. plants giving off O22 for animals and for animals and animals giving off COanimals giving off CO22 for plants to for plants to use.use.

• ParasitismParasitism – one organism benefits – one organism benefits and the other is harmed; ex. and the other is harmed; ex. tapeworm living in a persons intestine.tapeworm living in a persons intestine.

• CommensalismCommensalism – one organism – one organism benefits and the other is not affected; benefits and the other is not affected; ex. birds nesting in trees.ex. birds nesting in trees.

Energy CycleEnergy Cycle Energy flows through an ecosystem from Energy flows through an ecosystem from

producer to consumer and is eventually producer to consumer and is eventually recycled by decomposers. Each living recycled by decomposers. Each living thing is dependant on the other living thing is dependant on the other living things in the community.things in the community.

Energy constantly cycles through the Energy constantly cycles through the ecosystem. Example: rabbit is born, rabbit ecosystem. Example: rabbit is born, rabbit lives a happy life, rabbit gets run over by lives a happy life, rabbit gets run over by car, vulture and coyotes eat remains and car, vulture and coyotes eat remains and gain energy from food, bacteria gain energy from food, bacteria decompose the rest of the living matter for decompose the rest of the living matter for energy.energy.

Models of Energy CyclesModels of Energy Cycles• Food ChainFood Chain – Most simple model which shows – Most simple model which shows

how energy flows from one organism to how energy flows from one organism to another. Only goes in one direction. Ex.: rabbit another. Only goes in one direction. Ex.: rabbit coyote bacteria coyote bacteria

• Food WebFood Web – network of interconnected food – network of interconnected food chains. Shows more than one path energy chains. Shows more than one path energy flows through environmentflows through environment

• Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels – each organism represents a – each organism represents a step in which there is a 10% gain and the rest step in which there is a 10% gain and the rest of the energy is lost to heatof the energy is lost to heat

• Ecological PyramidEcological Pyramid – puts populations by – puts populations by numbers and energy level starting with numbers and energy level starting with producersproducers at the bottom of the pyramid at the bottom of the pyramid

Food ChainFood Chain

Energy is stored by producers can Energy is stored by producers can be passed through an ecosystem be passed through an ecosystem along a food chain.along a food chain.

A food chain is a series of steps A food chain is a series of steps which organisms transfer energy which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten. by eating and being eaten.

Food WebFood WebA food web links all the food chains in an ecosystem together. A food web is used to represent the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem that form a network of complex interactions.

Trophic LevelsTrophic Levels

Each step in a food chain or web is Each step in a food chain or web is called a trophic level.called a trophic level.

Producers make up the first trophic Producers make up the first trophic level and consumers make up the level and consumers make up the higher levels. higher levels.

Ecological PyramidEcological Pyramid

At each level energy is lost in the form of heat. The greatest amount of available energy is found at the bottom level of the pyramid. Producers are the living things that have the most energy available to them.

Environmental HomeostasisEnvironmental Homeostasis

Life is sustained by a balance of Life is sustained by a balance of environmental factors and by environmental factors and by maintaining a balance of nutrients that maintaining a balance of nutrients that are necessary for living organisms.are necessary for living organisms.

These are water, carbon and nitrogen.These are water, carbon and nitrogen. Each of these cycles through the Each of these cycles through the

environment such that the balance can environment such that the balance can be maintained.be maintained.

Water CycleWater CycleHow the Environment Maintains HomeostasisHow the Environment Maintains Homeostasis

Carbon CycleCarbon CycleHow the Environment Maintains HomeostasisHow the Environment Maintains Homeostasis

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen CycleHow the Environment Maintains HomeostasisHow the Environment Maintains Homeostasis

Ecological HomeostasisEcological Homeostasis Limiting factorsLimiting factors are biotic and abiotic conditions are biotic and abiotic conditions

that maintain balance in every community and that maintain balance in every community and keep populations from growing out of controlkeep populations from growing out of control• Availability of foodAvailability of food• TemperatureTemperature• ShelterShelter• Availability of matesAvailability of mates

The Ways communities grow into new niches is The Ways communities grow into new niches is called called SuccessionSuccession• Primary Succession – colonization of new environments Primary Succession – colonization of new environments

(ex. islands) (ex. islands) • Secondary Succession – usually happens after natural Secondary Succession – usually happens after natural

disasters or other major changes to the environmentdisasters or other major changes to the environment

The Major BiomesThe Major Biomes• Tropical Rain ForestTropical Rain Forest• Savanna Savanna • DesertDesert• GrasslandGrassland• Tundra Tundra • Temperate Forests and Grasslands Temperate Forests and Grasslands • MountainsMountains• Temperate and Coniferous ForestTemperate and Coniferous Forest• Freshwater and Saltwater AquaticFreshwater and Saltwater Aquatic

Population DynamicsPopulation Dynamics Population GrowthPopulation Growth is limited by certain is limited by certain

factorsfactors• Space availableSpace available• FoodFood• Competition for resources between different Competition for resources between different

speciesspecies• Number of matesNumber of mates• Natural disasterNatural disaster• DiseaseDisease• TemperatureTemperature

Each ecosystem has a carrying capacity.Each ecosystem has a carrying capacity.• This means the area can only support a certain This means the area can only support a certain

number of each species due to the limiting factors number of each species due to the limiting factors for populations.for populations.

Human PopulationsHuman Populations

Factors affecting Human Population growthFactors affecting Human Population growth• Birth rate and Death rateBirth rate and Death rate

Birth rate – Death rate = population growth Birth rate – Death rate = population growth raterate

• FertilityFertility When fertility is high populations increaseWhen fertility is high populations increase

• Population AgePopulation Age Very young / immature pre-reproductiveVery young / immature pre-reproductive Reproductive mature ( only ones that can increase Reproductive mature ( only ones that can increase

population )population ) Post-reproductive / very oldPost-reproductive / very old

• MobilityMobility Immigration – movement into a populationImmigration – movement into a population Emigration – movement out of a populationEmigration – movement out of a population