EcologyEcology

ECOLOGY-ECOLOGY-

the branch of biology that studies the the branch of biology that studies the interactions between organisms and their interactions between organisms and their environment. environment.

Ecological studies reveal interrelationships Ecological studies reveal interrelationships between living and non-living parts of the between living and non-living parts of the world.world.

Components of a BiosphereComponents of a Biosphere 1) population:1) population: * includes all the members of a species in a * includes all the members of a species in a

given areagiven areaex. all of the white tail deer in the Honey Island ex. all of the white tail deer in the Honey Island Swamp is a populationSwamp is a population

2) community:2) community: * all of the populations in a given area* all of the populations in a given area

ex. all of the organisms in the Honey Island ex. all of the organisms in the Honey Island Swamp-- deer, palmetto bushes, rabbits, Swamp-- deer, palmetto bushes, rabbits, cypress trees, squirrels, raccoons, birds cypress trees, squirrels, raccoons, birds blackberries, etc... is a communityblackberries, etc... is a community

Cont…Cont… 3) ecosystem:3) ecosystem: * the living (biotic) community and the nonliving * the living (biotic) community and the nonliving

(abiotic) physical environment functioning (abiotic) physical environment functioning together is an ecosystemtogether is an ecosystemex. the swamp ECOSYSTEM is made up of the ex. the swamp ECOSYSTEM is made up of the BIOTIC community and the ABIOTIC factors-- BIOTIC community and the ABIOTIC factors-- weather, rocks, water, soilweather, rocks, water, soil

4) biosphere:4) biosphere: * the biosphere is the portion of the earth in * the biosphere is the portion of the earth in

which LIFE existswhich LIFE exists* is made up of many complex ecosystems* is made up of many complex ecosystems* ALL OF THE ECOSYSTEMS COMBINED * ALL OF THE ECOSYSTEMS COMBINED MAKE UP THE BIOSPHERE!MAKE UP THE BIOSPHERE!

Write in notes as a flow map

ALL ABOUT ECOSYSTEMSALL ABOUT ECOSYSTEMS* the ecosystem is the * the ecosystem is the structural and functional structural and functional unit that is studied in unit that is studied in ecologyecology* they involve important * they involve important interactions between biotic interactions between biotic and abiotic factorsand abiotic factors* an ecosystem can * an ecosystem can support itself and is stable support itself and is stable (not much change) when (not much change) when three conditions are three conditions are

met...the met...the E.A.R.E.A.R. conditions... conditions...

E.A.R ConditionsE.A.R Conditions 1) there must be a constant supply of 1) there must be a constant supply of EEnergy nergy

(the sun is this source for all life on earth)(the sun is this source for all life on earth) 2) there must be living organisms that can 2) there must be living organisms that can

convert the energy into organic compounds convert the energy into organic compounds (plants--(plants--AAutotrophs--photosynthesis)utotrophs--photosynthesis)

3) there must be a 3) there must be a RRecycling of materials ecycling of materials between organisms and the environment. A between organisms and the environment. A balanced aquarium is an example of a very balanced aquarium is an example of a very small ecosystem. small ecosystem.

It is self-supporting because the requirements It is self-supporting because the requirements for a stable ecosystem are present:for a stable ecosystem are present:

Cont..Cont..

ENERGY (1)ENERGY (1) is supplied to the is supplied to the ecosystem by light. There are ecosystem by light. There are PLANTS PLANTS (2)(2) to change the light energy into the to change the light energy into the organic molecule of energy (glucose).organic molecule of energy (glucose). RECYCLING (3)RECYCLING (3) of materials occurs of materials occurs during photosynthesis and respiration. during photosynthesis and respiration.

During During photosynthesis, plants photosynthesis, plants

use light energy and use light energy and carbon dioxide to form carbon dioxide to form glucose. They give off glucose. They give off oxygen. Animals release oxygen. Animals release the carbon dioxide that the carbon dioxide that is used by plants.is used by plants.

PARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEMPARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM

A) A) ABIOTIC FACTORSABIOTIC FACTORS * the non-living parts of the environment* the non-living parts of the environment

(water, air soil, rocks etc.)(water, air soil, rocks etc.) * they directly affect the ability of organisms to * they directly affect the ability of organisms to

live and reproducelive and reproduce* abiotic factors can vary from place to place* abiotic factors can vary from place to place

* abiotic factors can act as * abiotic factors can act as LIMITING FACTORSLIMITING FACTORS that keep a population at a certain levelthat keep a population at a certain level

ex. desert environment -- hot temperature and ex. desert environment -- hot temperature and little water are examples of limiting factors -- little water are examples of limiting factors -- different species living in the desert are different species living in the desert are LIMITEDLIMITED mainly to those types of plants and animals that mainly to those types of plants and animals that need very little water and can survive extreme need very little water and can survive extreme temperatures temperatures

B) B) BIOTIC FACTORSBIOTIC FACTORS * all the living things that directly or * all the living things that directly or

indirectly affect the ecosystemindirectly affect the ecosystem(all living components-plants animals, (all living components-plants animals, microorganisms)microorganisms)

* biotic factors interact with other living * biotic factors interact with other living organisms and the physical environmentorganisms and the physical environment

* can also be* can also be LIMITING FACTORS LIMITING FACTORS ex. disease (bacteria), predators, food ex. disease (bacteria), predators, food

resourcesresources

1) Nutritional Relationships1) Nutritional Relationships:: * involves the transfer of nutrients from * involves the transfer of nutrients from

one organism to another within an one organism to another within an ecosystemecosystem

a) a) AUTOTROPHSAUTOTROPHS----* organisms that can synthesize organic * organisms that can synthesize organic molecules from inorganic moleculesmolecules from inorganic molecules* also called * also called producersproducers* can be either photosynthetic or * can be either photosynthetic or chemosyntheticchemosynthetic

b) b) HETEROTROPHSHETEROTROPHS----* organisms that cannot manufacture organic * organisms that cannot manufacture organic moleculesmolecules* there are 5 types of heterotrophs* there are 5 types of heterotrophs

i. i. HERBIVORESHERBIVORES----* organisms that eat only * organisms that eat only producers (plants)producers (plants)* also called a primary or first-* also called a primary or first-level consumerlevel consumerex. cows, elephants, goatsex. cows, elephants, goats

ii. ii. CARNIVORESCARNIVORES----* organisms that eat only * organisms that eat only other animalsother animals* also called a secondary (or * also called a secondary (or tertiary--3) consumertertiary--3) consumerex. tigers, lions, wolvesex. tigers, lions, wolves

iii. iii. OMNIVORESOMNIVORES----* organisms that eat everything* organisms that eat everything* can be a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level * can be a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd level consumerconsumerex. bears, humansex. bears, humans

iv. iv. SCAVENGERSSCAVENGERS----* organisms that eat only other * organisms that eat only other animals after they are already killedanimals after they are already killed* usually a 2nd or 3rd level * usually a 2nd or 3rd level consumerconsumerex. vultures, hyenasex. vultures, hyenas

v. v. DECOMPOSERSDECOMPOSERS----* organisms that * organisms that live on DEAD live on DEAD mattermatter* also called saprophytes* also called saprophytesex. include heterotrophic plants, ex. include heterotrophic plants, fungi, and bacteriafungi, and bacteria

FOOD CHAINFOOD CHAIN-- * * always starts always starts

with producerswith producers* shows the * shows the pathway of energy pathway of energy from one organism from one organism to the next in a to the next in a direct line of direct line of organisms.organisms.

FOOD WEBFOOD WEB* shows the * shows the interactions and interactions and interconnections interconnections among the different among the different food chains of a food chains of a community.community.

Food web in an Food web in an ecosystemecosystem

2) Symbiotic Relationships:2) Symbiotic Relationships:

* an interaction among different species * an interaction among different species in an ecosystem that where they live in a in an ecosystem that where they live in a close association with each otherclose association with each other* called * called SYMBIOSISSYMBIOSIS; at least one ; at least one member of the association benefits member of the association benefits (gains) by the association (gains) by the association

a) a) MUTUALISM (+ , +)MUTUALISM (+ , +)* a symbiotic * a symbiotic relationship in which relationship in which both organisms both organisms BENEFITBENEFITex. nitrogen fixing ex. nitrogen fixing bacteria that live in bacteria that live in nodes (lumps) on the nodes (lumps) on the roots of certain plants roots of certain plants (legumes)...the (legumes)...the bacteria have a nice bacteria have a nice place to live (+), and place to live (+), and the plants benefit from the plants benefit from getting the nitrogen getting the nitrogen they need from the they need from the bacteria (+)bacteria (+)

b) b) COMMENSALISM (+ , COMMENSALISM (+ , 0)0)* a symbiotic relationship * a symbiotic relationship where one organism where one organism benefits (+) and the other benefits (+) and the other organism is not harmed (0)organism is not harmed (0)ex. the remora (a small ex. the remora (a small fish) attaches itself to the fish) attaches itself to the underside of a underside of a shark...when the shark shark...when the shark feeds, the remora feeds, the remora disconnects and eats disconnects and eats scraps that are left over (+) scraps that are left over (+) ... the shark is not affected ... the shark is not affected (0)(0)

c) c) PARASITISM (+ , -)PARASITISM (+ , -)* a symbiotic relationship * a symbiotic relationship where one organism, the where one organism, the parasite, benefits (+), while parasite, benefits (+), while the other organism, the host, the other organism, the host, is harmed (-)is harmed (-)ex. athlete's foot, a fungus, ex. athlete's foot, a fungus, grows on human feet for grows on human feet for nutrients (+), while the human nutrients (+), while the human doesn't like it (-);doesn't like it (-);tapeworms (+) in humans (-); tapeworms (+) in humans (-); heartworms (+) in dogs (-)heartworms (+) in dogs (-)

d) d) PREDATOR-PREY (+, -)PREDATOR-PREY (+, -) * a symbiotic relationship * a symbiotic relationship where one organism eats where one organism eats another! another! ex. predator--lions (+), prey--ex. predator--lions (+), prey--gazelles (-)gazelles (-)

ENERGY AND MATERIAL ENERGY AND MATERIAL CYCLES IN AN ECOSYSTEMCYCLES IN AN ECOSYSTEM

in order for an ecosystem to be self-in order for an ecosystem to be self-sustaining, it must have a continuous flow sustaining, it must have a continuous flow of energy and be able to recycle materials of energy and be able to recycle materials

A) energy pyramid:A) energy pyramid: * at each step of the food web, energy is * at each step of the food web, energy is

transferred to the next higher leveltransferred to the next higher level* sun--->plant-->rabbit--->snake--->hawk* sun--->plant-->rabbit--->snake--->hawk* * this energy transfer is NOT this energy transfer is NOT EFFICIENTEFFICIENT!!* only * only 10%10% of the energy is passed to the of the energy is passed to the next generation to be used; most energy is next generation to be used; most energy is lost in maintaining homeostasis and as the lost in maintaining homeostasis and as the production of heatproduction of heat* the amount of usable energy decreases * the amount of usable energy decreases at each higher feeding levelat each higher feeding level

B) biomass pyramid:B) biomass pyramid: * the amount of organic matter in an * the amount of organic matter in an

ecosystem is its ecosystem is its BIOMASSBIOMASS (producers make biomass)(producers make biomass)

* the biomass pyramid shows the total * the biomass pyramid shows the total amount of biomass at each feeding levelamount of biomass at each feeding level* the higher the level, the less the * the higher the level, the less the biomass...which is because there is less biomass...which is because there is less energy at this levelenergy at this level

C) material cycles C) material cycles 1) 1) CARBON-CARBON-

OXYGEN CYCLEOXYGEN CYCLE* involves the * involves the processes of processes of photosynthesis (uses photosynthesis (uses CO2 and produces CO2 and produces O2) and respiration O2) and respiration (uses O2 and (uses O2 and produces CO2)produces CO2)

WATER CYCLEWATER CYCLE* involves the * involves the processes of processes of photosynthesis, photosynthesis, transpiration transpiration (movement of water (movement of water through a plant), through a plant), evaporation and evaporation and condensation, condensation, respiration, and respiration, and excretion excretion

3) 3) NITROGEN NITROGEN CYCLECYCLE* involves * involves decomposers and decomposers and other soil bacteria other soil bacteria which break down which break down and convert and convert nitrogenous wastes nitrogenous wastes and the remains of and the remains of dead organisms into dead organisms into material that is material that is usable by autotrophs usable by autotrophs (nitrates)(nitrates)