Honors Biology Ch. 2 Principles of Ecology I.Organisms and Their Environment A.Ecology: -the study of interactions of living organisms with one another and their physical environment B.Biosphere: -the part of Earth that supports life 1. Abiotic (nonliving) Factors - light, temperature, water, soil, climate, air, fire, etc. - determines what lives where - Climatic Zones: a)Polar - long, cold winter - very short, intense summer b)Temperate - 4 definite seasons - long growing season c)Tropical - no winter Effects of Elevation on Temperature Low ( Altitude) High Equatorial (Latitude) Polar Olympic/Cascade Rain Shadow WestEast Average Annual Precipitation (cm) Altitude (m) 150 Earths Curvature, Tilt Make Seasons Winter Short days; Long nights; Summer Long days; Short nights; Air Currents and Climatic Regions Saharan & Arabian deserts 30 N Congo rain forest 0 South African Desert 30 S 2.Biotic (living) Factors - producers, consumers, and decomposers ProducerProducer SecondaryConsumerSecondaryConsumerPrimaryConsumerPrimaryConsumerTertiaryConsumerTertiaryConsumer DecomposersDecomposers C.Levels of Organization in Ecology Population Herd of Pronghorns Hawk Water Earths surface Community Ecosystem Biosphere Pronghorns Hawk Grass Pronghorns Snake Bushes Soil Air Snake 1.Population: - a group of individuals of a species that interbreed and living in the same area Community 2.Community: -all populations interacting in an area (biota) 3.Ecosystem: -a community of living organisms and their physical environment -no definite boundaries -self-perpetuating D.Organisms in Ecosystems 1.Habitat: -a place where an organism lives 2.Niche: -the role and position an organism has in its ecosystem - Specialization to niches reduces competition 3.Symbiosis: -intimate relationships between organisms of two species in which at least one benefits a)Mutualism: - relationship where both species benefit Boxer crab with anemones in claws b)Commensalism: - relationship in which one species benefits and one is not affected Clownfish in host Sea anemone c)Parasitism: - relationship in which o ne s pecies benefits and one is harmed Parasitic Isopod on fish Which type of Symbiosis is this? Northern Groundcone absorbing food Salal roots. Moss growing on Bigleaf Maple. LichensLichens Salt-Marsh Dodder drawing sap from pickleweed. MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae MycorrhizaeMycorrhizae Maple without Mycorrhizae Maple with Mycorrhizae II. Energy and Nutrients: - The Web of Life - Energy flows & Nutrients cycle A.The Flow of Energy: 1.Sun 1.Sun - only.1% used by living things 2.Producers (autotrophs) -plants & algae that make food -photosynthetic 3.Primary Consumers - herbivores (heterotrophs) -eat producers -retain ~10% of energy Ex. (grasshopper, mouse, moose) 4.Secondary (and Tertiary) Consumers - carnivores: spiders, hawk - retain ~10% of energy - return nutrients in wastes and remains to soil - bacteria and fungi 5.Decomposers Detritus Feeders Producer Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Energy Flow & Loss Heat Heat Heat Food Energy Energy Pyramid: The 10% Law B.Ecological Pyramids - the amount of energy, number of organisms, and biomass at each trophic (feeding) level decreases as you go up the food chain C. Biomagnification - water insoluble toxins and metals (DDT, mercury, etc.) accumulate up food chain - the most in animals high on the food chain (eagles, falcons, orcas, pelicans) BiomagnificationBiomagnification D.Nutrient (Biogeochemical) Cycles - organisms require essential nutrients for growth (CHNOPS) - nutrients are continually recycled within an ecosystem 1.Water Cycle Evaporation Precipitation Water Cycle Evaporation from land & transpiration from plants Precipitation over land Water vapor in atmosphere Water in ocean (reservoir) Evaporation from ocean Water vapor in atmosphere Water in ocean (reservoir) Groundwater seepage Surface runoff Water in ocean (reservoir) Precipitation over ocean Reservoirs Processes/ Locations 2.Carbon-Oxygen Cycles Photosynthesis CO 2 + H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2 Cellular Respiration C 6 H 12 O 6 + O 2 ___ CO 2 + H 2 O The Carbon Cycle Reservoirs Processes/ Locations Trophic Levels/ Organisms CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) Producers Consumers Wastes, Dead bodies Soil bacteria & detritus feeders CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) Consumers Wastes, Dead bodies Soil bacteria & detritus feeders CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) Wastes, Dead bodies Soil bacteria & detritus feeders CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) Respitation Burning of fossil fuels CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) Fire CO 2 dissolved in ocean (reservoir) CO 2 in atmosphere (reservoir) 78% of Atmosphere Decomposers 3.Nitrogen Cycle Consumers Nitrogen Fixation Free Nitrogen Denitrification Producers Soil Nitrogen in Atmosphere Reservoir The Nitrogen Cycle Electrical storms produce nitrate Ammonia & nitrate Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in legume roots and soil Ammonia & nitrate Uptake by plants Producers Consumers Wastes, Dead bodies Soil bacteria and detritus feeders Ammonia & nitrate Dentitrifying bacteria Nitrogen in Atmosphere Reservoir Reservoirs Processes/ Locations Trophic Levels/ Organisms Food Web Simple food web on a short-grass prairie Numbers represent trophic levels Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles Heat Lost at Each Energy Transfer Nutrients Cycles Energy From Sun Energy Flows Primary Productivity: Photosynthesis Life uses