Transcript Ecology
Why are the cycles important? How do organisms interact with each other? How can we show trends in populations over time? ECOLOGY What does it mean when we talk about the ecosystem? What is Ecology? Ecology The study of interactions between organisms Recall the levels of organization: Organism Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Energy Flow Starts at sun Some make food from chemicals, not sun = chemosynthesis Producers- produce their own sugar, gain energy from sun Consumers- consume other things to get their energy What about mushrooms on a fallen tree? How are dead deer on the side of the road broken down naturally? Detritivores = feed on dead matter Decomposers = break down organic matter http://media.ebaumsworld.com/picture/kiltedrufus/FoodChain.png Food Chain One organism passing energy to the next, and so on Straight line Arrow = the way energy is moving http://www.dist102.k12.il.us/resources/Science%20Kids/food-chain.jpg Food Webs Many organisms giving and receiving energy Arrows = energy movement http://www.abe.ufl.edu/~owens/age2062/lect/lect_28/40_07.GIF Trophic Level each step in a food chain or food web http://www.vtaide.com/png/foodchains.htm Ecological Pyramids Shows the amount of energy or matter in each trophic level of chain or web 3 types Energy- only 10% of energy is transferred to next level Biomass-mass of all the organisms in that level Numbers- how many organisms in that level http://www.freewebs.com/the_grey_pilgrim/energy%20pyramid.bmp Biomass Pyramid http://resources.edb.gov.hk/biology/english/images/environment/pyramid.gif Numbers Pyramid http://www.econguru.com/fundamentals_of_ecology/image/ecological_pyramid.gif Water Cycle Water moving through environments Transpiration- from trees to clouds Evaporation- from body of water to clouds Precipitation- from clouds to ground Condensation- making clouds Run-off- doesn’t soak into soil Ground water- rivers underground Carbon Cycle Carbon moving through environments Decomposition- decaying organisms Oil, coal, and fuels come from compressed decayed organisms http://www.windows.ucar.edu/earth/climate/images/carboncycle.jpg Nitrogen Cycle Nitrogen moving through environment Plants need nitrogen to make food http://www.kidsgeo.com/images/nitrogen-cycle.gif Phosphorous Cycle Moving phosphorous through the environment Needed to make DNA and RNA Mostly in rock, minerals, and land http://arnica.csustan.edu/carosella/Biol4050W03/figures/phosph1.jpg Niche Place an organism holds in an ecosystem, includes what it eats, when it eats, how it mates, how it gets food, and interaction with other organisms Species has evolved to fit that niche PERFECTLY http://io.uwinnipeg.ca/~simmons/ysesp/images/niche.jpg http://www.fieldstonealliance.org/client/client_images/cartoon-find_niche.jpg Habitat Where a species lives, where it can be found Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time Competition Organisms or species fighting over resources Resource Anything necessary to life: water, sunlight, food, shelter, etc. Predation Predator feeds on prey http://www.stanford.edu/~siegelr/tz/tz2006/predatorandprey.jpg Symbiosis Relationship in which two species live closely together http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/JAG/03-PS101-6~Symbiosis-Posters.jpg Mutualism Both benefit http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=65599&rendTypeId=4 Commensalism One benefits, other is not helped harmed http://www.nearctica.com/ecology/anemonefish.jpg Parasitism One benefits, other is harmed http://www.cbu.edu/~seisen/ExamplesOfParasitism_files/image008.jpg Primary Succession No soil exists, first organism to come along Happens with volcanoes and rock exposed from glaciers melting http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/1937932386_03c78fa3e0.jpg?v=1194662963 Secondary Succession Soil exists, something was once there, cleared by natural disaster http://www.prairiefriends.org/image/fire/prescribedBurn1_04..jpg Major Biomes 1. Estuaries 2. Shrublands 3. Grassland 4. Coral Reef 5. Tropical Savanna 6. Ocean 7. Taiga 8. Chaparral 9. Tropical Dry Forest 10. Tundra 11. Deciduous Forest 12. Desert 13. Tropical Rain Forest Tropical Rain Forest http://msstrickland.com/eport/Rainforest.jpg Tropical Dry Forest http://www.stanford.edu/group/seasonally_dry/Dryforest_images/watering_hole.jpg Tropical Savanna http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=94366&rendTypeId=4 Desert http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/environment/pictures/desert2.jpg Grasslands http://grasslands.org.za.dedi539.your-server.de/assets/content_images/Image/Grasslands__SANBI_.JPG Shrublands http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/images/grassland17_jdg.jpg Deciduous Forest http://fig.cox.miami.edu/Faculty/Dana/50-16f-TempForest.jpg Taiga http://www.worldexposure.com/taiga/images/taiga2b.jpg Tundra http://teachers.sduhsd.k12.ca.us/hherms/herms/METEOROLOGY/climates/P-tundra_alpine_nt.jpg Limiting Nutrient Nutrient in short supply, will run out first Greatly affects all organisms in the ecosystem