Transcript Ecology

Ecology
Goal 5
Chapter 2
T. J. Hill
Goal 5
 The learner will develop an
understanding of the
ecological relationships
among organisms.
Objective 5.01
 Investigate and analyze the
interrelationships among
organisms, populations,
communities, and ecosystems.
 Techniques of Field Ecology.
 Abiotic and Biotic Factors.
 Carrying Capacity.
I. What is Ecology?
A. The scientific study of
interactions among
organisms and their
environments.
II. Aspects of Ecological Study.
A. Biosphere- portion of earth that
supports life.
III. The Nonliving Environment.
A. Abiotic Factors- nonliving elements in
an ecosystem.
1. Air
2. Temperature
3. Currents
4. Light
5. Soil
6. Moisture
7. Noise
IV. The Living Environment.
A. Biotic Factors- living elements in an
ecosystem (Plants & Animals,
Protists, Bacteria).
Biotic or Abiotic?
Biotic or Abiotic?
Biotic or Abiotic?
Biotic or Abiotic?
V. Levels of Organization in Ecology
A.
All organisms are dependent on
others for food, shelter,
reproduction and protection.
B. Interactions within populations.
1.
Population- all the individuals of the
same species. (must be counted)
2.
Community- a collection of
interacting populations.
3. Ecosystem- the community plus
the physical factors in an area.
a.
Three Major Kinds of
Ecosystems.
1. Terrestrial- (located on
land)
2.
Aquatic- (occur in fresh and
salt water.)
a.
Freshwater Ecosystemsponds, lakes, streams.
b.
Salt Water Ecosystem –
also called marine
ecosystems make up
75% of earth’s surface.
(Oceans)
 Biodiversity- variety of life in an
area, usually measured as the
number of species can live in an
area.
VI. Organisms in Ecosystems (Living Styles)
A. Habitat- the place where organisms live
out their lives.
B. Niche- the role and position a species
has in its environment.
1. How it meets its needs for food and
shelter.
2. How it reproduces.
3. Includes all interactions with the biotic
and abiotic parts of its habitat.
VII.
Living Relationships
A. Predator- animals
that kill and eat other
animals.
A. Prey- animals that
predators hunt, kill
and eat.
A. Predation- the act of
one organism feeding
on another.
D. Symbiosis- living together.
1. Commensalism -a symbiotic relationship
in which one species benefits and the
other species is neither harmed nor
benefited.
a. Peregrine falcon and the red breasted
goose
2. Mutualism- a symbiotic relationship in
which both species benefit.
a.
ants and the acacia tree
3. Parasitism- a symbiotic relationship in
which one organism benefits at the
expense of the other.
a.
ticks and dogs
VIII. How Organisms Obtain Energy.
A. Producers- carry on photosynthesis.
1.
Autotrophs – able to
make their
own food.
a. Plants
B. Consumers- obtain nutrients by eating
other organisms.
1. Heterotrophs - can not make their own
food. Must feed on other organisms.
a.
Animals
3. Scavengers- animals that feed on animals
that have already died.
1. Black Vultures
2. Eagles
4. Decomposers- feed on dead or decaying
plants or animals.
a. Break them down into simpler molecules.
1.
Some bacteria, protozoa, fungi.
IX. Food Chains- Pathways for Matter and
Energy.
A. Food Chain- a simple model that
scientists use to show how matter and
energy move through an ecosystem.
1. Represents only one possible route for
the transfer of matter and energy in an
ecosystem.
2. Example
a.
algae  fish  heron
B. Tropic Level- feeding step in a food chain.
1. Represent links in the food chain.
2. Producers
3. 1st Order Heterotrophs
a.
Primary Consumers - Herbivore
4. 2nd Order Heterotrophs
a.
Secondary Consumers - Carnivore or
Omnivore
5. 3rd Order Heterotrophs
a.
Tertiary Consumers - Carnivore or
Omnivore
X. Energy and Tropic Level Facts.
A. The initial source of energy for ecological
pyramids is energy from the Sun.
B. Energy decreases as tropic level increases.
C. Population size decreases as the tropic
level increases.
D. Only 10 percent of energy is transferred
from one tropic level to the next.
XI. Pyramid Facts
A. Pyramid of Numbers show that
population size decrease at higher tropic
levels.
B. A pyramid of biomass express the weight
of living material at each tropic level.
C. The energy that is lost at each tropic level
enters the environment as heat.
XII.
Cycles of Nature.
A. Water Cycle- Cycle where water is reused
over and over again.
1. Cycle is controlled by energy from the
sun.
2. Water is turned to vapor.
a.
Vapor is cooled or condenses to
clouds.
b.
Water builds up in clouds and it
rains.
3. Rainfall equals the same amount of
evaporated water. (recycled)
XIII.
Importance of Water.
1. Water is essential for body to function.
2. Water gives plants and animals continuous
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
life as well as function.
Water controls drought.
Water helps to shape earth’s land
structures.
Water helps to reflect Sun’s harmful rays
back into space.
Water can be recreational: fishing,
swimming, boating, etc.
Water can provide Electrical Power.
XIV.
Carbon Cycle
A. Carbon cycle starts with autotrophs.
B. During photosynthesis, energy from the
sun is used to convert CO2 gas into
energy.
C. All life on earth is based on carbon
molecules.
D. Atoms of carbon form the framework for
proteins, carbohydrates, fats and other
important molecules.
XV.Nitrogen Cycle
A. The air is 78% nitrogen.
B. Plants do not use nitrogen from the air
but from the soil.
C. Plants use nitrogen to make important
molecules such as proteins.
D. Heterotrophs eat plants and convert
nitrogen-containing protein into animal
nitrogen containing protein.
E. Heterotrophs eat plants and convert plant
protein into human proteins.
F. Urine, an animal waste, contains excess
nitrogen, thereby returning nitrogen to soil
and water.
G. When organisms die, their nitrogen
molecules return to the soil.
H. Bacteria also act on these molecules and
put nitrogen back to the soil.
XVI.
Phosphorus Cycle
A. Phosphorus cycles through the ecosystem in
B.
C.
D.
E.
two ways.
Plants obtain phosphorus from the soil.
Animals obtain phosphorus by eating plants.
When animals die, they decompose and
return back to the soil. (Short-Term Cycle)
Long-Term Cycle is when phosphates wash
into the sea and are incorporated into rock
as insoluble compounds. These rock years
later weather returning the phosphorus back
to the local ecosystem again.