Ecology Notes
Download
Report
Transcript Ecology Notes
Ecology:
an introduction
1
Ecology: The study of the
interactions that take
place among organisms
and their environment
2
Biosphere
The part of Earth that supports life
Top portion of Earth's crust
(lithosphere)
All the waters that cover Earth's
surface (hydrosphere)
Atmosphere is all the gasses that
surround Earth
3
4
Ecosystem
All the organisms living in an
area and the nonliving features
of their environment
Biotic – living
Abiotic – nonliving
5
Biotic
Biotic – living
Plants
Animals
Single celled organisms
Fungi
6
Abiotic
Abiotic – nonliving
Water
Air
Soil
Temperature
Sunlight
7
Parts of an
Ecosystem
8
Population
All the organisms in an
ecosystem that belong to the
same species (biotic)
9
10
Community
All the populations in an
ecosystem (biotic)
11
http://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/black_t
ailed_prairie_dog/images/lg_black_tailed_prairie_dogs.jpg
12
13
Habitat
The place in which an
organism lives
provides the kinds of food and
shelter, the temperature, and the
amount of moisture the organism
needs to survive
14
15
Niche
The specific role that an organism plays
in its ecosystem
16
http://www.thinksimian.com/images/birds_2/nest.JPG
17
Competition
The process of interaction between
organisms in an ecosystem, each
seeking to gain access to a limited
supply of the necessities of life.
Food
Space
18
Competition
Competition caused by
population growth affects many
organisms, including humans
Limits population size
19
20
Limiting Factor
Anything that restricts the
number of individuals in a
population.
Includes living / biotic and
nonliving / abiotic features of the
ecosystem
i.e. water, food, light…
21
22
Carrying Capacity
The maximum number of individuals of
any species that can be supported by a
particular ecosystem on a long-term
basis
23
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002558F/carrying_capacity.JPG
24
Energy Transfer
Food chain chain of organisms along which energy, in
the form of food passes.
An organism feeds on the link before it and
is in turn prey for the link after it.
25
Organisms that cannot make their
own energy are called
CONSUMERS.
Organisms that can make
glucose during
photosynthesis are called
PRODUCERS.
Energy Transfer
Continued
Food web a group of interconnecting food chains
They show the feeding relationships in an
ecosystem
28
Food Web
29
Energy Transfer
Continued
Energy pyramids show
That the amount of available energy
decreases down the food chain
It takes a large number of producers to
support a small number of primary
consumers
It takes a large number of primary
consumers to support a small number of
secondary consumers
30
Energy Transfer Pyramid
31
SUCCESSION
Succession: The gradual change in an
ecosystem in which one biological
community is replaced by another.
Pioneer Species: The first living things to
move into a barren area
32
PRIMARY SUCCESSION
Primary Succession: Glaciers moving or
lava flow over an area will leave it barren.
Pioneer species such as moss or lichen
will grow on rock with little to no soil,
breaking the rock down over time. Soil
forms, and larger plants begin to take
root. As time continues larger animals
begin to come in, as well as larger
diversities of plant and tree life
33
34
35
SECONDARY SUCCESSION
Secondary Succession: Soil remains
after a disturbance such as a fire, flood or
human activity. Grasses and small
shrubs begin to grow over the remains of
the older system. Larger trees begin to
take root and support larger animal
populations.
36
37
38