Ecology Chapters 16-19

Ecology Study of living things and their environment. Study of living things and their environment.

Levels of Organization 1. Organism 2. Population: all organisms of one species in an area Species: organisms who can mate and produce fertile offspring 3. Community: all of the populations in an area

Levels of Organization 4.Ecosystem: communities and abiotic factors in an area 5.Biome: characteristic climax communities 6.Biosphere: all areas of the Earth that can sustain life

Abiotic vs. Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors: non-living factors: water, light, soil Abiotic Factors: non-living factors: water, light, soil Biotic Factors: living factors: predators, prey, mates Biotic Factors: living factors: predators, prey, mates

Water Cycle 3 parts to the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation 3 parts to the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation 3 forms of water: solid ice, liquid water, and water vapor (gas) 3 forms of water: solid ice, liquid water, and water vapor (gas) Sun fuels the water cycle Sun fuels the water cycle

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle Plants recycle carbon through photosynthesis Plants recycle carbon through photosynthesis Raw materials for photosynthesis: sun energy, carbon dioxide, water to create glucose Raw materials for photosynthesis: sun energy, carbon dioxide, water to create glucose

Carbon Cycle Animals get their carbon by consuming plants Animals get their carbon by consuming plants Animals and plants put carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere as a waste product from cellular respiration Animals and plants put carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere as a waste product from cellular respiration

Carbon Cycle

What’s the Deal with Carbon? 1dzxj8 1dzxj8 1dzxj8 1dzxj8

Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria fix nitrogen by combining nitrogen molecules for plants to use Bacteria fix nitrogen by combining nitrogen molecules for plants to use Animals get nitrogen by consuming plants Animals get nitrogen by consuming plants When organisms die, their nitrogen compounds are released back into the soil by decomposers to start the cycle again When organisms die, their nitrogen compounds are released back into the soil by decomposers to start the cycle again

Nitrogen Cycle

Trophic Levels Producer: organism that makes its own food from energy and carbon atoms in its environment: autotroph Producer: organism that makes its own food from energy and carbon atoms in its environment: autotroph

Trophic Levels Consumer: organism that must obtain energy to build its molecules by consuming other organisms: heterotroph Consumer: organism that must obtain energy to build its molecules by consuming other organisms: heterotroph Primary consumer: herbivore Primary consumer: herbivore Secondary consumer: eat primary consumers Secondary consumer: eat primary consumers Tertiary consumer: eat secondary consumers Tertiary consumer: eat secondary consumers

Trophic Levels Omnivore: eats plants and animals Omnivore: eats plants and animals Carnivore: eats only animals Carnivore: eats only animals

Trophic Levels Detrivore: consumes dead organisms; (scavenger) Detrivore: consumes dead organisms; (scavenger) Decomposer: Breaks down and absorbs material; returns nutrients (NOT energy) to producers Decomposer: Breaks down and absorbs material; returns nutrients (NOT energy) to producers

Food Chains Flow of energy from one organism to another Flow of energy from one organism to another Only 10% of available energy is transferred from one level to the next; rest is lost as heat Only 10% of available energy is transferred from one level to the next; rest is lost as heat Arrow indicates direction of energy flow (goes from what is being consumed to the consumer) Arrow indicates direction of energy flow (goes from what is being consumed to the consumer)

Food Chains

Food Webs Interconnected food chains in a community Interconnected food chains in a community Decomposers help return nutrients from the top back down to the producers Decomposers help return nutrients from the top back down to the producers

Food Webs

Energy and Biomass Pyramids Energy and Biomass Pyramid: categorizes organisms by trophic level; shows number of organisms and amount of energy available at each trophic level Energy and Biomass Pyramid: categorizes organisms by trophic level; shows number of organisms and amount of energy available at each trophic level

Energy and Biomass Pyramids

Symbiosis Two organisms living together Two organisms living together Parasitism: one organism benefits and the other is harmed Parasitism: one organism benefits and the other is harmed Ex: Dog and heartworm. Heartworm is supplied food and the dog is harmed Ex: Dog and heartworm. Heartworm is supplied food and the dog is harmed

Symbiosis Mutualism: both organisms benefit in the relationship Mutualism: both organisms benefit in the relationship Example: oxpecker and giraffe. Bird eats ticks off of a giraffe for food and the giraffe’s pests are taken away. Example: oxpecker and giraffe. Bird eats ticks off of a giraffe for food and the giraffe’s pests are taken away.

Symbiosis Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other is not affected Commensalism: one organism benefits and the other is not affected Example: remora fish has a suction disk which attaches it to a shark. The fish is protected and can grab bits of food that the shark drops. The shark is not affected. Example: remora fish has a suction disk which attaches it to a shark. The fish is protected and can grab bits of food that the shark drops. The shark is not affected.

Habitats vs. Niches Habitat: where an organism lives (tropical rain forest) Habitat: where an organism lives (tropical rain forest) Niche: an organism’s role in the environment (predator) Niche: an organism’s role in the environment (predator)

Growth Curve A. Lag phase A. Lag phase B. Exponential growth B. Exponential growth C. Steady state C. Steady state D. Decline D. Decline E. Extinction E. Extinction F. Carrying capacity F. Carrying capacity G. # of organisms G. # of organisms H. Time H. Time

Reproductive Strategies r-strategist: r-strategist: Usually smaller organisms Usually smaller organisms Live in environments where conditions can change rapidly Live in environments where conditions can change rapidly Have as many offspring as possible Have as many offspring as possible Do not give parental care Do not give parental care

Reproductive Strategies k-strategist: k-strategist: Usually larger organisms Usually larger organisms Live in environments where conditions are stable Live in environments where conditions are stable Have few offspring Have few offspring Invest time and energy in parental care Invest time and energy in parental care

Exponential Growth Model Slow initial growth, then population size rises very quickly Slow initial growth, then population size rises very quickly Assumes resources are limitless Assumes resources are limitless Referred to as a J- curve Referred to as a J- curve Ex: Bacteria, human population Ex: Bacteria, human population

Logistic Growth Model Growth begins the same as the exponential growth model Growth begins the same as the exponential growth model Levels off and hovers around a certain point Levels off and hovers around a certain point Referred to as an S- curve Referred to as an S- curve Ex: most animals Ex: most animals

Population Terms Carrying capacity: the number of organisms that can be supported by a particular ecosystem (Ex: there is only enough food, water, and shelter to support 50 deer). Carrying capacity: the number of organisms that can be supported by a particular ecosystem (Ex: there is only enough food, water, and shelter to support 50 deer). Limiting factors: environmental factors that limit the size of a population (food, water, shelter). Limiting factors: environmental factors that limit the size of a population (food, water, shelter).

Density-dependent Factors Factors that limit how big a population can grow and depend on how many organisms there are (how densely the area is populated) Factors that limit how big a population can grow and depend on how many organisms there are (how densely the area is populated) Ex: biotic factors like predation, disease, parasites, and competition Ex: biotic factors like predation, disease, parasites, and competition

Density-independent Factors Factors that limit how big a population can grow and do not depend on how many organisms there are (how densely the area is populated) Factors that limit how big a population can grow and do not depend on how many organisms there are (how densely the area is populated) Ex: abiotic factors like drought, flooding, extreme heat or cold, tornadoes, and hurricanes Ex: abiotic factors like drought, flooding, extreme heat or cold, tornadoes, and hurricanes

Succession Primary Succession: beginning of a new community where one has not existed before Primary Succession: beginning of a new community where one has not existed before Pioneer Species: first organisms to occupy an area Pioneer Species: first organisms to occupy an area

Succession Secondary Succession: new community developing in place of an existing community Secondary Succession: new community developing in place of an existing community Climax Community: stable community Climax Community: stable community

Primary and Secondary Succession Primary Primary Secondary Secondary

Tundra Temp: -26ºC to – 4ºC Temp: -26ºC to – 4ºC Rainfall less than 25 cm per year Rainfall less than 25 cm per year Caribou, polar bears, penguins Caribou, polar bears, penguins Plants: shrubs, dwarf willows Plants: shrubs, dwarf willows Location: Alaska, Antarctica Location: Alaska, Antarctica

Boreal or Taiga Temp: -10ºC to 14ºC Temp: -10ºC to 14ºC Rainfall: 35 to 75 cm per year Rainfall: 35 to 75 cm per year Animals: moose, beaver, brown bears Animals: moose, beaver, brown bears Plants: pines and firs Plants: pines and firs Location: Canada Location: Canada

Deciduous Forest Temp: 6 to 28º C Temp: 6 to 28º C Rainfall: 75 to 125 cm per year Rainfall: 75 to 125 cm per year Animals: deer, foxes, squirrels Animals: deer, foxes, squirrels Plants: maples, birches Plants: maples, birches Location: North America Location: North America

Grassland Temp: 0 to 25ºC Temp: 0 to 25ºC Rainfall: 25 to 75 cm per year Rainfall: 25 to 75 cm per year Animals: bison, antelope Animals: bison, antelope Plants: grasses Plants: grasses Location: U.S. Midwest, Africa Location: U.S. Midwest, Africa

Desert Temp: 24 to 34ºC Temp: 24 to 34ºC Rainfall: less than 25 cm per year Rainfall: less than 25 cm per year Animals: jackrabbits tortoises, and lizards Animals: jackrabbits tortoises, and lizards Plants: cactuses Plants: cactuses Location: Sahara, South America Location: Sahara, South America

Savanna Temp: 20 to 25ºC Temp: 20 to 25ºC Rainfall: 90 to 150 cm per year Rainfall: 90 to 150 cm per year Animals: Zebras, elephants Animals: Zebras, elephants Plants: Baobab, Jackalberry tree Plants: Baobab, Jackalberry tree Location: Edge of tropical rainforests Location: Edge of tropical rainforests

Tropical Rainforest Temp: 25 to 27ºC Temp: 25 to 27ºC Rainfall: 200 to 400 cm per year Rainfall: 200 to 400 cm per year Animals: monkeys and parrots Animals: monkeys and parrots Plants: tropical plants Plants: tropical plants Location: close to equator Location: close to equator

Ocean ¾ of the earth’s surface ¾ of the earth’s surface Home to invertebrates, fish, mammals Home to invertebrates, fish, mammals

Freshwater Less than 1/100 th of the earth’s surface Less than 1/100 th of the earth’s surface River, lakes, streams River, lakes, streams Wide variety of fish, amphibians, invertebrates Wide variety of fish, amphibians, invertebrates