What is Ecology? – study of interactions between creatures & their environment, because… Everything is connected to everything else

Levels of Biological Organization Population – a group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and living in the same area at the same time Biological Community – made up of interacting populations in a certain area at a certain time (example: different types of flowers growing in the same field) Ecosystem – made up of interacting populations in a biological community and the community’s abiotic factors Species Population CommunityEcosystemBiosphere Species  Population  Community  Ecosystem  Biosphere

The Biosphere The portion of Earth that supports living things Composed to two parts: – Biotic (Living) factors all plants & animals living in an area – Abiotic (Physical) factors soil, rock, temperature, moisture, sunlight

Questions of Right Side Give two specific examples of BIOTIC factors in a desert. Give two specific examples of ABIOTIC factors in a desert. Rattle Snake and Cactus Temperature & Sunlight

Creatures living in their environment Populations

Question of Right Side Examine the following statement. Number in the order of organization. 1 – species 2 – population 3 – community 4 – ecosystem ______ The Gombe forest in Africa ______ Group of chimpanzees living in the forest ______ Chimpanzee ______ Chimpanzees and colobus monkeys living in a forest

Fundamental niches Realized niches High tide Low tide Species 1 Species 2 Community Ecology Habitat – a specific place where an organism lives out its life Niche – the role or position a species has on its environment Competitive Exclusion If Species 2 is removed, then Species 1 will occupy whole tidal zone. But at lower depths Species 2 out-competes Species 1, excluding it from its potential (fundamental) niche. Competitive Exclusion If Species 2 is removed, then Species 1 will occupy whole tidal zone. But at lower depths Species 2 out-competes Species 1, excluding it from its potential (fundamental) niche. Chthamalus sp. Semibalanus sp.

Questions of Right Side What is an example of a habitat? How are an organism’s habitat and niche different? Forest Habitat = location Niche = what it does

Symbiotic Relationships 1. Competition (-/-) both harmed compete for limited resources (food, mate, territory) 2. Predation (+/-) one eats another 3. Parasitism (+/-) one harms another 4. Mutualism (+/+) both benefit lichens (algae & fungus) 5. Commensalism (+/0) one benefits, one unaffected barnacles attached to whale

commensalism predation competition Symbiosis mutualism +/0 +/+ +/- -/-

Nutrition & Energy Flow

Define the following: – Herbivore = – Carnivore = – Omnivore = – Scavenger = – Decomposer = eats plants eats meat eats plants & meat eats dead organisms breaks down dead or decaying organisms How Organisms Obtain Energy Autotroph (producer) – organism that uses light energy from sun to get nutrients Heterotroph (consumer) – organism that gets nutrients by eating other organisms

Energy flows THROUGH a system sun secondary consumers Heterotrophs (carnivores) primary consumers Heterotrophs (herbivores) producers (autotrophs) loss of energy

Energy Flow Through a System Food Chains – show only ONE possible flow of energy – all food chains start with energy from the sun – first level of all food chains are autotrophs – most food chains usually go up only 4 or 5 levels – all levels connect to decomposers Fungi Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Decomposers Producer Primary consumer Secondary consumer Tertiary consumer Top carnivore Carnivore Herbivore Sun Bacteria

Questions of Right Side What is the ultimate source of all energy? What organisms have the most energy? sun Autotrophs (Producers)

Question of Right Side Use the following organisms to create a simple food chain. Be sure to show the energy transfer using arrows! 1. snake 2. berries 3. mouse Berries  Mouse  Snake

Food Webs Food chains are linked together into food webs Show ALL possible feeding relationships Who eats whom? – eating meat? – eating plants?

Pyramid of Energy Shows loss of energy between trophic levels of food chain – Trophic level – feeding position an organism has on a food chain – Where is the energy lost? The cost of living (HEAT)! only this energy moves on to the next level in the food chain 10% growth 50% waste (feces) 40% cellular respiration energy lost to daily living

Pyramid of Energy

Questions of Right Side Define trophic level. What organisms are on the lowest trophic level? Feeding position an organism has on a food chain Autotrophs (producers) PLANTS!