Ecology

Succession Replacement of one community by another Primary Succession (begins on bare rock) Secondary Succession (begins on existing soil) Deforestation Forest fire

Pioneer Species – first organisms to appear / secretes acids to break down rock Climax community – stable, mature community Conifers = evergreen Deciduous = lose leaves

Comprehension Questions 1.What are two things mentioned in the reading that can happen that might affect an ecosystem? 2.Define ecological succession. 3.What is primary succession? 4.Describe an example of primary succession. 5.What is a pioneer species? 6.How long might it take for an ecosystem to become balanced? 7.What happens when an ecosystem is in equilibrium? 8.Define climax community. 9.Name two things that can disrupt a community. 10.What is secondary succession?

Ecological Pyramids Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Tertiary Consumers 4 Trophic Levels

Pg. 52 Producers 4 Trophic Levels 3 Types: 1. Energy – some is lost as heat as you move up trophic levels 2. Numbers – total # of organisms at each trophic level 3. Biomass – total mass of living matter at each trophic level All 3 decrease as you move up the pyramid

Food Chain / Webs 1. What do the arrows show? The flow of energy

Food Chain / Webs 2. Circle the omnivore (eats plant and animals) blue 3. Circle the three producers green. 4. Circle an herbivore yellow (eats plants only) 5. Circle a carnivore (eats meat only) red.

Symbiosis Relationship between 2 organisms = There are 3 types Both organisms benefit Bee = gets food Flower = gets pollinated

Symbiosis One organism benefits, one is unaffected Small Fish = gets scraps Shark = doesn’t care

Symbiosis One benefits, one is harmed Flea = gets food and shelter Dog (Host) = weak

Populations J-Curve S-Curve Population without limits Population WITH limits Exponential growth Carrying Capacity

Populations Predator / Prey Population Graph 1.Plenty of Prey Available 2.Predator population increases 3.The larger predator population takes more prey 4.Prey population then declines 5.With fewer prey, the predator population declines

Cycles in Nature Water Cycle Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Transpiration “loss of water vapor through leaves of plants”

Cycles in Nature Nitrogen Cycle Returns nitrogen back into the air Changes Nitrogen gas into a compound that can be used by living things

Biomes –Large area with similar _____________, ________________, and ___________________ A.Aquatic Biomes 1. __________________________ 2. __________________________ 3. _________________________ - mixture of salt and freshwater. Example: _____________ precipitation climate organisms Freshwater Saltwater Estuaries Chesapeake Bay

B. Land Biomes 1. Taiga (Boreal) Forest – ____________________________________ 2. Temperature Deciduous Forest – ____________________________________ 3. Rainforest – ____________________________________ Coniferous “Cone” Bearing (ex. Pine trees) Trees lose their leaves Ex. Oak High Rain Lots of Biodiversity

B. Land Biomes 4. Grasslands – ____________________________________ 5. Tundra – ____________________________________ 3. Desert – ____________________________________ Grassesex. Savanna Cold Permafrost “frozen ground” Low Rain