copyright cmassengale What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale

A Key Theme in Ecology No single organism is isolated!! The interconnectedness or interdependence of all organisms is central to the study of ecology The survival of organisms depends on their interactions with their surrounding environment Ex: Humans cannot live without the plants that produce food and oxygen

The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life. copyright cmassengale

The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale

Levels of Organization copyright cmassengale

What are the Simplest Levels? Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ OrganSystem Organism copyright cmassengale

Levels of Organization Ecologists have organized the interactions an organism takes part in into different levels according to complexity. copyright cmassengale

1st Level of Organization Organism: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops copyright cmassengale

2nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

3rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time. copyright cmassengale

4th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic) copyright cmassengale

5th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life. The highest level of organization copyright cmassengale

copyright cmassengale The Biosphere Life is found in air, on land, and in fresh and salt water. The BIOSPHERE is the portion of Earth that supports living things. copyright cmassengale

What level of organization? Organism copyright cmassengale

What level of Organization? Community copyright cmassengale

What level of Organization? Population copyright cmassengale

Organization of Ecology Draw the diagram of hierarchical organization of ecology from P.361

Habitat vs. Niche Niche - the role a species plays in a community; its total way of life Habitat- the place in which an organism lives out its life Although several species may share a habitat they each have their own niche. A niche is a very narrow range where a species fits within a habitat. 23

Habitat vs. Niche A niche is determined by the tolerance limitations of an organism, or a limiting factor. Limiting factor- any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment. Although several species may share a habitat they each have their own niche. A niche is a very narrow range where a species fits within a habitat. 24

Habitat vs. Niche Examples of limiting factors - Amount of water Amount of food Temperature Amount of space Availability of mates Although several species may share a habitat they each have their own niche. A niche is a very narrow range where a species fits within a habitat. 25

Niche Differences Generalists are species with broad niches Can tolerate a range of conditions and use a variety of resources Ex: Virginia opossum  found all over the US and can eat a wide range of food Specialists are species that have narrow niches Ex: koalas  only feed on leaves from a few species of eucalyptus trees

Organisms in a Changing Environment Tolerance Curve: A graph of performance versus values of an environmental Variable Tolerance Curve for Cutthroat Trout – Shows they can tolerate temps between 5 and 23°C)

Acclimation Acclimation is the process by which organisms can adjust their tolerance to abiotic factors Ex: Going to the mountains If you spend a few weeks in the mountains, your body will acclimate to the lower oxygen levels by producing more red blood cells in your body This will allow your blood to carry more oxygen Acclimation IS NOT adaptation!! Adaptation is a genetic change in a species that occurs over many generations – acclimation occurs within the lifetime of a species

Acclimation Question: If you raised the temperature of a goldfish bowl a degree every week, and your fish was able to tolerate higher temperatures than other goldfish…Is this Acclimation?

How do organisms deal with change in their physical environment? Strategy 1 – Conformers These organisms do not control their internal conditions and change as their external environment changes example: reptiles are cold blooded Strategy 2 – Regulators These organisms do control their internal conditions and maintain within their optimum range in spite of external conditions ex. Mammals maintain constant body temp

What if conditions change too drastically, How does an organism survive? Some species become dormant (a state of reduced activity) when the environmental conditions aren't suitable (like too cold, not enough food, too dry) Some species migrate (move to a more favorable habitat) when conditions become unbearable

Ch. 18-3 (Ecology) ENERGY TRANSFER

Nutritional Relationships: Autotrophs: can synthesize (or make) their own food Ex.) Plants B. Heterotrophs: can NOT synthesize their own food and are dependent on other organisms for their food

Feeding Relationships Producer- all autotrophs (plants), they trap energy from the sun Bottom of the food chain How do they trap the sun’s energy? Through what process? What is that process similar to in animal cells? 34

Feeding Relationships Consumer- all heterotrophs: they ingest food containing the sun’s energy Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Decomposers Energy moves up the food chain through the producer/consumer relationship. 35

Feeding Relationships CONSUMERS Primary consumers Eat plants Herbivores Secondary, tertiary consumers Prey animals Carnivores Herbivores are the 1st step up the food chain, they eat the producers 36

Consumers can be grouped according to the type of food they eat. TYPES OF CONSUMERS Consumers can be grouped according to the type of food they eat. Scavengers are a type of carnivore that eat dead animals, or carrion. Vultures, hyenas, crabs, deep sea fish-talk about distance from the sun and must eat the dead things that sink to the bottom, bottom feeders 37

Herbivores- Eat Producers Carnivores- Eat other Consumers TYPES OF CONSUMERS Herbivores- Eat Producers Carnivores- Eat other Consumers Omnivores- Eat both Producers and Consumers Scavengers are a type of carnivore that eat dead animals, or carrion. Vultures, hyenas, crabs, deep sea fish-talk about distance from the sun and must eat the dead things that sink to the bottom, bottom feeders 38

Other Consumers Detritivors: AKA Scavengers Feed on carrion, dead animals Decomposers Breakdown the complex compounds of dead and decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules that can be absorbed Humans and bears are omnivores but a large and important subset of omnivores are the decomposers. They breakdown dead producers and release the energy back into circulation. 39

Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level. Trophic Levels Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level. Trophic levels represent a feeding step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem. 40

Trophic Levels Biomass- the amount of organic matter comprising a group of organisms in a habitat. As you move up a food chain, both available energy and biomass decrease. 41

E N R G Y Trophic Levels Producers- Autotrophs Tertiary consumers- top carnivores Secondary consumers-small carnivores Primary consumers- Herbivores Producers- Autotrophs 42

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Energy Transfer On Average, 10% of Total Energy is transferred from one energy level to the next.

Trophic Levels Food chain- simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem 45

A Food Chain Bear Frog Insects Plant Fish People

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Represents a network of interconnected food chains Trophic Levels Food web- shows all possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level Represents a network of interconnected food chains 48

Food chain Food web (just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths) 49

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