Ecology The study of the relationships among living organisms and how they interact with their environment.

Vocabulary: Biotic = Living Factors in an ecosystem Ex: Trees, Grass, Turtle, Mouse, Sponge Abiotic = nonliving Factors in an ecosystem Ex: Wind, Water, Air, Precipitation, Sunlight Organisms must adapt to the biotic and abiotic conditions in an environment in order to survive.

Organisms & Their Relationships Hierarchy of Living Things = Organelle Organism Cell Population Tissue Community Organ Ecosystem Organ System Biome Biosphere

Organism Individual living creature.

Population Organisms of a single species that live together in the same geographical region.

Community Group of interacting populations that live in the same geographical area.

Ecosystem A community and all of the abiotic factors that affect it.

Biome A large group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.

Biosphere The portion of Earth that supports life. Several kilometers above and below sea level where you find living things.

Vocabulary: Habitat = An area where an organism lives. Ex: Bees habitat = forest/wooded with bee hive. Niche = An organisms role, or job, in its environment. Ex: Bees niche = pollinator Organisms may compete for the same habitat and niche. The organism best able to control the habitat and do its job will survive.

Environmental Interactions Competition = Occurs when organisms require the same resources necessary for life. Predation = The act of one organism consuming another organism for food. Predator = Pursues organism (prey) for food Prey = Food source for predator Symbiotic Relationships (Symbiosis) = Close relationships between organisms that live together.

Symbiosis (Type 1) Mutualism = the relationship between two or more organisms that live closely together and benefit from each other. Ex: Lichen = Fungi (habitat for algae) & Algae (Make food for fungi)

Symbiosis (Type 2) Commensalism = A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. Ex: Clownfish (receives food and protection within sea anemone) & Sea Anemone (unaffected)

Symbiosis (Type 3) Parasitism = A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Ex: Leeches (obtain food) & Humans (harmed) Ex: Bacteria, Fleas, Ticks, Tapeworms & their hosts Parasite = Organism benefitting Host = Organism harmed by the parasite.

Flow of Energy in an Ecosystem

Types of Organisms Autotroph = Organism that collects energy from sunlight to produce food. Photosynthesis  ALSO CALLED: Producers Heterotroph = Organism that gets its energy by consuming other organisms.  ALSO CALLED: Consumers

Type of Consumers Herbivore = Heterotroph that eats only plants (producers). Omnivore = Organism that eats both autotrophs (plants) and heterotrophs (animals). Carnivore = Heterotroph that preys on other heterotrophs (animals). Detritivore (Decomposer) = Heterotrophs that eat fragments of dead matter and recycle the nutrients back into the soil, air, and water to be used again. Ex: Fungi & Bacteria

Energy Flow Through Ecosystems

Vocabulary: Food Chain = Simple model that shows how energy flows through an ecosystem. Producer  Primary Consumer  Secondary Consumer  Tertiary Consumer  Quaternary Consumer Food Web = Model representing many interconnected food chains and pathways in which energy flows through organisms. Energy Pyramid = Model that shows relative amounts of energy, biomass, or number of organisms at each trophic level. Trophic Level = Each step in the food chain, food web, or energy pyramid.

Food Chain

Food Web

Energy Pyramid

Population Ecology

Carrying Capacity The maximum number of individuals in a species that an environment can support for the long term. Limited by the amount of energy, food, water, oxygen, and nutrients available.

Expected:

Actual:

Ecological Succession

Ecological Succession A predictable series of changes that an ecosystem goes through over time. New populations of organisms gradually replace existing ones.

Primary Succession Starting a new ecosystem from an empty habitat Ex: After a lava flow cools, glacier recedes Pioneer Species – The first species to arrive and live in a new habitat. After, the Pioneer Species make soil: Larger producers grow in the new soil Consumers arrive Ecosystem adjusts & balances itself over time

Secondary Succession Establishing an ecosystem in an area disrupted by a natural disaster or by human actions *Has pre-existing soil/organisms* Ex: After forest fire or after a farm is abandoned Steps of Secondary Succession: Ready to harbor life from the start (soil exists) Highly adapted organisms jump in Ecosystem adjusts & balances itself over time

Pond Succession

Climax Community Stable mature community no longer undergoing succession. Succession will stop when it reaches a point called equilibrium—it is balanced. Usually equilibrium is not achieved because another natural disaster occurs.

Biodiversity

Vocabulary: Biodiversity = the variety of life in an area; the number of different species in an area Extinction = When entire species permanently disappear because the last member of the species dies can be caused by lack of biodiversity (variation) Genetic Diversity = Variety of genes or inheritable traits present in a population. Species Diversity = The different kinds and amounts of each species in a biological community. Ecosystem Diversity = The variety of ecosystems present in the biosphere (Earth).

Vocabulary: Renewable Resources = Resources that are replaced by natural processes faster than they are consumed. Nonrenewable Resources = Resources found in limited amounts on Earth because they are formed over extremely long periods of time. Sustainable Use = Act of using resources at a rate in which they can be replaced by the environment.

Importance of Biodiversity Many medicines derived from plants There may be more we have yet to discover! Food, clothing, energy, medicine, and shelter. Desirable genes (for gene splicing). Tourism/Aesthetic Value

Human Impact Humans threaten biodiversity. HOW? Overuse of natural resources Minerals, fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, plants, animals, soil, clean water, clean air, solar energy. Overexploitation of species with economic value. Ex: Hunting elephants for ivory tusks Habitat Loss & Destruction Deforestation, construction sites, man-made barriers Pollution Acid Rain, Runoff Introduction of new species May cause native species extinction because have no natural predators to keep them in check.

Conservation & Human Impact Humans can positively affect the environment. HOW?  GO GREEN! Use renewable resources instead of nonrenewable resources Sustainable use of all resources Protect biodiversity National Parks, Wildlife Reserves Reduce pollution Carpool, energy efficient structures, electric energy

Nitrogen Cycle

Water Cycle

Oxygen-Carbon Cycle