Plant & Animal Interdependency Living Environment Key Idea 6.1

Key Idea 6 Plants and animals depend on each other and their physical environment. Interactions of organisms and their environment result in the flow of energy and a cycling of materials that are essential for life. Competition may be for nonliving resources, or for living resources among different species or among the same species. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Key Idea 6 – Major Understandings Energy flows through the ecosystem, from Sun through photosynthetic organisms to herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers Relationships between organisms may be competitive or beneficial Biosphere is recycled by Earth processes Biodiversity increases the stability of the ecosystem Chemical elements pass through food webs as illustrated in the pyramid of energy Biodiversity ensures a variety of genetic material, which in turn increases chances for survival Carrying capacity is limited by available energy, water, oxygen, minerals and recycling Interrelationships and interdependencies affect the development of stable ecosystems Competition exists for resources such as food, space, water, air and shelter Environmental alteration comes from both natural and human made changes Ecosystems are dependent on physical conditions including light, pH, temperature, soil/rock type Altered ecosystems may last for thousands of years Environments and resources are finite Damaged ecosystems will likely recover in states to stability Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Performance Indicator 6.1 Performance Indicator 6.1 Explain factors that limit growth of individuals and populations. Abiotic factors: nonliving Biotic factors: living Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors (nonliving): Intensity of light Range of temperatures Amount of moisture (H2O) Type of substratum such as soil and rock Availability of inorganic substances such as common salts (NaCl) Supply of gases such as oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide, (CO2), and nitrogen (N2). pH (such as the acidity or alkalinity of the air, water and soil. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Limiting Factor Limiting Factor - the necessary resource that an organism needs that there is the least of. Determines the type of organisms that may exist in that environment. Some plants live well on a forest floor under tall trees, but will not do well in an open field due to increased light. The low annual temperature common to the northern latitudes determines in part what plants can exist there, because some plant enzymes work better at higher temperatures. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Limiting Factors (cont) If a body of water’s dissolved oxygen level is low, fish that need higher oxygen levels could suffocate and die. The salt-laden air and water of coastal areas limit what species can exist in those regions. Some species of fish, shellfish, and other marine species could die in freshwater due to an imbalance of water pressure in their tissue. Because of low pH caused by acid rain, more than 200 lakes in the Adirondacks (NY) have virtually no life in them. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Material Cycles Process of moving and cycling materials through the environment. Oxygen Cycle Carbon Cycle Water Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Oxygen Cycle Diagram Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Carbon Cycle Diagram Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Water Cycle The Water Cycle Terms: Evaporation Transpiration Condensation Precipitation Runoff, groundwater, seepage Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Water Cycle Diagram Energy From Sun Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Nitrogen Cycle The nitrogen cycle: Recycle the nitrogen that is necessary for the production of proteins. Atmospheric nitrogen is converted into nitrates by nitrogen fixing bacteria. Plants use nitrates for protein synthesis. Animals which eat plants convert the plant protein into animal protein. Nitrogenous waste and the bodies of dead plants and animals are broken down by decomposers (bacteria of decomposition) and ammonia is released. Ammonia may be converted into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. Nitrogen containing compounds may be broken down by denitrifying bacteria, resulting in the release of nitrogen in the atmosphere. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Nitrogen Cycle Diagram Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Energy Flow & Nutritional Relationships Energy Flow: Green plants convert radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy. A food chain involves the transfer of energy from plants through a series of organisms. Producers a. make their own food (autotrophs) plants & algae's (photosynthesis) Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Consumers & Decomposers can’t make own food (heterotrophs) herbivores: plant eaters (primary consumers) carnivores: meat eaters predators: kill own food (prey) scavengers: eat animals they don’t kill omnivores: eat both plants and animals Decomposers: Bacteria & fungi that break down dead bodies and wastes products. They recycle nutrients. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Food Chain Food Chains and Food Webs: Food Chain: sequence of organisms through which food passes in a community. Algae Insect Fish Man Producer 10 Consumer 2nd Consumer Third Level Arrows point in direction of the flow of energy! Food Web: Different food chains in an area which are interrelated to form a food network. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Food Chain Diagram Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Food Web Diagram Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Energy Pyramid Pyramids of Energy and Biomass All energy on the earth ultimately comes from sun ! Energy is lost at each link of the food chain. lost as heat approximately 10% of food energy in a given level will become incorporated in the bodies of organisms in the next higher level. as you go up a food chain or pyramid the number of organisms decrease and the size increases. Biomass decreases. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Energy Pyramid Diagram Pyramid of Energy killer whales Final Consumers Decrease in Biomass seals Tertiary Consumers Secondary Consumers fish Primary Consumers zooplankton phytoplankton plants Producers Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Nutritional & Symbiotic Relationships Homeostasis of an ecosystem: Ex. If a rabbit population in a community decreases there will be less food available for foxes. This causes a decrease in the number of foxes. With fewer foxes, the rabbit population will increase. Base line Foxes Rabbits Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Symbiotic Relationships + = benefit to, - = expense of, 0 = not affected Symbiosis: When two species of organisms interact with each other in any way. Mutualism: Symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. (+,+) termites & protozoa lichens (algae & fungi) cows and bacteria Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Symbiotic Relationships (cont) Commensalism: Symbiotic relationship in which one of the organisms benefit and the other is not affected. (+,0) Remoras & Sharks Parasitism: Symbiotic relationship between parasites and host. (+,-) tape worm & dog, fleas and dogs, human and viruses Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Predator and Prey Predation: Feeding relationship between predators and prey. predator attacks organism for food prey is the animal that serves as food if the predator - prey relationship is in balance, both benefit as a species but not as individuals. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology

Competition in an Ecosystem Competition in Ecosystems: Competition: rivalry between individuals for a specific resource. Intraspecific Competition: between members of same species. Interspecific Competition: Competition between members of different species. Competition can be for things like: Habitat: Where an organism lives. Niche: The role of the organism in the ecosystem. Light, food, nesting areas, space, water, mates etc... Limiting Factor: the necessary resource that an organism needs that there is the least of. Key Idea 6.1 LE Ecology