logy - logos ; the study of Ecology eco - oikos; house logy - logos ; the study of The scientific study of the relationships between organisms and their environments. E. Haeckel, 1865

Ecology Includes: The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms. Populations: all the individuals of a species that live together in one place at one time. Communities: many different species that live together in a habitat. Habitats :place where a particular population of species lives

Ecology Includes: The study of the flows of energy and materials Ecosystem: a community and all the physical aspects of its habitat Abiotic and biotic interactions Food chains/webs: path of energy flow through an ecosystem Source of energy (usually the sun) Biogeochemical cycles: systems to reuse raw materials that passes from the nonliving environment into living organisms and then back again(carbon, nitrogen, water)

Ecology The role of an ecologist to detect natural patterns (observation!) explain processes that underlie them (prediction – hypothesis) to generalize these explanations (theory) To solve ecological problems we are concerned with we study what animals do in their capacity as whole, living organism. the circumstances under which they do these things, and, most important of all, the limiting factors [that] prevent them from doing other things. Then we may be able to answer such questions as…

How can we preserve biodiversity? The variety of organisms, their genetic diversity, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur

Can tropical forests absorb the extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that is causing climate change?

Are boat accidents having a impact on the future of manatee population sustainability?

Levels of Organization Biosphere Habitat Ecosystems Communities Populations Organisms

Levels of Organization Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Levels of Organization Biome

Biosphere While the earth is huge, life is found in a very narrow layer, called the biosphere. If the earth could be shrunk to the size of an apple, the biosphere would be no thicker than the apple's skin. The biosphere, like the human body, is made up of systems that interact and are dependent on each other.

Ecosystem The biosphere’s systems are called ECOSYSTEMS An ecosystem is made up of all the biotic (living) and the abiotic (non-living) components in a given area. It’s all the physical stuff!

Abiotic Factors The nonliving things in an environment are called ABIOTIC factors. Examples: Sunlight Temperature Rainfall Climate Soil (minerals, pH)

Biotic Factors Biotic factors are all the living things or their materials that directly or indirectly affect an organism in its environment.   Some Biotic Factors Organism interactions waste presence parasitism disease predation

Physical and chemical factors that influence life in the biosphere Solar energy – powers nearly all surface terrestrial and shallow-water ecosystems. Water – Essential to all life. Temperature – has strong effects on metabolism Wind – local wind damage contributes to patchiness in ecosystems, increases an organism’s rate of water loss by evaporation Soil composition, fire, hurricane, tornado, volcanic eruption

Ecosystem Boundaries Not always obvious – depends on how it is being studied

Habitat Any place within the ecosystem where a population or community lives   Some habitats Forest Tree Lake or pond City park Cave Fen or swamp or marshland Reef

Community Community - all the species in a given area. Example - all the living things in Town Lake

Population A population is all the members of a given species in a given area that interbreed. Example - All the turtles in Town Lake.

Ecosystem Change Constant state of change Can be rapid or slow depending on fluctuation in biotic or abiotic factors

Ecosystem Change: Succession Succession - orderly, natural changes that take place in communities of an ecosystem over time. Pioneer species: first organisms to live in a new habitat. Tend to be small, fast growing plants, lichens, fungus. Increase soil and make the ground more hospitable for other species.

Primary Succession Primary succession is colonization by communities of organisms where life has not existed before.

Terrestrial Primary Succession

Secondary Succession Secondary succession is the sequence of community changes that occur when a community is disrupted by natural disasters or human actions.

Climax Community The final stable plant community is called a climax community.   This community may reach a point of stability that can last for hundreds or thousands of years.

Ecosystem Stability The interrelationships and interdependencies of organisms affect the development of stable ecosystems – in other words the homeostasis of ecosystems.

Tolerance Tolerance is the ability to withstand fluctuations in biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Biodiversity gives an ecosystem more tolerance. The greater the biodiversity, the healthier the ecosystem.