Uses information from “Ecology” by T.J.King

What is ecology? The word ecology comes from the Greek for “house”. Why do you think this is appropriate?

The levels on which organisms can be studied Biosphere biomes Ecosystem Community Populations Individual go to FACTORS

The volume of the earth’s surface where organisms can be found. It extends from the depths of the ocean (11km below sea level) to at least the highest plant communities (6.2km) Biosphere

Biome The biosphere is made up of several types of biome. These are classified due to their major vegetation types, for example TUNDRA or TROPICAL RAINFOREST.

An Ecosystem is a part of a biome. Biomes themselves are far too large to study so ecology work tends to be based around a particular ecosystem. Each ecosystem has a characteristic set of plants, animals and microbes. The organisms in an ecosystem form a self-sufficient unit in balance with their environment. Ecosystem

This is a group of species that occurs at the same place at the same time. The word is often used to refer to organisms of a particular kind, such as the plant community on a lawn. Community

Ecosystems and communities contain populations of species. A population is made up of all the members of a species living together in the same place at the same time. An example would be all the ash trees in a wood. Population

Finally each population is made up of many individuals. The genetic and physiological adaptations of an individual organism to its environment is an important aspect of ecology. Individual

Niche

Look carefully at the information about the 2 sea birds on the next slide...

The cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Feeding niche: a bottom feeder. Eats mainly flatfish, prawns etc from shallow water in estuaries and harbours. Structural niche: Broad cliff ledges and the sea. The shag (P. aristotelis) Structural niche: Cliff ledges and the sea. Feeding niche: Dives into the water for fish. What will happen here? How will these species affect each other?

What is a Niche? The niche of a species is its role in the community.

Two species can’t occupy the same niche.... In reality the cormorant is quite different to the shag: it occupies narrower ledges it fishes further out to sea it captures fish and eels from the upper layers of the water This means they are both able to be successful in the same ecosystem

Competition This happens when 2 or more individuals strive to obtain the same resources when these are in short supply. The more similar the individuals are, the more intense the competition.

The distribution patterns of species If an animal survives for a long time in a particular community it must be able to reproduce there. A large number of biotic and abiotic factors influence how an animal or plant species may interact and change with time.

organism temp Solar radiation Fire humidity Wind Day length Atmospheric gases organism Aspect Human activity Soil competitors Parent material Predators Salinity Wave action parasites Use a colour key to show BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors. BOLD arrows show the effect of the factors on the organism. Draw DOTTED arrows to show the effect of factors on one another.

organism temp Solar radiation Fire humidity Wind Day length Atmospheric gases organism Aspect Human activity Soil competitors Parent material Predators Salinity Wave action parasites