ECOLOGY Part 1

Ecology:the study of the interactions of living organisms with each other and their environment.

BIOSPHERE: the portion of Earth that supports life . . . Air Land Water

Inorganic /Abiotic factors . . . (the non-living environment) Wind Temperature Moisture Light Soil Minerals Fire

Organic / Biotic Factors . . . (the living environment) Plants Animals Protists Bacteria Fungi (All living things containing carbon)

Ecological (Energy) Pyramid Omnivores - eat anything Carnivores - eat meat Insectivores - eat insects Herbivores - eat plants Producers - make own food Trophic level = feeding step

Niche: the role and position a species has in its environment What it eats Where it eats When it eats

Food chain - shows how energy flows producer herbivore omnivore omnivore producer 1st order consumer 2nd order consumer 3rd order consumer

Food web: interconnected food chains Organisms almost always eat, and are eaten by, many different organisms.

chicken grass deer caterpillar hawk frog seeds snake beetle coyote turkey human rabbit

ECOLOGY Part 2

Population: a group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

Community: A group of organisms of different species living together in a particular place.

The physical location in which a given species lives. Habitat: The physical location in which a given species lives.

How energy flows . . . Sun - main source of energy Autotrophs / producers… can make own food Heterotrophs / consumers… must eat Decomposers / saprophytes… fungi & bacteria break down dead materials

Symbiosis: close association between two or more organisms of different species. Commensalism - one benefits, one isn’t affected (eg. Whale & Barnacles) Mutualism - both benefit (eg. Insects & Plants) Parasitism - one benefits, one is harmed (eg. Ticks & Dogs)

Adaptation: the process by which a species becomes better suited to its environment. Coloration Speed Migration Thick fur Chemical defenses Hibernation/ Estivation Size Thorns and stickers

Cycles Within Ecosystems: Water cycle – precipitation and evaporation Carbon cycle – increasing carbon dioxide traps more heat and causes the “greenhouse effect.” Nitrogen cycle – (next slide)

WATER CYCLE

CARBON CYCLE

Nitrogen cycle Nitrogen fixation is the conversion of… “N” into usable organic compounds by bacteria “N” from decaying organisms into ammonia The release of “N” from organisms that are being decomposed.

NITROGEN CYCLE

THE END!