Ecology Characteristics of a healthy/mature ecosystem Relationships Parts Cycles Ecology

Word Definition Picture or example Biotic factors Abiotic factors Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Habitat Niche Predation Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism

Ecology The study of the relationship of living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

A healthy ecosystem Biodiversity Population in check (right number of consumers and producers) Nutrient recycling high

Parts Biotic factors Abiotic factors Species Population Community Ecosystem Biome Biosphere Habitat Niche

Relationships Predation Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism

Cycles Energy Nitrogen Carbon Phosphorus Water Succession

Other topics Populations Biodiversity disturbances

Organisms and Their Environment

Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives in Niche is the adaptations and strategies a species uses in it’s environment.

The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism’s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism’s life.

The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection.

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic

Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic

Levels of Organization

What are the Simplest Levels? Atom Molecule Organelle Cell Tissue Organ System

Population Biosphere Species Community Ecosystem Biome Niche Habitat Place the terms in order from the simplest to the most complex. Population Biosphere Species Niche Community Habitat Ecosystem Biome

1st Level of Organization Organism/Species: An individual living thing that is made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops

Levels of Organization Group of organisms that can reproduce Species/ Organism

2nd Level of Organization Population: A group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

Levels of Organization Group of organisms that can reproduce Species/ Organism A group of one species Population

3rd Level of Organization Biological Community: All the populations of different species that live in the same place at the same time.

Levels of Organization Group of organisms that can reproduce Species/ Organism A group of one species Population Populations of different species Community

4th Level of Organization Ecosystem: Populations of plants and animals that interact with each other in a given area with the abiotic components of that area. (terrestrial or aquatic)

Levels of Organization Group of organisms that can reproduce Species/ Organism A group of one species Population Populations of different species Community Community + abiotic factors Ecosystem

5th Level of Organization Biosphere: The portion of Earth that supports life.

Levels of Organization Group of organisms that can reproduce Species/ Organism A group of one species Population Populations of different species Community Community + abiotic factors Ecosystem Portion of the earth that supports life Biosphere/Biome

What level of organization? Organism

What level of Organization? Community

What level of Organization? Population

Limiting Factors Do populations often grow exponentially? What are limiting factors? Limiting factors are any factors (things) that affect an organism’s ability to survive in its environment. These factors affect population growth. Examples? availability of food and water, predators, temperature, space/shelter, and disease Discuss the first question with students, then move onto the concept of limiting factors. Students should note that usually populations are not able to continue growing exponentially. You may need to explain the concept of exponential growth, depending upon students background in this concept in math class. Ask students to name possible examples first, before showing them the answer.

Density-Dependent Factors What are density-dependent factors? Factors that depend upon the size of the population. These factors will have an increasing effect as the population size increases. Examples? availability of food and water, competition, predators, and disease Discuss this with students before showing them the answer, see if they can come up with a reasonable definition based on their knowledge of the word “dependent”. Again, ask students to think of examples before showing them the examples on this PowerPoint.

Competition What is competition? Examples? Competition is one of the many symbiotic relationships occurring in nature. Members of species compete for resources, especially for limited natural resources. Examples? trees that grow very close together vie for sunlight and soil nutrients, lions and tigers that vie for similar prey, and a farm of rice paddies with weeds growing in the field Again, discuss with students first, before showing them the “right answer”.

Competition What happens to competition between individuals as population size increases? Competition will also increase. If the demand for resources exceeds the supply, then the population size will eventually decrease. Again, discuss with students first, before showing them the “right answer”.

Density-Independent Factors What are density-independent factors? Factors that are not dependent upon the size of the population and can affect any population. Examples? temperature, weather (storms, floods, drought), and habitat disruption by humans Again, discuss with students before showing the answer; they may be able to determine a good definition based on their knowledge of the word “independent”.

Carrying Capacity K n Ask students to interpret this graph, then lead a discussion on carrying capacity. The formal definition is on the following slide. “t” is time, “N” is number of individuals, and “K” is carrying capacity. At first, the population grows well, as resources are abundant, then as the population reaches it’s carrying capacity (limit), the growth of the population slows and will stay at a steady rate unless there is a disruption such as disease, storm, etc. t

Carrying Capacity The maximum number of individuals that an environment can support. Why is knowing carrying capacity important to ecologists? Discuss the importance of carrying capacity with students. They will likely come up with a variety of responses possibly including the following: it helps establish hunting restrictions/freedoms, it helps those at wildlife sanctuaries determine the right number of individuals for an area.

Symbiosis Means living together. Four kinds of symbiosis Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism Predation

Mutualism Both species benefit The ants protect the acacia tree by attacking any animal that tries to feed on the tree. The tree provides nectar and a home for the ants.

Commensalism The barnacle benefits by finding a habitat where nutrients are available. (In the case of lodging on the living organism, the barnacle is transported to new sources of food.) The presence of barnacle populations does not appear to hamper or enhance the survival of the animals carrying them. One species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited.

Parasitism One species benefits at the expense of the another species. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites. Some ticks transmit diseases as they obtain nutrients from their host.

Predation Predator-prey relationship Predator hunts & kills Prey is hunted & killed

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