What is Ecology? Secondary 1

Origin of the word…”ecology” Greek origin Greek origin OIKOS = household OIKOS = household LOGOS = study of… LOGOS = study of… Study of the “house/environment” in which we live. Study of the “house/environment” in which we live. The study of living organisms in their natural environment The study of living organisms in their natural environment How they interact with one another and with their nonliving environment How they interact with one another and with their nonliving environment

Ecology is study of interactions between non-living components in the environment… non-living components in the environment… light light water water wind wind nutrients in soil nutrients in soil heat heat solar radiation solar radiation atmosphere, etc. atmosphere, etc. AND… AND…

Living organisms… Living organisms… Plants Plants Animals Animals microorganisms in soil, etc. microorganisms in soil, etc.

Abiotic factors are the non-living Components of the Environment Abiotic factors include: Abiotic factors include: Sunlight Sunlight Water Water Temperature Temperature Wind Wind Soil/substrate Soil/substrate Special events such as: Special events such as: Fires Fires Hurricanes Hurricanes Floods Floods Volcanic eruptions Volcanic eruptions Tsunamis Tsunamis

Biotic Factors-factors are the living Components of the Environment A living organism is also affected by the living components of its environment. A living organism is also affected by the living components of its environment. Competition exists for available food resources. Competition exists for available food resources. Predators feed on members of the population. Predators feed on members of the population. Microbes can bring diseases. (If time travel were possible, and you could be transported to the Cretaceous Era to look at dinosaurs, don’t be afraid of fear Tyrannosaurus, fear the microbes. You would have no immunity to them!!) Microbes can bring diseases. (If time travel were possible, and you could be transported to the Cretaceous Era to look at dinosaurs, don’t be afraid of fear Tyrannosaurus, fear the microbes. You would have no immunity to them!!) There may be competition for nesting space. There may be competition for nesting space. Plants may compete for the light needed to carryout photosynthesis. Plants may compete for the light needed to carryout photosynthesis. These are many other biological factors determine the success of an individual or species. These are many other biological factors determine the success of an individual or species.

Levels of organization - Terms Biosphere Biosphere Surface of the earth Surface of the earth Composed of many ecosystems Composed of many ecosystems Ecosystem Ecosystem An ecological community and its environment An ecological community and its environment Includes living and non-living things and interactions among organisms. Includes living and non-living things and interactions among organisms.

Levels of organization - Terms Population – a group of individuals of the same species that occupies a given territory Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area.

Levels of organization - Terms Habitat – physical location of community; the environment in which a species lives Organism – simplest level of organization

An organism is ….. Any independent living thing Any independent living thing Can be as small as a single celled bacteria Can be as small as a single celled bacteria Or as large as a whale! Or as large as a whale!

Ecosystem An ecological community and its environment, including living and non-living things and non-living things and interactions among organisms interactions among organisms

carrying capacity the maximum number of organisms the resources of an area can support the maximum number of organisms the resources of an area can support limited by the available abiotic and biotic resources, as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi limited by the available abiotic and biotic resources, as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi

An ecosystem is self-sustaining if the following requirements are met: if the following requirements are met: 1. A constant source of energy and a living system capable of incorporating this energy into organic molecules 1. A constant source of energy and a living system capable of incorporating this energy into organic molecules 2. A cycling of materials between organisms and their environment 2. A cycling of materials between organisms and their environment UQ vc4

Example:

Community All the populations of the different species living and inter- acting in the same ecosystem 7-spotted lady bird (Adephagia septempunctata) Bean aphids (Aphis fabae) Red ant (Myrmica rubra) and Broom plant (Cytisus scoparius)

Species A group of organisms that can breed to produce fully fertile offspring Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

Population A group of organism of the same species which live in the same habitat at the same time where they can freely interbreed. The black-veined white butterfly (Aporia crataegi) mating

Biodiversity The total number of different species in an ecosystem and their relative abundance. Worcester City Museums

Habitat The characteristics of the type of environment where an organism normally lives. (e.g. a stoney stream, a deciduous temperate woodland, Bavarian beer mats)