ECOLOGY ECOLOGY

Population A group of organisms of the same species living in a particular place that interbreed A group of organisms of the same species living in a particular place that interbreed Individuals compete for resources – drives natural selection Individuals compete for resources – drives natural selection Examples: Humans Examples: Humans

Community All species of organisms that live together and interact with each other All species of organisms that live together and interact with each other Examples: Forests, Neighborhood Examples: Forests, Neighborhood

Habitat The living area of a species. The particular part of the community in which the organism lives. The living area of a species. The particular part of the community in which the organism lives. Examples: your home, bird Examples: your home, bird

Niche Role an organism plays in a community. Role an organism plays in a community. A niche includes what a species needs to survive and reproduce. A niche includes what a species needs to survive and reproduce. Habitats can overlap so that different species are found in the same location but no 2 species occupy the same habitat at the same time for very long. (competition) Habitats can overlap so that different species are found in the same location but no 2 species occupy the same habitat at the same time for very long. (competition)

Ecosystem Interaction of all populations in a community and the community’s physical surroundings and abiotic factors Interaction of all populations in a community and the community’s physical surroundings and abiotic factors Biotic factor – all living things that inhabit the environment Biotic factor – all living things that inhabit the environment Abiotic factor –the nonliving parts of an organims’s environment. (water, light, soil) Abiotic factor –the nonliving parts of an organims’s environment. (water, light, soil)

Portion of earth that supports life! Interaction of populations within a community

Groups of Organisms From smallest to largest:  Individual  Population (made of individuals)  Community (made of populations)  Ecosystem (made of community and non living)  Biome (made of ecosystems and weather)  Biosphere (everything in the Earth where life is)

Producers Organisms capable of making their own food/energy Organisms capable of making their own food/energy Another term = autotroph Another term = autotroph Transform energy of the sun into food energy Transform energy of the sun into food energy Example: plants Example: plants

Consumers Are not capable of producing their own food/energy.They depend on other organisms for their food. Are not capable of producing their own food/energy.They depend on other organisms for their food. Examples – Examples – Herbivores- animals that eat plants Herbivores- animals that eat plants Carnivores- animals that eat other consumers Carnivores- animals that eat other consumers Omnivores- animals that eat both Omnivores- animals that eat both

Consumers (cont.) Another term = Heterotrophs Another term = Heterotrophs

Decomposers Obtain their food (energy) by breaking down dead decaying organisms Obtain their food (energy) by breaking down dead decaying organisms Examples: Earthworm, fungus, bacteria, mushrooms Examples: Earthworm, fungus, bacteria, mushrooms

Food Chain Energy movement through the food chain of an ecosystem – community interacting with the environment Energy movement through the food chain of an ecosystem – community interacting with the environment Energy movement is always moving from one level to another – from producer to consumer Energy movement is always moving from one level to another – from producer to consumer Example – Human – cow - grass Example – Human – cow - grass

FOOD WEB Producers (Autotrophs) Producers (Autotrophs) Consumers (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) Consumers (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary) Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore Herbivore, Carnivore, Omnivore Decomposers Decomposers

Food Webs Feeding relationships and energy flow among species in an ecosystem Feeding relationships and energy flow among species in an ecosystem Too complex to be represented by a single food chain Too complex to be represented by a single food chain Main things done with energy from food Main things done with energy from food Mate Mate Find food Find food Heat body Heat body

Food Web Energy Transfer in web Energy Transfer in web Food energy in green plants Food energy in green plants grasshopper nibbles on green plants grasshopper nibbles on green plants lizard eats grasshopper lizard eats grasshopper snake eats lizard snake eats lizard grass grasshopper lizard snake grass grasshopper lizard snake Cow Human

Energy Pyramids Trophic level – feeding step Trophic level – feeding step Energy pyramid shows how energy flows through the ecosystem Energy pyramid shows how energy flows through the ecosystem The base represents autotrophs (1 st trophic level) the next step represents herbivores (2 nd trophic level) the third represents carnivores (3 rd trophic level) The base represents autotrophs (1 st trophic level) the next step represents herbivores (2 nd trophic level) the third represents carnivores (3 rd trophic level) Energy decreases with every trophic level Energy decreases with every trophic level Each bar represents population size. Each bar represents population size.

Symbiosis Relationship between organisms Predation Predation Competition Competition Mutualism Mutualism Commensalism Commensalism Parasitism Parasitism

Predation Organisms attach and kill their prey and feed on them. Organisms attach and kill their prey and feed on them. Relationship between predator and prey Relationship between predator and prey Predators = Carnivores Predators = Carnivores Prey = Carn/Herbivores/omnivores Prey = Carn/Herbivores/omnivores Examples: Snake eats a mouse Examples: Snake eats a mouse

PREDATION

Competition Results due to limited amount of resources, food, shelter, mates, etc. Results due to limited amount of resources, food, shelter, mates, etc. Most intense competition occurs between organisms that are of the same species Most intense competition occurs between organisms that are of the same species Examples: Rams Examples: Rams

COMPETITION

Mutualism When both organisms benefit from each other When both organisms benefit from each other Examples: Clown fish/ Sea Anemone Examples: Clown fish/ Sea Anemone Humans/ Pets

MUTUALISM

MUTUALISM

Commensalism One organism benefits from the relationship and the other does not. One organism benefits from the relationship and the other does not. Examples: Bird/Tree Examples: Bird/Tree

COMMENSALISM

Parasitism When one organism Benefits and the other is harmed. When one organism Benefits and the other is harmed. Parasite = benefits (tick) Parasite = benefits (tick) Host = harmed (dog) Host = harmed (dog) Some cause Disease. Others can Kill the host. The most successful parasites are ones that do not kill their host Some cause Disease. Others can Kill the host. The most successful parasites are ones that do not kill their host

PARASITISM

NAME THE RELATIONSHIP

Succession Primary- Primary- Secondary- Secondary-

Main Types Tropical Rainforest Tropical Rainforest Grasslands Grasslands Desert Desert Deciduous Forest Deciduous Forest Coniferous Forest Coniferous Forest Taiga Taiga Tundra Tundra

Tropical Rainforest Found: Near the equator Found: Near the equator Temp: HOT Temp: HOT Rainfall: LOTS Rainfall: LOTS Special Info: Home to many different organisms. Tall trees form a canopy above the lower understory Special Info: Home to many different organisms. Tall trees form a canopy above the lower understory

Rain Forest

Desert Africa, Asia, Mexico, Australia Africa, Asia, Mexico, Australia LOW precipitation LOW precipitation Variable temperature throughout the day Variable temperature throughout the day

Desert

Desert

Grasslands Savanna Africa, Brazil and Australia Africa, Brazil and Australia Warm Warm Seasonal rain Seasonal rain Lots of grass with few trees Lots of grass with few treesTemperate North America, Asia and South America North America, Asia and South America Hot summers/cold winters Hot summers/cold winters Seasonal rain Seasonal rain Fertile Soil Fertile Soil

Grassland

Grassland

Grassland

Temperate (Deciduous) Forest Eastern US, Europe, Japan, China and Asia Eastern US, Europe, Japan, China and Asia Cold to moderate winters with warm summers Cold to moderate winters with warm summers Year round precipitation Year round precipitation

Deciduous Forest

Boreal (Taiga) Forest Northern Europe, Asia and North America Northern Europe, Asia and North America Cold Long Winters, short mild summers Cold Long Winters, short mild summers Summers allow the ground to thaw Summers allow the ground to thaw

Coniferous Forest Canada, Northwestern US Canada, Northwestern US Mild temperatures, warmer winter and cool summer Mild temperatures, warmer winter and cool summer Mild precipitation Mild precipitation

Boreal

Boreal

Boreal

Boreal

Boreal

Tundra Northern regions of North America, Europe and Asia Northern regions of North America, Europe and Asia Short cool soggy summers Short cool soggy summers Long cold dark winters Long cold dark winters Permafrost: layer of permanently frozen subsoil Permafrost: layer of permanently frozen subsoil

Tundra

Tundra

Tundra

Tundra

Tundra

Mountains/Ice

Mountains/Ice

Mountains/Ice