What is ecology? The scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environment. Interactions can take place between living and nonliving things.
Levels of Organization in Ecology Organism – an individual Population – a group of organisms of the same species that live in the same place at the same time. Community – a collection of interacting populations Ecosystem – interactions of living and nonliving things in the community
Ecology Terms: means all the conditions that surround any living organism, both the other living things and the non- living things or physical surroundings. A Habitat- means all the members of a single species that live in a habitat, means all the populations of different organisms living together in a habitat refers to a community of animals, plants and micro-organisms, together with the habitat where they live. Environment A place where plants and animals live Populations Community Ecosystem
Organism
Population
Community
Ecosystem
Distribution of organisms: Living organisms are NOT evenly distributed around the world. But are adapted to live in particular __________________________. Factors that affect the habitat: ______________- temperature range and rainfall allow a variety of species to live in a center area. We can group together ecosystems adapted to climate conditions into global ecological regions called______________________________. III. Major Biomes: In relationship to biomes and climate: Habitat Climate BIOMES
Tundra Taiga Mountain Desert Temperate Forest Hot grassland; savannah Tropical Rainforest
Abiotic Factors Nonliving parts of environment Rainfall levels and rate of water flow Temperature Water content of Soil Sunlight Humus content of soil Soil pH & nutrient levels Dissolved oxygen levels Pollutant concentrations
Biotic Factors All the living organisms- which include these examples: producers Consumers and predators The number & types of competitors for light, food, space, Shelter, or mating opportunities The pathogens and parasites The number & type of insects species The number & type of decomposers and The level of species diversity
How organisms obtain energy Producers – can make own food; usually use energy from the sun (photosynthesis) 6CO H 2 O C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2 + 6H 2 O Consumers – must eat other organisms; cannot make own food
Different Types of Consumers Herbivore – eat only plants Carnivore – eat only animals Omnivore – eat both plants and animals Decomposer – break down and absorb nutrients of dead plants and animals Scavenger – eat rotting flesh (like road kill)
Food Chain Shows how matter and energy move through ecosystem Arrows indicate flow of energy Only a portion of original energy is passed on to other organisms in chain (10% each link) Example: Algae Fish Heron
Food Web Made up of many food chains Shows all possible feeding relationships in a community More realistic than a food chain, because most animals eat more than one thing.
Energy Pyramid
1. _______________________ 2. _______________________ 3. _______________________ 1. __________________________ 2. __________________________ 3. __________________________ 4. __________________________ Light: photosynthesis water Nutrients and Minerals food water mates shelter
Ch 19 section 3 pg 663 interdependent Predator and prey species Prey GROWs REDUCE
Symbiosis Barnacles Commensalism
Lichens Mutualism tapeworm Parasitism KILL
Ecology Interdependence of Organisms Let’s check for understanding!
Question 1 Which of these does not belong to the group? A.Consumer B.Human C.Fish D.Plant
Question 2 All energy transformations in an ecosystem begin with -- A.A scavenger B.A decomposer C.The Sun D.An herbivore
Question 3 In a food chain, which are the most efficient users of solar energy? A.Herbivores B.Carnivores C.Omnivores D.Scavengers
Question 4
Identify the: 1. Producers 2. Primary Consumers 3. Secondary Consumers 4. Herbivores 5. Carnivores 6. Omnivores Plants, berries, leaves, nuts Grasshopper, squirrel Frog, mouse, rabbit Squirrel, grasshopper, rabbit Fox, frog, owl snake mouse