What is Ecology? Defined: Study of how life interacts on Earth

How do you interact with the environment?

What is Ecology? Defined: Study of how life interacts on Earth Point of this unit? Show the impact that life has on the environment… and vice versa

Levels of Ecology

Defined: Group of one species living in the same area Populations change based on: – Births, Deaths, Immigration, Emigration, Limiting Factors Click on information box Populations

What’s this population called?

Population Patterns We’ve studied bacteria populations…

We’ve studied plant populations…

We’ve studied fungus populations…

We’ve studied all kinds of animal populations…

Populations go through stages: 1)Slow growth Population is slowly adapting to particular environment

Population Patterns Populations go through stages: 1)Slow growth Population is slowly adapting to particular environment 2) Exponential growth High birth rates due to natural selection & resources

Population Patterns Populations go through stages: 1)Slow growth Population is slowly adapting to particular environment 2) Exponential growth High birth rates due to natural selection & resources 3) Carry capacity Defined: greatest number of individuals that the environment can sustain Birth & death rates eventually balance

Populations go through stages: 1)Slow growth Population is slowly adapting to particular environment 2) Exponential growth High birth rates due to natural selection & resources 3) Carry capacity Defined: greatest number of individuals that the environment can sustain Birth & death rates eventually balance What stage is the human population in? Population Patterns Fighting disease Improving agriculture Building more shelters Sanitizing water Exponential growth

After Carrying Capacity? Some populations stabilize for the long term Some populations experience a sharp decline called a “crash” Which will humans experience? stable c r a s h

Age Pyramids Can Predict Future Growth Typical Reproductive years Large portion of the population will soon enter their reproductive years Large portion of the population currently able to reproduce Smallest portion of the population past their reproductive years

Slow Future Population Increase Typical Reproductive years

Stable Population Typical Reproductive years

Declining/Negative Growth

Mr. Kobe’s experience with population ecology MaleFemale 1 year10,00011,000 2 years7,0007,500 3 years3, years1,0001, years520600

Data Analysis What does this data tell you? What would you do if you were the state of IL? 7,0007,500 3,000 3,400 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr Male Female 520 1, ,100 MaleFemale 1 year10,00011,000 2 years7,0007,500 3 years3, years1,0001, years520600

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Many species of fish… Many species of corals… Many species of invertebrates…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Many species of plants… Many species of insects… Many species of reptiles…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Many species of plants… Many species of insects… Many species of amphibians… Many species of birds…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Each organism has it own HABITAT – Habitat: Place where an organism lives In a tree hole you might find…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Each organism has it own HABITAT – Habitat: Place where an organism lives In a hole in the ground you might find…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Each organism has it own HABITAT – Habitat: Place where an organism lives Lift up a rock and you might find…

Communities Defined: Many populations living in the same area Each organism has it own HABITAT – Habitat: Place where an organism lives Each species has its own NICHE – Niche: The role/needs of a species How can 5 different populations of birds live in the same tree? Wouldn’t they compete and fight each other off? Each has a different niche in the community. Eats insect A & nests in March Eats insect B & nests in June Eats insect C & nests in September

Ecosystems Defined: All the living & non-living in a given area Biotic (living) Factors: – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Protista Abiotic (non-living) Factors: – Rocks, climate, soil, water, etc… What have we learned?

Ecosystems Defined: All the living & non-living in a given area Biotic (living) Factors: – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Protista Abiotic (non-living) Factors: – Rocks, climate, soil, water, etc… What have we learned? 1)The biotic affects the abiotic Cattle (living) can overgraze and ruin topsoil (nonliving)

Ecosystems Defined: All the living & non-living in a given area Biotic (living) Factors: – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Protista Abiotic (non-living) Factors: – Rocks, climate, soil, water, etc… What have we learned? 1)The biotic affects the abiotic Humans (living) can pollute water (nonliving)

Ecosystems Defined: All the living & non-living in a given area Biotic (living) Factors: – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Protista Abiotic (non-living) Factors: – Rocks, climate, soil, water, etc… What have we learned? 1)The biotic affects the abiotic 2)The abiotic affects the biotic Above is a healthy coral reef with lots of life Below is the same reef exposed to a higher water temperature (non-living)

Ecosystems Defined: All the living & non-living in a given area Biotic (living) Factors: – Animals, Plants, Fungi, Bacteria, Protista Abiotic (non-living) Factors: – Rocks, climate, soil, water, etc… What have we learned? 1)The biotic affects the abiotic 2)The abiotic affects the biotic

Ecosystems often contain a “keystone species.” Keystone species = one that has a tremendous impact on the entire ecosystem

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Tundra

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Deciduous forest

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Grasslands

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Rainforests

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Deserts

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Taiga

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Learned? Climate determines where life can survive

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Learned? Climate determines where life can survive Why can’t reptiles survive in the tundra biome?

Biomes Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life Learned? Climate determines where life can survive Why can’t oak trees survive in the desert biome?

The Biosphere Defined: All organisms and the part of the Earth where life exists

The Biosphere Defined: All organisms and the part of the Earth where life exists Biosphere changes can affect life Crust Mantle core

The Biosphere Crust Mantle core Defined: All organisms and the part of the Earth where life exists Biosphere changes can affect life Ex: More CO2 in the atmosphere… causes warmer temps CO2

The Biosphere Defined: All organisms and the part of the Earth where life exists Biosphere changes can affect life Ex: More CO2 in the atmosphere… causes warmer temps

Review 1) What is ecology? 2) What are two reasons that populations will increase? 3) What are two reasons that populations will decrease? 4) What are factors that control population growth called? 5) How does a population, community, ecosystem, biome, and biosphere differ? 6) What is a keystone species? 7) Place the levels of ecology in order from smallest to largest. – Ecosystem, Population, Biosphere, Community, Biome