ECOLOGY the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environment

BIOSPHEREBIOSPHERE

Biomes Latitude and Elevation Determine Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors Determine Biotic Factors

Ecoregions

Levels of Organization LevelExample Ecosystem All of the biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors that interact in an area make up the ecosystem. All of the populations (the community) and the saltwater, the temperature, the rocks and minerals, the atmosphere… Community All of the different populations that interact with each other A flock of seagulls, a school of redfish, a school of mullet, a pod of dolphins, a flock of pelicans, etc… Population A group of individuals of same species that interact with each other A FLOCK of seagulls Organism An individual member of a species A SEAGULL

What is an ecosystem? a community of living organisms and the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system The biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows BIOTIC = LIVING FACTORS ABIOTIC = NONLIVING FACTORS (NEVER WERE ALIVE)

Biotic factors are affected by abiotic factors…and vice versa ABIOTIC FACTORSBIOTIC FACTORS SunlightPrimary producers TemperatureHerbivores PrecipitationCarnivores Water or moistureOmnivores Soil or water chemistryDetritivores All of these vary over space/time

The “Chain of Command” in ecosystems Abiotic factors determine the type of... Producers which determine the type of… Consumers that can live in an ecosystem.

List at least 3 biotic and 3 abiotic factors in this ecosystem

How does ENERGY flow through an ecosystem? We use models to show how energy flows in an ecosystem – Food chain – Food Web – Energy Pyramid

Food ChainFood Web Food Chain vs. Food Web Shows one path of energy. Almost always start with a plant transforming energy from the sun. If the chain is broken, all organisms beyond that point are wiped out. Shows multiple paths of energy. Also start with plants. If the links are broken, the rest of the organisms get their energy from somewhere else.

The arrow points in the direction that the energy flows!

Food Web Food Web example If the mice die, I get more energy from other resources!

The Energy Flow Pyramid Energy in an ecosystem begins with the sun’s radiant energy… Then plants use it to make GLUCOSE as chemical energy… Then herbivores eat plants and digest the glucose for energy… Then carnivores eat herbivores… and so on. Trophic levels

How does MATTER get recycled in an ecosystem?

NUTRIENT CYCLES Nitrogen Cycle Carbon Cycle Phosphorus Cycle

ABIOTIC CYCLES Water cycle Rock cycle

Processes that cycle nutrients between abiotic and biotic Decomposition- bacteria and fungi break down dead organisms and return nutrients to the environment Photosynthesis and respiration- cycle oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor Precipitation- cycling of water between environment and living things

Biodiversity & Sustainability - Biodiversity is the variety of life forms- plant, animal, fungi, microorganisms- in an ecosystem. -Greater biodiversity = stronger ecosystem. -Sustainability is the strength of an ecosystem to be able to support biodiversity. -Sustainability depends on amount of resources such as clean water, nutrients, space, etc. Ability + Sustain = Sustainability

Measuring Biodiversity Number of different species Number of different organisms Biomass –the mass of all the living things

What is Succession? Over time, an ecosystem can change as species are added or replaced. Species tend to get larger and more complex The biodiversity also increases as an ecosystem changes. This change is called succession

Succession Primary Succession- -Major catastrophic event -“Starting from scratch” -Very slow Bare rock or poor soil Lichens, tiny plants Flowers, grasses Shrubs and bushes Small trees Larger trees Secondary succession -Minor catastrophic event -“Re-growth” (After fire) -Seeds and soil left behind = faster

How does succession “start”? A bare ecosystem has rock and lichens to create soil… Other abiotic factors include natural resources such as water, space, light, and nutrients created by decomposers… PIONEER SPECIES This makes a niche available that invites PIONEER SPECIES to develop in that ecosystem…

PIONEERS

Stages of Succession Primary Primary rocks & lichens grasses Intermediate Intermediate small trees shrubs Climax Climax mature trees

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

When does succession “stop”? When the ecosystem has developed as much as it can based on the abiotic factors available… These abiotic factors include natural resources such as water, space, light, and nutrients… EQUILIBRIUM When succession “STOPS” this is called EQUILIBRIUM.

Check your understanding: 1.In every ecosystem, energy is ____ and matter gets _____. 2.Changes in an ecosystem are called ___. 3.Succession happens in every ___. 4._____and erosion break down rock into sediments. 5.Nutrients in the soil come from ___ breaking down dead materials. 6.The three main stages of succession are ___, ___, and ___. 7.The types of producers in an ecosystem depend on the ___. 8.The types of consumers in an ecosystem depend on the ___. 9.The first species to live in an ecosystem are called ___ species. 10.When succession stops, it has reached ___.