1. Ecology Unit

2. Ecology- the study of interactions between organisms and their environments, focusing on energy transfer  It is a science of relationships.

3. The environment is made up of two factors: Biotic factors- all living organisms Abiotic factors- nonliving things

4. LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

5. BiosphereBiosphere- life supporting portions of Earth. The highest level of organization

6. Biome  A large geographic area that has a particular climate, and particular species of plants and animals that live there.

7. EcosystemEcosystem- the interactions of organisms and the abiotic factors in their environment. Ex. deciduous forest

8. CommunityCommunity- several populations that inhabit a common environment and are interdependent.

9. PopulationPopulation-organisms of one species living in the same place that reproduce and compete with each other for resources.

10. OrganismOrganism- any unicellular or multicellular organism showing the characteristics of life. The lowest level of organization

11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =VIe46T6UTUc Biome Video

12.  WHERE DO ORGANISMS LIVE

13. Habitat vs. Niche Niche - the role a species plays in a community (job) Habitat- the place in which an organism lives (address)

14. RELATIONSHIPS

15. Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis- two species living together 3 Types of symbiosis: 1. Commensalism 2. Parasitism 3. Mutualism

16. Symbiotic Relationships Commensalism- one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped Ex. orchids on a tree Ex. polar bears and cyanobacteria Epiphytes: A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a bromeliad, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.

17. Symbiotic Relationships Parasitism- one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host)  Parasite-Host relationship

18. Symbiotic Relationships Parasitism Ex. lampreys, leeches, fleas, ticks,tapeworm

19. Symbiotic Relationships Mutualism- beneficial to both species Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp

20. Symbiotic Relationships Ex. lichen

22. Type of relationship Species harmed Species benefits Species neutral Commensalism Parasitism Mutualism = 1 species

23. Feeding Relationships Producer- all autotrophs (plants), they trap energy from the sun  Bottom of the food chain

24. Feeding Relationships Consumer- all heterotrophs: they ingest food containing the sun’s energy  Herbivores  Carnivores  Omnivores  Decomposers

25. Feeding Relationships Consumer- Herbivores  Eat plants  Primary consumers  Prey animals

26. Feeding Relationships Carnivores-eat meat  Predators  Hunt prey animals for food.

27. Feeding Relationships  Scavengers  Feed on carrion, dead animals

28. Feeding Relationships Omnivores eat both plants and animals

29. Feeding Relationships Decomposers  Breakdown the complex compounds of dead and decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules that can be absorbed

30. Trophic Levels  Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level.  Trophic levels represent a feeding step in the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem.

31. Trophic Levels Producers- Autotrophs 100% Primary consumers- Herbivores 10% Secondary consumers- small carnivores 1% Tertiary consumers- top carnivores ENERGYENERGY

32. Trophic Levels Food chain- simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

33. Feeding Relationships  http://www.goldridge08.com/flash/fdchns.swf http://www.goldridge08.com/flash/fdchns.swf

34. Trophic Levels Food web- shows all possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level  Represents a network of interconnected food chains

35. Food chainFood web (just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths)

37. Nutrient Cycles Cycling maintains homeostasis (balance) in the environment. 3 cycles to investigate: 1. Water cycle 2. Carbon cycle 3. Nitrogen cycle

38. Water cycle- Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation

39. Water cycle-

40. Carbon cycle- Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon and oxygen through the environment.

41. Carbon cycle-

42. Nitrogen cycle- Atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) makes up nearly 78%-80% of air. Organisms can not use it in that form. Lightning and bacteria convert nitrogen into usable forms.

43. Nitrogen cycle- Only in certain bacteria and industrial technologies can fix nitrogen. Nitrogen fixation-convert atmospheric nitrogen (N 2 ) into ammonium (NH 4 + ) which can be used to make organic compounds like amino acids. N 2 NH 4 +

44. Nitrogen cycle- Nitrogen-fixing bacteria: Some live in a symbiotic relationship with plants of the legume family (e.g., soybeans, clover, peanuts).

45. Nitrogen cycle- Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria live free in the soil. Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are essential to maintaining the fertility of semi-aquatic environments like rice paddies.