1. Your share in the biosphere
Ecology
Your share in the biosphere

3. Marine Nomenclature

4. Levels of Organization
Biosphere
Earth & its atmosphere that supports life
Biome
Based on unique climatic /ecological features
Ecosystem
Organisms & abiotic materials in 1 place
Community
Different species of an ecosystem
Population
Members of single species of an ecosystem
Organism

5. Trophic Levels

6. Terrestrial Biomes

7. Interdependence All organisms interact with other organisms
Plant, animal, bacteria, fungi, protists, & archaea
All organisms interact with their surroundings
Food, shelter, air, moisture, temperature, etc…
Abiotic environment is changed by organisms
Erosion, fertilization, pH, mineral cycles, etc…

8. Community Living

9. Ecosystem’s Components
Biotic factors
Living organisms
Abiotic factors
Nonliving materials, conditions, energy
Tolerance curve
Survival range for given condition
Acclimation: organisms’ ability to adjust tolerance
Niche
Species’ specific role within its environment

10. Weather vs. Climate Weather (specific place, short time-frame)
Temperature
Precipitation
Wind speed & direction
Humidity
Cloud cover
Climate (region, relatively long periods)
More predictable
Affected by terrain (lakes, ocean, mountains)
Determines regions of terrestrial biomes

13. Climatic Factors Solar radiation Wind currents Water currents
Tropics receive 2.5 X radiation as do the poles
Productivity = measure of energy producers store
Wind currents
Heat rises at the equator & cools nearer to poles
4 Convection cells (2/tropics + 2/poles)
Water currents
Rotation of the Earth
Wind direction
Water temperature gradient

15. Species Interaction Predation Competition Herbivores : eats plants
Carnivores : eats meat
Competition
Interspecific competition: > 2 species, 1 resources
Competitive exclusion:2 species,1 resource, 1 wins
Fundamental niche vs. realized niche
Character displacement (competition-driven evolution)

16. “Food Web”

17. Species Interaction, continued
Symbiosis
Parasitism
Similar to predation but death of host is not immediate
Either external (ectoparasites) or inside (endoparasite)
Mutualism
Mutually beneficial
Ants & Acacia plants; pollinators & nectar/ food
Commensalism
One benefits & other is unaffected
Cattle egrets & cape buffaloes

18. Mutualism

19. Commensalism

20. Ecological Succession
Primary Succession
New life on previously barren land (no soil)
Bare rock, sand dune, new island/ lava flow
Pioneer species predominate early in succession
Secondary Succession
Replacement following disruption of existing life
Soil present after forest fire, flood, storm, humans
Weeds/ wild flowers->perennials-> shrubs-> trees
***Climax community = stable end point ***

21. Levels of Succession

22. Conservation of Energy
Sun is Earth’s ultimate source of energy
Autotrophs = Producers of biomass
Photosynthesis & chemosynthesis
Heterotrophs = Consumers
Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Detritivores
Energy flows through trophic levels
Food chains & food webs
Only ~ 10% of energy is transferred to next troph

23. Biochemistry connects it all!

24. Ecosystem Recycling Water cycle Carbon cycle
Surface H2Oevaporationcloudsprecipitation
runoff  surfaceH2O  percolation groundH2O
plants  transpiration  clouds
Carbon cycle
Atmospheric CO2  photosynthesis  plant life  animal life  respiration  Atmospheric CO2  animal/plant death  Atmospheric CO  fossil fuel  combustion  Atmospheric CO2

27. Ecosystem Recycling, continued
Nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric N2 N-fixation by bacteria (root & soil)  NH3 & NH4+  Nitrification (via bacteria)  NO3  Denitrifying soil bacteria  N2 in air OR  NO3  Assimilation into plants  herbivores  urine/ feces/ plant or animal death/ decay  decomposers  Ammonification  NH3 & NH4+
Phosphorous cycle
Rock erosion  PO43-  soil & water plant absorption herbivores  carnivores/omnivores  waste/ death/ decay  soil & water