1. Ecology Notes Sheet
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2. Ecology
The study of the relationship between organisms and their environment
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3. Environmental Factors
Biotic: are living or were once living
Abiotic: never living
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4. Biotic or Abiotic? Bacteria Photosynthesis Dead fish Rock Heat
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Nitrogen
Carrots
Temperature
Energy
Dead flowers
Corn
Hamburger
Rat
Sunshine
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5. Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism: One species benefits, one is unharmed
Mutualism: both species benefit
Parasitism: one species benefits, one is harmed or dies
Parasite feeds on host
Host: where Parasite lives
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6. Examples of Symbiotic Relationships
A bird builds its nest in a tree. The tree offers protection and support for the nest. The nest causes no harm to the tree.
Example 2:
A mosquito bites you. The mosquito gets nutrients from you. Your mosquito bite itches.

7. Examples of Symbiotic Relationships
A harmless bacteria lives in human intestine. The bacteria produces vitamin B-12 for the human. The human provides and place to live and food to eat.
Example 4:
Max, a Rottweiler, is infested with fleas. The fleas feed on Max. This makes Max sad.

8. Examples of Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitism
Mutualism
Mutualism
Mutualism
Clown Fish and sea anemones (The anemone offers protection to the clown fish with its deadly and poisonous tentacles.The clown fish brings food to the anemone, by attracting dumb fish who don't know that the anemone is a trap. So when fish go in for the attack, the anemone kills them, and then begins to feed on the dead fish.)
Bee and Flower (In this interaction, the flower becomes pollinated by the insect, while the bee receives food in the form of pollen and nectar.)
Mosquito and People (Females ingest blood for the protein and some times may pass on diseases to people)
Pseudoscorpions hitching ride on a fly’s leg, Costa Rica. Pseudoscorpions, tiny relatives of true scorpions, often engage in the practice of phoresy, or hitchhiking
Barnacles on scallop shell (Barnacles live by using long, feathering appendages to sweep the surrounding water for small, free-floating organisms. The critical resource for barnacles is a place to stay. Barnacles attach to rocks, ships, shells, whales, and just about anywhere else they can gain a foothold. The example barnacles are attached to the shell of a scallop. The barnacle gains a place to live and, the scallop is not harmed by the presence of the barnacles.)
A red-billed oxpecker sits atop the horn of a grazing white rhinoceros, eating parasites and warning the rhinoceros of imminent danger on the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in Eastern Transvaal in the Republic of South Africa.
Commensalism
Commensalism
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9. Examples of Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism
Parasitism
Remoras that ride attached to sharks and whales. Remoras feed on the leftovers of their hosts' meals.
Mistletoe Plant Growing in a Tree. Mistletoe is a widespread flowering plant parasite that grows on oak, apple, juniper, pine, and other trees. Most mistletoe species are partial parasites. Their leaves, found on the surface of branches and trunks, produce sugar through photosynthesis, but their roots penetrate into the tree’s tissue and absorb its nutrients.
The yucca moth both pollinates and feeds on the yucca plant; acacia ants live in the thorns of, defend, and are fed by the acacia tree in which they live; and trees can’t get along without mycorrhizae living in/on their roots and absorbing food for them.
The spines on this large, robust caterpillar were no protection against the parasitic wasp that laid her eggs on or in the caterpillar's body. The parasitic wasp larvae ate most of their host, avoiding the vital organs, so that the caterpillar stayed alive. After they developed, the wasp larvae spun cocoons and pupated on the outside of the caterpillar's body; the white structures seen among the spines are the cocoons of the wasp pupae. The spines on this large, robust caterpillar were no protection against the parasitic wasp that laid her eggs on or in the caterpillar's body. The parasitic wasp larvae ate most of their host, avoiding the vital organs, so that the caterpillar stayed alive. After they developed, the wasp larvae spun cocoons and pupated on the outside of the caterpillar's body; the white structures seen among the spines are the cocoons of the wasp pupae.
The drawing shows the Nile crocodile opening its mouth to permit the Egyptian plover (name of bird) to feed on any leeches attached to its gums.
Mutualism
Mutualism
Parasitism
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10. Producer Performs photosynthesis Sun is the source of all energy
CO2 + H2O + sunlight → O2 + C6H12O6
Sun is the source of all energy
Example: Phytoplankton (drifting producer)
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11. Consumer Performs respiration Example: Zooplankton (drifting consumer)
O2 + C6H12O6 → CO2 + H20 + energy
Example: Zooplankton (drifting consumer)
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12. Types of Consumers Carnivore: eats only meat
Herbivore: eats only plants
Omnivore: eats both plants and meat
NOTE: Vegetarians are omnivores, not herbivores. (Vegetarians choose to not eat meat, herbivores cannot digest meat)
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13. Examples of Consumers Predator: hunts prey
Scavenger: feeds on already dead animals
Lion, find pics of predators and 1 more for scavenger
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14. Decomposer Breaks down dead organisms
Mushrooms
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15. Food Chain A series of producers and consumers
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16. Food Web Numerous food chains
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17. Biomes of the World

18. Tropical Rain Forest Near the equator
Central Africa, Central and South America (North of Amazon), India, SE Asia, part of Australia
More than 200 cm rainfall per year
Warm & wet all year
Roof of rainforest= Canopy: 35 m or taller
Quick Decomposition of organisms
Broadleaf plants, palms, tree ferns, climbing vines, bromeliads
Bats, lizards, snakes, monkeys, baboons, toucans, sloths, parrots

19. Tropical Rain Forest Plants

20. Tropical Rain Forest Critters

21. Destruction of Tropical Rainforests
Destroyed at an alarming rate- clear cut and burned for farming
200+ cm of rain each year leads to erosion of soil, leaving the land useless within just a few years.
Extinction of thousands of species

22. Tropical Rainforest Deforestation Map

23. Desert Less than 25 cm of rain per year Extremely dry
Sand storms, sand dunes
Cactus, fleshy plants, succulents, grasses, small-leaved shrubs, tumbleweeds
Lizards, snakes, small rodents, camels, sidewinders, coyote, desert tortoise, desert hare, desert toad, beetles

24. Desert Plants

25. Desert Critters

26. Deciduous Forest More than 75 cm of rain per year
Moist with cold winters and warm summers
Broadleaf deciduous trees (elms, maples, oaks) – trees lose leaves
Raccoons, squirrels, small birds, deer

27. Deciduous Forest

28. Deciduous Forest Critters

29. Coniferous Forest More than 50 cm of rainfall per year
Cool and moist on mountains
Mild winters & heavy rainfalls in coastal areas
Conifers have waxy coatings
Cedars, hemlocks, pines, redwood
Bears, mountain lions, wolves, birds, elk

30. Coniferous Plants

31. Coniferous Critters

32. Tundra and Mountainous Regions
~20 cm of rain per year
Extremely cold and dry
Permafrost
Lichen, shrubs, grasslike plants
Arctic foxes, arctic hare, polar bears, grizzly bears, lemmings, wolves, migratory birds, mountain lions, mountain goats, alpaca, llamas, caribou

33. Tundra and Mountainous Plants

34. Tundra and Mountainous Critters

35. Grasslands (Savannah)
Between 25 – 75 cm of rain each year
Mild temperatures and subhumid
Acacia, grasses, herbaceous plants
Antelopes, buffalo, wolves, coyotes, hyenas, lions, zebra, rhinoceros, hippopotamus,

36. Grassland Plants

37. Grassland Critters

38. Aquatic Ponds, lakes, rivers, coastal areas, oceans Seaweed, sea grass
Squid, dolphins, sharks, whales, seals, walrus, penguins, octopus, crocodiles, alligators, turtles, oysters, clams, shrimp, pelicans, fish, seagulls, manatees

39. Aquatic Plants

40. Aquatic Critters

41. Urban/Suburban Human developments Domesticated animals
Dogs, cats, cows, horses,
rats, mice, people