1. Ecology

2. What is Ecology?
The study of interactions between organisms and how they relate to the physical environment.

3. Levels of Ecological Organization
Species: group, which can mate and produce fertile offspring .

4. Levels of Ecological Organization
Population - all the members of a species inhabiting a given location.

5. Levels of Ecological Organization
Community - all the interacting populations in a given area.

6. Ecosystem - the living community and physical environment functioning together as an interdependent, self sufficient, stable system.
Ecosystem requirements
- Energy source
- Energy flow and storage
in organic compounds
- Cycling of material

7. Levels of Ecological Organization
Biome: A group of ecosystems with similar flora, fauna and climate.

8. Levels of Organization
Biosphere - the portion of the earth in which life exists

10. Abiotic and Biotic Components of an Ecosystem
Abiotic Factors - include physical and chemical factors which affect the survival of organisms. Ex: Light intensity Temp. range pH. Supply of gases Amount of moisture Types of soil or rock Availability of minerals.

11. Biotic Factors
Biotic Factors - all the living things that directly or indirectly affect the environment. Ex: organisms and their : Interactions Parts Wastes

12. Nutritional Relationships
. Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
synthesize their own food from inorganic raw materials (H2O and CO2)
Photosynthesis
cannot make their own food, and must ingest preformed organic matter.

13. Types of Heterotrophs

14. Saprophytes
Saprophytes (Decomposers)- heterotrophic plants, fungi or bacteria that live off dead organic matter

15. Herbivores
Herbivores - animals that consume plants

16. Carnivores Carnivores - eat other animals
Predators - kill their own prey
Scavengers - feed on dead animals they did not kill
Omnivores - eat both plants and animals

17. Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiotic Relationships – include different organisms living together in a close association.

18. 1. Commensalism - one organism is benefited and the other is not affected (+, 0)
ex. Barnacles on a whale
Shark and Remora Fish

19. 2. Mutualism - both organisms benefit (+,+)
ex. Lichens. A lichen is a cross between an algae and a fungi. Both organisms benefit from the relationship

20. Parasitism - the parasite benefits at the expense of the host (+,-)
ex. The male angler fish on the female angler.

21. Energy Flow in an Ecosystem
All organisms need energy for their metabolic activities
Food Chain- Displays a one way relationship of energy flow in an ecosystem

22. Food Web
Shows the interrelationship between food chains.

23. Food Web Interactions
Producers – Organisms that manufacture their own food.
Consumers –
1. Primary consumers - herbivores.
2. Secondary consumers – carnivores, feed on other consumers.
3. Tertiary consumers- carnivores that feed on the secondary consumers.
4. Quarternary Consumers- Top order consumers, food chains or food webs rarely extend beyond a quarternary consumer because energy is lost.
Decomposers – organisms of decay break down organic wastes and dead organisms into simpler substances (bacteria, fungi).
** Decomposers return chemical substances to the environment for reuse.

24. Energy Pyramid
Pyramid of Energy - there is much more energy at the producer level of a food web than the consumer level. A pyramid can be used to show this energy loss:
Top
order Consumer
Energy decreases as you climb the pyramid
Biomass decreases as you climb the pyramid
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumers
Producers

26. Pyramid Facts
Only 10% of ingested nutrients are used to build new tissue (Food for next feeding level).
90% is lost as heat energy
Eventually the energy in and ecosystem is lost, thus it must have a constant input of energy from the sun.
Biomass Pyramid - The decrease of energy at each successive feeding level means that less biomass can be supported at each level.

27. Material Cycles
In a self-sustained ecosystem materials must be recycled for reuse.
Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Cycle (C-H-O) involves the process of photosynthesis and respiration.

29. Water Cycle - involves photosynthesis, transpiration, evaporation, condensation, respiration, and excretion.
Respiration
Transpiration

30. Nitrogen Cycle - plants need nitrogen to make plant proteins.
Plants obtain Nitrogen from the soil, or from nitrogen fixing bacteria that change atmospheric N2 into a form usable by plants.
Animals obtain nitrogen by eating plants, or animals that ate plants.
Bacteria of Decay - break down and convert wastes and dead organisms into materials used by plants (nitrates and nitrites)

31. Nitrogen Cycle

32. Ecosystem Formation
Ecosystems change with time until a stable system is formed.

33. 1. Pioneer Organism: Organism that is first to inhabit an area
Ecological Succession - the replacement of one community by another until a stable climax community is reached.
Succession begins with pioneer organisms and finishes with a climax community
1. Pioneer Organism: Organism that is first to inhabit an area
Ex: lichens on bare rock
2. Climax Community: A stable ecological community in which little change occurs.
Ex. A hardwood forest
Oak-hickory and hemlock-beech-maple, represent climax communities found in N.Y. State.

34. LIMITING FACTOR
Any abiotic factor that limits the size of a population
Ex: low temp may limit type of plant or animal life in an area.
Ex: the amount of dissolved oxygen may limit the number of, or the species of fish that can survive.
Carrying Capacity – the number of organisms of any single species that an ecosystem can support

35. Carrying Capacity

36. Competition - occurs when different species living in the same habitat use the same limited resources such as food, space, water, etc.
If two or more groups have the exact same role in the ecosystem then they are said to share the same NICHE.
Niche – the role an organism plays in a community
During competition a species may be eliminated. This usually establishes one species per niche.

37. Growth of Human Population
What factors have contributed to this exponential growth?

38. Warbler Niches
Habitat – the environment an organism lives in.

39. Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity

40. Biosphere and Humans
Human's unique and powerful influence on the physical and living world, have changed the environment with some positive and negative effects.
I. Negative Aspects
1. Human Population Growth - has exceeded the food producing capacity of many ecosystems.

41. 2. Over hunting - has resulted in the extinction of some species.
3. Importation of Organisms - importing organisms, which have no natural enemies, can disrupt an ecosystem.
4. Exploitation of Wildlife - both flora and fauna can disrupt an ecosystem.
5. Poor land use and management - increased urbanization has resulted in less farmland and natural habitats for wildlife.

42. 6. Loss of Biodiversity – can effect the stability of an ecosystem.
7. Technological oversights - have led to pollution of water, land, and air.
Water pollutants
Heat - reduces dissolved oxygen
Sewage
Chemicals
Heavy metals

43. Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide – Is a major contributor to the Greenhouse effect
Hydrocarbons
Nitrogen oxides - causes acid rain
Sulfur dioxide - causes acid rain

44. 8. Disposal of non-biodegradable wastes has also become a major solid waste disposal problem.
II. Positive Aspects
Increased awareness has led to the prevention of negative disruption to the environment.
1. Population Control

45. Conservation of resources
- Erosion control (reforestation and overcroping)
- Water and energy conservation
- Recycling
3. Pollution Control - of water and air are being attempted by forming laws and new techniques of sanitation

46. 4. Species preservation - habitat
4. Species preservation - habitat protection such as national parks and wildlife refuges have helped endangered species.
5. Biological Control - of insect pests does not disrupt food webs and contaminate the earth.
Ex: sex hormones, natural parasites