1. What is Ecology? Greek Word Roots:
“eco” come from “oikos” which means “house”
“logy” means “study of”

2. What is Ecology?
Ecology – study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.

3. Ecology Terms
Habitat – a place where a particular population of a species live.
Community - the groups of many different species that live together in a particular habitat.

4. Ecology Terms
Ecological system or ecosystem – consists of a community and its habitat.

5. Ecosystem Terms
Biotic Factors – all of the living organisms that belong in a habitat.
Examples:
a) animals
b) plants
c) fungi
d) protists
e) bacteria

6. Ecosystem Terms
Abiotic Factors – all of the physical (non-living) aspects that belong in a habitat.
Examples:
a) soil (mineral), water, wind (air)
b) energy such as light or sound
c) climate, weather, temperature

7. The Tropical Rainforest is the most diverse ecosystem.
Ecosystem Terms
Biodiversity – a measure of the number of species living in a certain ecosystem.
The Tropical Rainforest is the most diverse ecosystem.

8. All members of an ecosystem are interdependent.
Ecosystem Terms
Niche – an ecological role that an organism fulfills in an ecosystem.
All members of an ecosystem are interdependent.

9. Ecosystems Change Over Time
When a new habitat is created (fire, earthquake, logging, etc) the change is somewhat regular
Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area; can be primary or secondary

10. Primary Succession Begins in a place without any soil
Sides of volcanoes
Landslides
Starts with the arrival of living things such as lichens that do not need soil to survive
Called PIONEER SPECIES

11. Primary Succession
Soil starts to form as lichens and the forces of weather and erosion help break down rocks into smaller pieces
When lichens die, they decompose, adding small amounts of organic matter to the rock to make soil

12. Primary Succession
Simple plants like mosses and ferns can grow in the new soil

13. Primary Succession The simple plants die, adding more organic material
The soil layer thickens, and grasses, wildflowers, and other plants begin to take over

14. Primary Succession
These plants die, and they add more nutrients to the soil
Shrubs and tress can survive now

15. Primary Succession
Insects, small birds, and mammals have begun to move in
What was once bare rock now supports a variety of life

16. Secondary Succession
Begins in a place that already has soil and was once the home of living organisms
Occurs faster and has different pioneer species than primary succession
Example: after forest fires

17. Climax Community
A stable group of plants and animals that is the end result of the succession process
Does not always mean big trees
Grasses in prairies
Cacti in deserts

18. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
A) The primary source of energy is the sun.
B) Producers are organisms that capture light energy and convert it into chemical energy.
C) Consumers are organisms that consume producers or other consumers for energy.
D) Decomposers are organisms that consume producers, consumers, and other decomposers for energy once they have died.

19. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Producers - organisms that make energy-storing molecules, such as glucose, from light or chemical energy.
They are the first and the most important link in an ecosystem, they are sometimes called:
Autotrophs - produce food for themselves.
Examples: some bacteria, few protists, and all of the green plants

20. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Consumers - organisms that consume plants or other organisms to obtain energy.
They are the second and less important links in an ecosystem, they are sometimes called:
Heterotrophs – rely on other organisms for food.
Examples: some bacteria, most protists, some fungi, all plants not green, and all animals

21. Consumer Types: 1) Herbivore – feed directly on green plants.
Examples: deer, cattle, zooplankton, turtles
2) Carnivore – feed on other animals.
Examples: lions, hawks, fish, frogs
3) Omnivore – feed on plants and animals.
Examples: bears, raccoons, crayfish, humans

22. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Decomposers – organisms that consume organic wastes and dead bodies of other organisms.
They are the last and much needed link in an ecosystem, they are sometimes called:
Heterotrophs – rely on other organisms for food.
Examples: some bacteria, few protists, and some fungi

23. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Every living organism requires energy.
Trophic Level - shows how energy gets transferred from organism to organism.
Sun  Producer  Consumer  Decomposer

24. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Chain – the path of energy through the various trophic levels of an ecosystem.

25. Food Chains: 1st level Producers - make their own food. 2nd level
Herbivores - eat primary producers.
3rd level
Carnivores - eat herbivores.
Omnivores - eat both herbivores and carnivores.
4th level
Decomposers - eat all dead organisms.

26. Energy Flow in Ecosystems
Food Web – all of the interconnected groups of organisms that make up many food chains.

27. Ecosystem Energy
The energy that is stored at each trophic level is about 1/10 that of the level below it.
By showing the declining amounts of energy in each of the trophic levels an ecological pyramid can be formed.

28. Symbiotic Relationships
Symbiosis- two species living together
4 Types of symbiosis:
1. Commensalism
2. Parasitism
3. Mutualism
4. Predation
Cleaning shrimp 28

29. 1. Predation
Predation- when one organism eats another

30. Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism-
one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped
Ex. orchids on a tree 30

31. Symbiotic Relationships
Parasitism-
one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host)
Ex. lampreys, leeches, fleas, ticks, tapeworm 31

32. Symbiotic Relationships
Mutualism-
beneficial to both species
Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp
The Egyptian plover takes insects from the backs of buffaloes, giraffes and rhinos. The plover has also been observed taking leeches from the open mouths of crocodiles! In this association the plover receives a supply of food and the other animal rids itself of unwelcome pests 32

33. = 1 species Type of relationship Species harmed Species benefits
Species neutral
Commensalism
Parasitism
Mutualism
= 1 species 33

34. Ecosystem Terms
Limiting Factor – any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence of organisms in a specific environment.
Examples of limiting factors
Amount of water
Amount of food
Temperature

35. Limiting Factors
Density Dependent- depend on how many organisms live in an area
Example: disease; food shortages
Density Independent – do NOT depend on how many organisms live in an area
Example: tornado; earthquake

36. Ecology Terms
Carrying capacity: the number of organisms that can be supported by a particular ecosystem

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

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

39. Carbon cycle-
Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon and oxygen through the environment. 39

40. Nitrogen cycle-
Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) makes up nearly 78%-80% of air.
Organisms can not use it in that form.
Lightning and bacteria convert nitrogen into usable forms. 40