1. Chapter 13 Principles of Ecology

2. ECOLOGY
The study of the interaction among living things and their interactions with their environment

3. BIOSPHERE
Definition- narrow area around Earth’s surface where life can exist. 11 km deep in the oceans to 9 km high in the atmosphere

4. Limitations to the BIOSPHERE
Life requirements- 1. LIQUID WATER- 2. TEMP BETWEEN DEGREES CELCIUS 3. SOURCE OF ENERGY 4. RECYCLING OF NUTRIENTS

5. ABIOTIC FACTORS- nonliving components of the environment –(example- water, nutrients, pH levels, sunlight and temperature)
BIOTIC FACTORS-living components of the environment- (examples- plant life, predators)

6. Levels of Organization
BIOSPHERE- where life on Earth exists
BIOME- large regional group of organisms usually characterized by climate conditions and vegetation (desert, tundra, tropical rain forest)
ECOSYSTEM- all the abiotic and biotic factors combined (wetlands)
COMMUNITY- all the different species that live together
POPULATION- only one species in one place at one time (breeding)
ORGANISM- an individual living thing

7. Producer- Defined as an organism that can make its own food
Scientific term is AUTOTROPH will literally stands for “self- feeding”
Examples are plants, some protists, and some bacteria-

8. ALL LIFE (99.9%)DEPENDS ON THE SUN
PHOTOSYNTHESIS the process of using the suns energy, water, and carbon dioxide to produce Oxygen and the sugar glucose (carbohydrates)

9. PRODUCERS
EXCEPTION- CHEMOSYNTHESIS deep water ecosystems which use energy from deep ocean vents. Bacteria can break down the hydrogen sulfide to make its own energy

10. CONSUMER
Defined as organisms that get their energy by eating other organisms
Scientific term is “HETEROTROPH” which literally means “ other feeders”
Examples- animals, fungi

11. CLASSIFICATION based on what consumers eat
HERBIVORES- consumer that only eats producers
CARNIVORES-consumer that only eats other consumers
OMNIVORES- consumer that eats both producers and consumers
DETRITIVORES- organisms that feed on dead organic matter
DECOMPOSERS-consumer that feeds and breaks down organic matter into simpler compounds

12. CLASSIFICATION based on what consumers eat
SPECIALIST- consumer that primarily eats one specific organism
GENERALIST- consumer that have a varying diet

13. How do consumers get their energy?
Use oxygen we breathe to breakdown the sugar glucose
This is called CELLULAR RESPIRATION
Each cell in our body takes in oxygen and use it to release energy from food

15. CELLULAR RESPIRATION
ALL ORGANISMS USE CELLULAR RESPIRATION TO GET ENERGY FROM FOOD
EVEN PRODUCERS USE CELLULAR RESPIRATION
ENERGY IS USED FOR GROWTH, CELL REPAIR, MOVEMENT, ETC
EXCESS ENERGY IS STORED AS FAT OR SUGAR

16. ENERGY TRANSFER
Each time one organism eats another organism there is an energy transfer
Scientists study energy transfer by examining
FOOD CHAINS
FOOD WEBS
TROPHIC LEVELS

17. FOOD CHAIN (pg 122)
Sequence in which energy is transferred from one organism to the next as each organism is eaten

18. FOOD WEB Many food chains linked together
More realistic because most animals eat more than one type of food
Shows good interaction in the ecosystem

19. TROPHIC LEVEL
Defined as each step in the energy transfer of a food chain
Will rarely have more than 4 consumer levels
This is due to energy loss from one level to the next

20. TROPHIC LEVELS
EACH TIME ENERGY IS TRANSFERRED FROM ONE LEVEL TO THE NEXT ENERGY IS LOST AS HEAT AND LESS ENERGY IS AVAILABLE
About 90% of energy is used up
Only 10% of energy is passed on

21. ENERGY PYRAMID
Shows the relationship of consumers in an ecosystem and how energy is transferred
- Each step in the pyramid is a power of ten

22. BIO MASS
Amount of living mass in a trophic level

23. BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLE
MOVEMENT OF A CHEMICAL THROUGH THE BIOLOGICAL AND GEOLOGICAL PARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM

24. CYCLING OF ELEMENTS
Law of Conservation of Mass- the amount of mass in the universe remains constant- therefore the amount of mass of each element in the universe remains constant (exception is radioactive materials)

25. WATER CYCLE—HYDROLOGIC CYCLE

26. WATER CYCLE
CONDENSATION- the process by which a gas cools and becomes a liquid
(formation of clouds)
PRECIPITATION-any form of water that falls to Earth’s surface from the clouds (rain, snow, sleet, and hail)
EVAPORATION- the change of a substance from a liquid to a gas

27. WATER CYCLE
TRANSPIRATION- process by which plants release water into the air through stomata
RESPIRATION- process by which water and carbon dioxide is released into the air from living organisms

28. CARBON CYCLE All living things are made of carbon
Carbon is the key ingredient in fats, proteins, sugars, and nucleic acids
Carbon is found in the air and water (Carbon Dioxide)
Carbon is also found in the soil naturally as limestone or as the remains of once living organisms- oil, coal, and natural gas

29. How do humans affect the Carbon cycle?
When we burn fuel (oil, coal, gas, wood) we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
CELLULAR RESPIRATION- gives off CO2
Increased carbon dioxide in atmosphere can lead to global warming

30. CARBON CYCLE

31. Global carbon budgeting
Pools and fluxes

32. NITROGEN Organisms need nitrogen to form proteins and nucleic acids
Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere
Most organisms cannot use nitrogen as a gas to make proteins

33. NITROGEN Organisms need nitrogen to form proteins
Nitrogen makes up 78% of the atmosphere
Most organisms cannot use nitrogen as a gas to make proteins
Nitrogen fixing bacteria turns atmospheric nitrogen into usable nitrogen in the soil
Decomposers turn waste products and decaying organisms into usable nitrogen

34. How do we get nitrogen out into a usable form?
DECOMPOSERS- break down dead organisms and return nitrogen into the soil in the form of ammonia (NH4).
NITROGEN FIXING BACTERIA- found on the roots of plants called LEGUMES (beans, peas, soybeans) turns ATMOSPHERIC nitrogen into usable nitrogen (ammonia).

35. Many types of bacteria turn the ammonia into nitrates (NO3) all plants can use to make proteins.
Animals will get nitrogen from eating the plants or other animals.
There are other bacteria that use nitrogen and release it as a gas back into the atmosphere.

37. How do humans effect the nitrogen cycle?
1. Humans must rotate crops in order to keep the proper amounts of nitrogen in the soil.
2. FERTILIZERS- contain high amounts of nitrogen which is good for the plants but harmful for fish and other organisms when we have nitrogen RUNOFF into the lakes and streams
3. NITROGEN is released into the air when we burn (wood, oil, coal) and can cause the formation ACID RAIN- which is nitric acid

38. PHOSPHORUS CYCLE Needed to form bones and teeth in animals
Phosphate rocks dissolve and release into the soil

39. PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Needed in the formation of DNA of all cells (PHOSPHATE) PO4
Needed to form bones, teeth, and shells in animals. (PHOSPHATE) PO4

40. How does phosphorus enter the soil?
Phosphate rocks dissolve and release into the soil.
Decomposers breaking down waste and decaying organisms release phosphates into the soil.
Phosphate is taken in by plant roots and eaten by animals in their diet.

41. Phosphorus cycle

44. HOW ECOSYSTEMS CHANGE If a Forest burns down for 80 acres then…
1. What plants would you expect to see first?
2. What animals would you expect to see?
3. What would that area look like in 20 years? What plants and animals?

45. ECOLOGICAL SUCCESSION
Defined as- the gradual change and replacement of types of species in a community
Example- first grass would grow- then bushes may grow and kill off small areas of grass then large trees grow and kill off all of the forest floor plant life

46. Primary Succession
Succession that occurs on a surface where no ecosystem existed before
Examples- new island formed by a volcano, sand dunes
What would you expect to see there?

47. Secondary Succession
Succession on a surface where an ecosystem previously existed
Example- forest burning down, chopping down rain forest, flood, volcano, tsunami

48. PIONEER SPECIES First organisms to colonize a new area-
Characteristics of pioneer species
1. fast reproducers- short lifespan
2. produce many offspring
3. have good method of dispersal
4. can remain dormant in rough environment if needed
5. small- and not good competitors

49. MATURE SPECIES
Defined as a species that will eventually dominate an ecosystem if given enough time
Characteristics-
1. slow reproducers but long life span
2. produce few offspring but care for young
3. slower dispersal
4. larger and very good competitors

50. CLIMAX COMMUNITY (page 132)
Is the final and stable community when it fully matures