1. Intro to Ecology & Science Skills
Biology 08/20/12
Intro to Ecology
&
Science Skills

2. Review Describe 5 characteristics of living things.
What is the definition of a cell?
What happens to an organism if its homeostasis is disrupted and not restored?

3. Some Vocabulary
Ecology is the study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment
Abiotic factors are nonliving parts of an organism’s environment
Biotic factors are living organisms that inhabit an environment
A Habitat is a place where an organism lives out its life.
A Niche is all strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment—how it meets specific needs for food and shelter, how and where it survives, and where it reproduces

4. Levels of Organization
Biosphere
The part of Earth
that contains all
ecosystems
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community and
its nonliving
surroundings
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass, stream, rocks, air
Community
Populations that
live together in a
defined area
Hawk, snake, bison, prairie dog, grass
Population
Group of
organisms of one
type that live in
the same area
Bison herd

5. Levels of Organization
Organism
Individual living
thing
Bison
Tissues, organs,
and organ systems
Groups of
Cells
Nervous tissue
Brain
Nervous system
Smallest functional
unit of life
Cells
Nerve cell
Groups of atoms;
smallest unit of
most chemical
compounds
Molecules
Water
DNA

6. Comprehension Check Give two examples of abiotic factors.
Give two examples of biotic factors.
What is the difference between an ecosystem and a community?
Give an example organism and describe it’s habitat.

7. Types of biotic relationships
1. Feeding - one organism eats another
a. predator - organism that hunts another
organism
b. prey - organism that is hunted
c. ex: lions feeding on a water buffalo

9. 2. Symbiosis - close relationship between two or more organisms; at least one organism benefits:
The sacoglossan (Solar Powered Sea Slug)
showing the green network of ducts
which contain the green chloroplasts
from its algal food.
Two quite different groups of sea slugs have evolved
ways of using the ability of plants to convert the sun's
energy into sugars and other nutrients. In simple terms
they have become "solar powered".
The aeolid nudibranch Pteraeolidia ianthina which
"farms" colonies of brown single-celled algae
(zooxanthellae) in its body.

10. a. Commensalism- one organism benefits,
the other is neither helped nor harmed
The commensal shrimp Periclimenes imperator
b. Mutualism- both organisms benefit
from living together.
Lichen is any group of composite organisms made up of a fungus and an alga living in a symbiotic association. Fungus provides a structure that protect the alga from drying out and from harsh conditions.
Alga synthesizes and excretes a
specific carbohydrate that
is taken up and utilized as
food by the fungus.

11. c. Parasitism - one organism depends/ lives in or on another organism, the other organism is harmed. Ex: lamprey and vampire bat
Sea lamprey attached to
trout.
Vampire bat which feeds
on the blood of mammals
like cows.
Sucker like
mouth
of lamprey

12. Comprehension Check
Give an example of a specific predator and its prey.
What is the difference between an commensalism and mutualism?
Give an example of a parasite.

13. Switching Gears
Science Skills

14. Making a Graph from a Table
Water Released and Absorbed by Tree
Absorbed
by Roots
(g/h)
Released
by Leaves
(g/h) 20
Water released by leaves
Time 15
8 AM 1 2
Relative Rates (g/h) 10
10 AM 1 5
12 PM 4 12 5
2 PM 6 17
Water released by leaves
4 PM 9 16
6 PM 14 10
8 AM
10 AM
12 PM
2 PM
4 PM
6 PM
8 PM
8 PM 10 3
Time

15. Making a Graph from a Table
Water Released and Absorbed by Tree
Absorbed
by Roots
(g/h)
Released
by Leaves
(g/h) 20
Water released by leaves
Time 15
8 AM 1 2
Relative Rates (g/h) 10
10 AM 1 5
12 PM 4 12 5
2 PM 6 17
Water released by leaves
4 PM 9 16
6 PM 14 10
8 AM
10 AM
12 PM
2 PM
4 PM
6 PM
8 PM
8 PM 10 3
Time

16. Making a Graph from a Table
Water Released and Absorbed by Tree
Absorbed
by Roots
(g/h)
Released
by Leaves
(g/h) 20
Water released by leaves
Time 15
8 AM 1 2
Relative Rates (g/h) 10
10 AM 1 5
12 PM 4 12 5
2 PM 6 17
Water released by leaves
4 PM 9 16
6 PM 14 10
8 AM
10 AM
12 PM
2 PM
4 PM
6 PM
8 PM
8 PM 10 3
Time

17. Using Science Skills
How many populations of organisms are represented by this community?
What are the non living elements in the ecosystem?
An ecosystem is part of what larger level of organization of organisms?
Each population is made up of what level of organization?

18. Using Science Skills What units are used to measure length?
Why are conversions easier to do using the metric system?
What is the boiling point of water in C?
How many is kilo-?
How many milliliters is 2 liters?

19. Turn to Page 20 Problem-Solving Lab 1
Turn to Page 20 Problem-Solving Lab 1.2 Work with 1 partner to answer Questions 1-4 in your Lab Notebook

20. Go to kirkfisher.com and work on today’s assignments (located under the biology tab)