1. Earth: A Living Planet Ecology
- Study of the interactions of organisms with one
another & their environment.
Biosphere
- Part of the Earth in which life exists.
1) Ecosystem- area of Earth that includes:
biotic factors- living things
AND
abiotic factors- non-living things

2. 2) Community
- all organisms that live together in an
ecosystem.
3) Population
- a group of species.
4) Species/organism
- an individual species in a population.
Habitat- area where an organism lives
Niche- an organism’s role in a habitat

4. Niche vs. Habitat 7 lizards same habitat 7 different niches
divided by height

5. Organism’s Energy Roles
1) Producer
- organisms that make their own food/energy.
2) Consumer
- organisms that obtain food from producers.
Ex.- Herbivores(plants), Carnivores(meat),
Omnivores(plant & meat)
3) Decomposers
- organisms that break down organic matter.
*Energy flows from:
sun→producers→consumers→decomposers

6. Energy Diagrams
1) Food Chain
- illustrates a step-by-step feeding relationship
- each step is a trophic level

7. - illustrates every feeding relationship
2) Food Web
- illustrates every feeding relationship
- more complex than a food chain

8. 3) Energy Pyramids
- illustrates amount of energy
in the trophic levels of food
chains & webs.
-biomass- amount of living
tissue in each level
- 10% LAW
- only 10% of energy is passed on to each level.
- most energy is lost as
heat.

9. Community Interactions
1) Competition
- conflicts over resources
* No two species can occupy the same niche
in the same habitat at the same time.
2) Predation
- one organism feeds on another organism

10. 3) Symbiosis
- organisms that form a relationship together
Examples
a) Mutualism
- both organisms benefit
- insects & flowers
b) Commensalism
- one organism benefits, the other gets
no benefit & isn’t harmed.
- barnacles on a whale
c) Parasitism
- one organism benefits, the other is
harmed.

12. Nutrient Cycles
1) Water Cycle
- movement of water between the land and air.

13. 2) Nitrogen Cycle
- Nitrogen Fixation
- bacteria changing nitrogen gas into ammonia
- ammonia is converted to soil nitrates(fertilizer)
- producers absorb nitrates
- consumers eat producers gaining nitrogen

14. 3) Carbon Cycle
- carbon moving between photosynthesis &
respiration processes.

15. Ecological Succession
- series of changes in a community over time
2 Types
1) Primary Succession
- occurs in areas without soil
- follows volcanic eruptions & glacier melts
2) Secondary Succession
- occurs where soil is present
- typically follows a wildfire

16. Biomes
- area with a characteristic community
Land Biomes
1) Tundra- cold, dry northern areas
2) Taiga- cold winters, mild summers, conifer trees
3) Temperate Forests- 4 seasons, deciduous trees
4) Grasslands- 4 seasons, moderate rainfall
5) Rain Forests- hot & wet all year, large % of life
6) Deserts- little rainfall, variable temperatures
Aquatic Biomes
1) Freshwater- rivers & lakes
2) Marine- oceans & coastal areas

17. Population Growth Growth Curves 1) Logistic Growth Curve
- growth with fluctuations at a certain level
- most populations experience this growth
2) Exponential Growth Curve
- rapid increase with no stopping
* Carrying Capacity- max amount of organisms for
a given habitat

18. Population Growth Curves

19. Paramecium Aurelia vs. Paramecium Caudatum
Competition

20. Limiting Factors
- factors that control population growth
2 Types
1) Density-dependent
- only affect large populations
Example: predation, competition, disease
2) Density-independent
- affects any size population
Example: natural disasters (hurricane, fire)

21. Demography
- scientific study of human populations
Growth Factors
1) Birth rate- # people born per year
2) Death rate- # people who die per year
3) Growth rate-
birth rate – death rate = growth rate

23. History of Human Growth

24. Environmental Issues
CLIMATE CHANGE
- Increase in Earth’s temperature-
Cause:
- Due to increase in Carbon Dioxide
- CO2 added by fossil fuels
Effects:
- Sea level rising
- Melting ice caps
- warmer seasons

25. 2. DEFORESTATION - cutting down of forests- Cause: - creates farmland for poor countries - wood used for fire and building Effects: - increase in Carbon Dioxide(climate change) - increase in erosion - loss of habitats - decrease in available water(transpiration)

26. 3. ACID RAIN - increase in the acidity of rain Cause: - rain combining with air pollution from coal Effect: - increases acidity of lakes harming wildlife - kills trees and plants sensitive to acidity

27. 4. OZONE DEPLETION - caused by CFC’s (aerosol cans) - Ozone blocks UV light from the sun - less Ozone allows in excess radiation