1. Ecology Unit SOL BIO 9 a,b,d,e

2. BIO SOL: 9 a,b,d,e The student will investigate and understand dynamic equilibria within populations, communities, and ecosystems. Key concepts include: interactions within and among populations nutrient cycling with energy flow through ecosystems; the effects of natural events and human activities on ecosystems; and analysis of the flora, fauna, and microorganisms of Virginia ecosystems including the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

3. What is ecology? Ecology- the scientific study of ________________ between organisms and their environments, focusing on energy transfer It is a science of __________.

4. What do you mean by environment? The environment is made up of two factors: _______________- all living organisms inhabiting the Earth _______________- nonliving parts of the environment (i.e. temperature, soil, light, moisture, air currents)

5. _______ Population Community ________ Ecosystem

6. OrganismOrganism- any __________ or multicellular form exhibiting all of the characteristics of life, an ________. The lowest level of organization

7. PopulationPopulation-a _____ of organisms of one species living in the same place at the same time that interbreed and compete with each other for resources (ex. food, mates, shelter)

8. CommunityCommunity- __________ interacting populations that inhabit a common environment and are interdependent.

9. EcosystemEcosystem- _____________ in a community and the ________ factors with which they interact (ex. marine, terrestrial)

10. ______________- life supporting portions of Earth composed of air, land, fresh water, and salt water. The highest level of organization

11. Habitat vs. Niche Niche - the role a species plays in a community (_______) Habitat- the place in which an organism lives out its life (_________)

12. Feeding Relationships There are _____ main types of feeding relationships 1. Producer- Consumer 2. Predator- Prey 3. Parasite- ________

13. Feeding Relationships __________- all autotrophs (______), they trap energy from the sun Bottom of the food chain

14. Feeding Relationships _____________- all __________: they ingest food containing the sun ’ s energy Herbivores Carnivores Omnivores Decomposers

15. Feeding Relationships Consumer- Herbivores –Eat ________ Primary consumers Prey animals

16. Feeding Relationships Consumer-__________-eat meat Predators –Hunt prey animals for food.

17. Feeding Relationships Consumer- Carnivores- eat meat _____________ –Feed on carrion, dead animals

18. Feeding Relationships Consumer- __________ -eat both plants and animals (i.e. Humans)

19. Feeding Relationships Consumer- ______________ Breakdown the complex compounds of dead and decaying plants and animals into simpler molecules that can be absorbed

20. Symbiotic Relationships Symbiosis- two species living together 3 Types of symbiosis: 1. ___________ 2. ___________ 3. ___________

21. Symbiotic Relationships _________________- one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped Ex. orchids on a tree Epiphytes: A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a bromeliad, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.

22. Symbiotic Relationships _______________- one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped Ex. polar bears and cyanobacteria

23. Symbiotic Relationships _________________- one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host) Parasite-Host relationship

24. Symbiotic Relationships _____________- parasite-host Ex. lampreys, leeches, fleas, ticks,tapeworm

25. Symbiotic Relationships ____________- beneficial to both species Ex. cleaning birds and cleaner shrimp

26. Symbiotic Relationships __________________- beneficial to both species Ex. lichen

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

29. Trophic Levels Food chain- _______ _______ that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem

30. Trophic Levels Food web- shows _____ possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level Represents many food chains

31. Food chainFood web (just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths)

32. Nutrient Cycles Cycling maintains homeostasis (balance) in the environment. 3 cycles to investigate: 1. ____________ cycle 2. ____________ cycle 3. ____________ cycle

33. Water cycle-Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation Carbon cycle-Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon and oxygen through the environment.

34. Nitrogen cycle- Nitrogen-fixing ____________: Some live freely in the soil in a ____________ relationship with plants of the legume family (e.g., soybeans, clover, peanuts).

35. __________ in food chains- Energy decreases as it moves up the food chain, but toxins increase as they move up the food chain. This is called biological magnification Ex: DDT & Bald Eagles