2. Ecology—the study of the interaction between organisms and their environment

3. I. Feeding relationships A.Autotrophs=producers MAKE their own food Ex: plants, algae, some bacteria B.Heterotrophs=consumers Eat other organisms; do NOT make their own food

4. Types of Consumers: 1. Herbivore—only eat plants 2. Carnivore—kill and eat other animals 3. Omnivore—eat both plants and animals 4. Scavenger—eat dead animals 5. Decomposer—(also called saprobe/ saprophyte)—break down and absorb nutrients from dead organ isms

6. II. Survival relationships A. Predation (Predator-prey)— Predator hunts and eats prey. B. Competition—occurs when 2 species fight for the same limited resources

7. Predators

8. Competition

9. C. Symbiosis-2 species living together; at least one depends on the other

10. Types of Symbiosis: 1. Mutualism—BOTH species benefit (mutually beneficial!) Ex: clownfish & sea anemone flower & bee cattle & white birds

11. Mutualism

12. 2. Commensalism—One species benefits and the other is NOT AFFECTED Ex: orchid & tree human & eyelash mites

13. Commensalism

14. 3. Parasitism—One species benefits and the other is HARMED. Ex: tick on a dog mistletoe in a tree mosquitoes on humans

15. Parasites

16. III. Matter and Energy relationships A. Food Web — expresses ALL possible feeding relationships in a community

17. Food Web example

18. B. Food chain — one path in a food web

19. Food chain example

20. 1.A food chain MUST start with a producer. 2.Arrows are used to show the direction of energy transfer. 3.A food chain does NOT typically have more than 5 levels.

21. Why are food chains this short? Only about 10% of the energy at each level is passed to the next level.

23. C. Trophic level —represents a feeding step in a food web 1. First trophic level— producer 2. Second— herbivore / omnivore 3. Third— carnivore / omnivore 4. Fourth— carnivore / omnivore 5. Fifth—carnivore/ omnivore/ decomposer

24. D. Ecological or energy pyramids— describe energy conversion in an ecosystem

25. 1. The SOURCE of energy for all pyramids is the SUN. 2. The BASE of the pyramid is PRODUCERS. 3. The TOP is the top CARNIVORE or omnivore.

27. 4. Biomass —the total mass of all organisms at any one level in the pyramid

28. 5. Biological Magnification— the concentration of toxic substances increases as it moves up the food chain *Will be highest in top level

29. IV. The Organization of Life A. Organism—3 Things that affect organisms: 1. habitat—where it lives 2. niche—its way of life 3. trophic level—its feeding level in the food chain

30. Niche

31. B. Population—all members of the same species that live in a certain area --Animal population is also called a breeding group.

32. A group of individuals of one species usually occupying a defined area. Populations

33. C. Community—All populations in a certain area

35. D. Ecosystem—the biotic and abiotic factors interacting in an area 1. biotic—living things 2. abiotic—nonliving things Ex: water, soil, temperature, precipitation

36. Ecosystem

38. E. Biome—A large area defined by the presence of certain plants and animals

39. Biomes

40. Permafrost

41. F. Biosphere— the area on Earth where life exists (the SURFACE)

42. Biosphere

43. V. Geochemical Cycles

44. Water Cycle

45. Nitrogen Cycle

46. Carbon Cycle

48. Oxygen Cycle

49. Types of Lakes Types of Lakes Oligotrophic Eutrophic

50. Estuary Place where freshwater, such as a river, meets the sea Ex: bay, swamp, marsh, bayou

51. VI. Homeostasis in Communities A. Carrying capacity—the largest number of organisms from a species that can be supported by the environment Ex: There is only enough food for a certain number of deer.

52. Why Hunting is Legal

53. B. Limiting Factor—any living or nonliving thing that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms Ex: food available, temperature

54. Why These Animals Live Only in Certain Places

55. C. Tolerance—the ability to withstand fluctuations (changes) in environmental factors --There is a range of conditions (temp., amt. of food, etc.) in which organisms can survive.

56. D. Succession—orderly, natural changes that take place in a community *climax community—a stable, mature community that undergoes little to no succession

57. 1. Primary—establishment & development of an ecosystem in an area that was previously UNINHABITED 2 Types of Succession: 1. Primary—establishment & development of an ecosystem in an area that was previously UNINHABITED

58. Lichens and algae on bare rock

59. Succession of plant species on abandoned fields in North Carolina. Pioneer species consist of a variety of annual plants. This successional stage is then followed by communities of perennials and grasses, shrubs, softwood trees and shrubs, and finally hardwood trees and shrubs. This succession takes about 120 years to go from the pioneer stage to the climax community. From http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9i.html on 10-6-10 Pioneer speciespioneer climaxhttp://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9i.html

60. 2. Secondary- REESTABLISHMENT of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intact

61. Secondary succession occurs in an area where life once existed but has then been destroyed. Secondary Succession —Illustration of (1) a climax forest (2) destroyed by wildfire and (3) and (4) its eventual recovery. Secondary succession occurs in an area where life once existed but has then been destroyed. (Reproduced by permission of The Gale Group)