1. Ecology and Ecosystems Advanced Biology Montgomery High School

2. What is Ecology? Study of how organisms interact with each other and their physical environment. Fundamental unit is the “ecosystem” –Vary in size –Composed of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving) material –May be terrestrial (land) or aquatic (water)

3. Terrestrial ecosystems are called biomes.

4. African Savanna

5. Rain Forest

6. Wetlands

7. Tundra

8. Desert

9. Washington State: Rain Shadow

10. Aquatic Ecosystems

11. Oceanic Ecosystems

12. Trophic levels = energy flow Producers make food from sunlight. Consumers eat others to get their energy. –Herbivores eat plants –Carnivores eat “meat” –Omnivores eat everything (plant and animal) –Decomposers eat dead things (plant and animal) and release the nutrients bound up in their bodies for reuse.

14. Food Web

15. Owl Pellets

16. Energy Flow Through Trophic Levels Energy is lost at each step in an ecosystem From one trophic level to another, the transfer of energy is not 100% efficient. “10% rule” Energy is lost when it is converted to unusable heat at each step.

17. Ecological Pyramids: Energy

18. Ecology Materials cycle within ecosystems: –Water cycle. –Carbon cycle. –Nitrogen cycle. –Phosphorus cycle.

19. Water Cycle

21. Carbon Cycle

22. Nitrogen Cycle

23. Phosphorus Cycle

24. Interaction of organisms Symbiosis: two or more organisms live together in more or less permanent relationships. –Commensalism. –Mutualism. –Parasitism.

25. Commensalism Clownfish and sea anemone, Coral Sea, Australia

26. Mutualism Ants and aphids.

27. Parasitism Ectoparasites: –Lice, animal parasite. –Dodder, plant parasite. Endoparasites: –Tapeworm, animal parasite.

28. Predator-Prey Interactions Plant defense systems: –Toxic or repellent chemicals. Animal defense systems: –Coloration. –Chemical. Predator-prey cycles. Mimicry: Monarch vs. Viceroy butterflies.

29. Community Stability Ecological succession: –Primary succession. –Secondary succession.

30. Biodiversity = Species Richness

31. Threats to Biodiversity Loss of habitat (increased human population) Pollution Introduction of non-native species

32. Biomagnification of DDT in a Food Chain