1. Topic 6: Ecology I. Parts of an Ecosystem II. Population Dynamics

2. Study of how organisms INTERACT with living and non- living things What is it?

3. What will we be looking at? Parts of an ecosystem Parts of an ecosystem Things that affect pop’n size Things that affect pop’n size Roles and relationships in an ecosystem Roles and relationships in an ecosystem Energy flow in an ecosystem Energy flow in an ecosystem Importance of biodiversity Importance of biodiversity Succession Succession Human impacts on the environment Human impacts on the environment

4. Ecosystem describes any portion of the ENVIRONMENT (ie. Decaying log, a pond, fish tank, field of corn)

5. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM The environment is every living and nonliving thing that surrounds an organism

6. Ecosystems Brainpop (1:39))

7. Biotic Factors ECOSYSTEM Abiotic Factors ECOSYSTEM What makes up an ecosystem?

8. 1. BIOTIC FACTORS “Bio” means living LIVING things in an ecosystem ie.PLANTS, ANIMALS, BACTERIA Can you list the living things that could live in this ecosystem? Frogs, insects, fish, hawks, grasses, bacteria, amoeba etc……..Frogs, insects, fish, hawks, grasses, bacteria, amoeba etc……..

9. 2. ABIOTIC FACTORS When you put “a” in front of a word it negates itWhen you put “a” in front of a word it negates it Means “NON-LIVING” factorsMeans “NON-LIVING” factors Can you list some non- living factors that affect the pond ecosystem?Can you list some non- living factors that affect the pond ecosystem? WATER, LIGHT, TEMP, acidity, oxygen and nitrogen levelsWATER, LIGHT, TEMP, acidity, oxygen and nitrogen levels

10. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM Ecological Levels of the Organization of Life

11. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM Collectively all of the Earth’s ecosystems make up the biosphere

12. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM The specific environment in which organisms live is their habitat

13. Ecosystem - populations in a community and the abiotic factors with which they interact (ex. Biomes)

14. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM All the different populations are combined to form a community

15. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM All the organisms of a species that live in the same area, produce fertile offspring, and compete with each other for resources (food, mates, shelter, etc.) make up a population

16. Organism - any unicellular or multicellular form exhibiting all of the characteristics of life, an individual. The lowest level of organization

17. Ecological Levels of the Organization of Life BIOSPHEREBIOSPHERE HABITAT (BIOME)HABITAT (BIOME) ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY POPULATIONPOPULATION ORGANISMORGANISM Decreasing amount of biotic and abiotic factors

18. Population Growth Brain Pop Video Population Growth Brain Pop Video (2:27)

19. What affects population sizes in an ecosystem? COMPETITION!COMPETITION! Struggle for resources among organismsStruggle for resources among organisms If no competition, populations would grow INFINITELY (no limit!)If no competition, populations would grow INFINITELY (no limit!) Competition maintains FINITE (limited) pop’n sizesCompetition maintains FINITE (limited) pop’n sizes Finite populations limited by LIMITING FACTORSFinite populations limited by LIMITING FACTORS CAN BE ABIOTIC OR BIOTICCAN BE ABIOTIC OR BIOTIC

20. Let’s look….Comparing Finite and Infinite Populations INFINTITEGROWTHFINITEGROWTH

21. What affects population sizes in an ecosystem? A) ABIOTIC LIMITING FACTORS Amount and intensity of SUNLIGHT Amount and intensity of SUNLIGHT Amount of WATER Amount of WATER Amount of dissolved OXYGEN (lakes, rivers, etc) Amount of dissolved OXYGEN (lakes, rivers, etc) Acid level Acid level TEMPERATURE range TEMPERATURE range MINERALS available MINERALS available

22. What affects population sizes in an ecosystem? B) BIOTIC LIMITING FACTORS PREDATOR/PREYPREDATOR/PREY relationships Predators limit prey population sizes by eating them Prey limit predator population sizes by dying/being killed If too many killed, predators starve Adapting (survival of the best adapted)

23. Let’s take a look…. Effects of Predator/Prey Relationship AS PREY POPULATION DECREASES, THE PREDATOR’S POPULATION DECREASES (Direct relationship) As you can see, AS PREY POPULATION DECREASES, THE PREDATOR’S POPULATION DECREASES (Direct relationship)

24. What do we call it when a species reaches its limit? EVERY population in an ecosystem has a CARRYING CAPACITY (K)EVERY population in an ecosystem has a CARRYING CAPACITY (K) THE # OF ORGANISMS OF A SINGLE SPECIES AN ECOSYSTEM CAN SUPPORTTHE # OF ORGANISMS OF A SINGLE SPECIES AN ECOSYSTEM CAN SUPPORT Determined by BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factorsDetermined by BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors EX: a fox population is affected by how much it has to eat (biotic) and also temperature (abiotic)EX: a fox population is affected by how much it has to eat (biotic) and also temperature (abiotic) Once K is reached, population will remain stable unless major changes in biotic and abiotic factorsOnce K is reached, population will remain stable unless major changes in biotic and abiotic factors Carrying Capacity (K) of a Stable Population

26. Part 2: POPULATION INTERACTIONS How organisms interact in an ecosystem! What role are you up for?

27. Competitive Exclusion Principle If two different species compete for the same food source or reproductive sites, one species may be eliminated. This establishes one species per niche in a community.

28. A. What does it mean to have a role in an ecosystem? NICHE: THE ROLE (NOT SPACE!!!!!) AN ORGANISM PLAYS IN ITS ECOSYSTEMTHE ROLE (NOT SPACE!!!!!) AN ORGANISM PLAYS IN ITS ECOSYSTEM ONLY ONE SPECIES CAN OCCUPY A NICHE AT A TIMEONLY ONE SPECIES CAN OCCUPY A NICHE AT A TIME LEADS TO COMPETITION IF MORE THAN ONE SPECIES WANTS ROLELEADS TO COMPETITION IF MORE THAN ONE SPECIES WANTS ROLE SIMILAR SPECIES CAN COEXIST AS LONG AS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NICHES!SIMILAR SPECIES CAN COEXIST AS LONG AS THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NICHES! EX: p102 in RB – WARBLERSEX: p102 in RB – WARBLERS

29. HOW CAN I REMEMBER THAT “NICHE” MEANS ROLE AND NOT SPACE? THINK OF A PLAY! EVERY ROLE NEEDS TO BE FILLED IN ORDER FOR THE PLAY TO WORK! IF MORE THAN TWO FOLKS (SPECIES) WANT A ROLE, THERE IS COMPETITION AND THE BEST WINS!

30. Food chain Food web Food chain Food web (1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths) What are the relationships in an ecosystem?

31. B. What are the relationships in an ecosystem? 1. FOOD CHAINS Illustrate NUTRITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS between predators and preyIllustrate NUTRITIONAL RELATIONSHIPS between predators and prey 1 path of energy1 path of energy Specific organisms are includedSpecific organisms are included Let’s take a look!Let’s take a look!

32. FOOD CHAINS

33. Feeding Relationships A. Autotrophs (Producers): Make own food (grass) B. Heterotrophs (Consumers): Herbivores: Eat plants (grasshopper) Carnivores: Eat animals (snake) Omnivores: Eat plants and animals (humans) Scavengers: Eat dead things; life’s clean-up crew! (vultures) )Decomposers: life’s recyclers (bacteria and fungi)

34. 2. SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS When organisms live in REALLY close quarters 1.Parasitism: Live off other orgs but don’t kill them (some worms, ticks, fleas) 2.Mutualism: Orgs that both benefit (Clownfish and sea anemone) 3.Commensalism: One org benefits the other - neither harmed or benefitted (Whale and barnacles) PARASITISM MUTALISM COMMENSALISM

35. 3. FOOD WEBS: All food chains in an ecosystem are illustrated in a food web INVOLVES all possible energy paths

36. Food Webs are diagrams that show more complex feeding relationships

37. Friday, June 6, 11:34:32 AM A simplified food web at a pond

38. Let’s talk energy! The fuel of life! Ask yourself: Where does our ultimate source of energy come from? The SUN of course! Ask yourself: Which orgs can harness sun’s energy and make food? PLANTS of course! Ask yourself: What happens to the plant’s energy when a herbivore eats it? Ask yourself: What happens to the herbivore’s energy when a carnivore eats it? Ask yourself: What happens to the carnivore’s energy when another carnivore eats it? Decreases

39. Every organism uses ENERGY to carry out LIFE processes If an organism is eaten, it will give less energy to the predator THEREFORE, ENERGY DECREASES AS YOU MOVE UP A FOOD CHAIN! 1. What happens to ENERGY in an ecosystem?

40. Herbivores - CATERPILLAR Carnivores - BIRD Producers(Autotrophs) – OAK TREE WE USE AN ENERGY PYRAMID TO SHOW THIS see fig 6-7 and 6-8 on page 107 in your review book!

41. Let’s watch : http://www.brainpop.co m/science/energy/energ ypyramid As energy is transferred, much of it is lost to the environment Let’s watch : http://www.brainpop.co m/science/energy/energ ypyramid http://www.brainpop.co m/science/energy/energ ypyramid http://www.brainpop.co m/science/energy/energ ypyramid

47. D. RECYCLING NUTRIENTS DECOMPOSERS extract what little nutrients are left They return raw materials (nitrogen) back to soil Other orgs continually recycling CARBON DIOXIDE, OXYGEN, AND NITROGEN ENERGY IS NEVER RECYCLED! involves the processes of RESPIRATION and PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

48. Let’s look at pg 108 in RB RECYCLING OF MATERIALS IN ECOSYSTEMS Let’s Watch: brain pop carbon CYCLE VIDEO (2:32)