1. Ecology

2. What is Ecology? Study of interactions among organisms and the environment Study of interactions among organisms and the environment Reveals relationships between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of the world. Reveals relationships between living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) parts of the world.

3. Levels of Organization

4. Population A group of organisms of the same species that breed and live in the same place and time. A group of organisms of the same species that breed and live in the same place and time. May compete for scarce resources May compete for scarce resources

5. Community A collection of interacting populations A collection of interacting populations ex. beech/maple forest ex. beech/maple forest A change in one population will cause changes in another A change in one population will cause changes in another

6. Ecosystem Interactions between the community (biotic factors) and the environment (abiotic factors) Interactions between the community (biotic factors) and the environment (abiotic factors) Three types Three types Terrestrial - forests, meadows, desert scrub Terrestrial - forests, meadows, desert scrub Fresh water - ponds, lakes, streams Fresh water - ponds, lakes, streams Marine – salt water, oceans Marine – salt water, oceans

7. Organisms in Ecosystems Live in a Habitat Live in a Habitat where an organism lives out its life where an organism lives out its life Occupy a specific Niche Occupy a specific Niche role and position a species has in its environment role and position a species has in its environment How does it get food, shelter, reproduce, or survive? How does it get food, shelter, reproduce, or survive? Occupying a different niche than a neighbor reduces competition for food, shelter and resources. Occupying a different niche than a neighbor reduces competition for food, shelter and resources.

8. Ecological Relationships

9. Organisms in Ecosystems Relationships between species enhance the survival of one or both species Relationships between species enhance the survival of one or both species Competition Competition Predator-Prey Predator-Prey Symbiotic relationships Symbiotic relationships close and permanent association between different species close and permanent association between different species Commensalistic Commensalistic Mutualistic Mutualistic Parasitic Parasitic

10. Competition 2 or more organisms attempt to use the same limited resource 2 or more organisms attempt to use the same limited resource Intraspecies: between members of the same species Intraspecies: between members of the same species Interspecies: between members of different species Interspecies: between members of different species Competition can occur even if the two organisms never come in direct contact Competition can occur even if the two organisms never come in direct contact

11. Predator-Prey Predator-Prey Enough said…

12. Commensalism One species benefits and other is neither harmed nor benefits One species benefits and other is neither harmed nor benefits Examples Examples Whale Shark and remora Whale Shark and remora Orchid and tree Orchid and tree

13. Mutualism Both species benefit Both species benefit Ex: Ants and acacia trees Ex: Ants and acacia trees

14. Parasitism Parasites harm but usually do not kill the host Parasites harm but usually do not kill the host Examples Examples Human and Bot fly larvae Human and Bot fly larvae Tick and a dog Tick and a dog

15. Nutrition and Energy Flow Ecologists trace the flow of energy to understand nutritional relationships Ecologists trace the flow of energy to understand nutritional relationships Producers: autotrophs Producers: autotrophs Consumers: heterotrophs Consumers: heterotrophs Herbivores Herbivores feed on plants feed on plants Carnivores Carnivores feed on animals feed on animals Omnivores Omnivores feed on both plants and animals feed on both plants and animals Scavengers Scavengers feed on carcasses and refuse feed on carcasses and refuse Decomposers Decomposers breakdown and absorb nutrients from dead organisms breakdown and absorb nutrients from dead organisms

16. Energy Flow Food chain Food chain show direction of energy transfer show direction of energy transfer a portion of energy is lost at each step to metabolic functions, growth, or reproduction a portion of energy is lost at each step to metabolic functions, growth, or reproduction Each organism in a food chain represents a feeding step or trophic level Each organism in a food chain represents a feeding step or trophic level Producer  Primary (1º) Consumer  Secondary (2º) Consumer  Tertiary (3º) Consumer Producer  Primary (1º) Consumer  Secondary (2º) Consumer  Tertiary (3º) Consumer Plant  Grasshopper  Mouse  Owl Plant  Grasshopper  Mouse  Owl

17. Energy Flow Food Web Food Web displays all possible relationships between organisms displays all possible relationships between organisms

18. Rule of Ten Ecological Pyramid – only 10% of energy transfers up each trophic level Ecological Pyramid – only 10% of energy transfers up each trophic level

19. Ecological Pyramid

20. Biomagnification Increase in concentration of a toxic substance as it moves up the food chain. Increase in concentration of a toxic substance as it moves up the food chain. Contaminants, such as mercury, concentrate in the fat of organisms permanently. Contaminants, such as mercury, concentrate in the fat of organisms permanently. As bigger animals eat smaller animals, contamination in the food is added to the level already in their body. As bigger animals eat smaller animals, contamination in the food is added to the level already in their body. Bioaccumulation is a problem in the north because of higher concentrations of toxic pollution. Bioaccumulation is a problem in the north because of higher concentrations of toxic pollution.

21. Ticket out the Door Draw a food web that includes: Draw a food web that includes: 4 Producers 4 Producers 3 Primary Consumers 3 Primary Consumers 2 Secondary Consumers 2 Secondary Consumers 1 Tertiary Consumer 1 Tertiary Consumer Make sure to draw arrows in correct direction Make sure to draw arrows in correct direction From what’s being eaten to the eater From what’s being eaten to the eater Make sure to label each organism with what trophic level they are (P, 1°, 2°, 3°) Make sure to label each organism with what trophic level they are (P, 1°, 2°, 3°)