What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

Ecology: Ecology: the study of interactions between the study of interactions between organisms and their environments.organisms and their environments.– The study of Ecology requires knowledge The study of Ecology requires knowledge

from many different fields of sciencefrom many different fields of science

BiosphereBiosphere

The portion of Earth that supports lifeThe portion of Earth that supports life– Extends from the atmosphere to the depths of Extends from the atmosphere to the depths of

the oceanthe ocean

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

Abiotic factors:Abiotic factors: non-living parts of the non-living parts of the environmentenvironment

Biotic factors: Biotic factors: living parts of the living parts of the environmentenvironment

Terms to KnowTerms to Know

Species: Species: organisms that interbreed and organisms that interbreed and produce produce fertilefertile offspring offspring– Organisms that interbreed and produce sterile Organisms that interbreed and produce sterile

offspring are NOT the same speciesoffspring are NOT the same species

+ =+ =

An organismAn organism

Any living thing that Any living thing that

contains all thecontains all the

characteristics of life. characteristics of life.

What are the levels of What are the levels of

organization organization that make that make

up a living up a living

organism?organism?

PopulationPopulation

Individual organismsIndividual organisms

of a single species of a single species

that share the same that share the same

geographical locationgeographical location

at the same time.at the same time.

Biological Community – Biological Community – a group of interacting a group of interacting populations that share populations that share the same geographical the same geographical area at the same timearea at the same time

EcosystemEcosystem

Biome – A group of ecosystems that share Biome – A group of ecosystems that share the same climate and have similar types of the same climate and have similar types of communitiescommunities

BiosphereBiosphere

Habitat or NicheHabitat or Niche

A dog within a fenced yardA dog within a fenced yardFleas on a dogFleas on a dog

Yearly migration of butterfliesYearly migration of butterfliesSnake in a holeSnake in a hole

Moths mate in early summerMoths mate in early summerBat in a caveBat in a cave

Frog under a logFrog under a logHorse eating grassHorse eating grass

Relationships Between OrganismsRelationships Between Organisms

Symbiosis:Symbiosis: living together living together– Commensalism: Commensalism: one speciesone species

benefits/ one is neither benefits/ one is neither

helped nor harmedhelped nor harmed

– Mutualism: Mutualism: both species both species

benefitbenefit

– Parasitism: Parasitism: one species benefits/ one species benefits/

one species is harmedone species is harmed

How to remember the 3 symbiotic relationships

12

3

Ascariasis is a infection of the intestines by parasitic roundworms that usually cause no symptoms, but can be very serious.

Hookwork: Lives in the intestines of animals

Caterpillar with wasp parasitesCaterpillar with wasp parasites

Schistosoma, a parasite Schistosoma, a parasite contracted through contaminated contracted through contaminated

water.water.

A leech must complete it’s lifecycle by A leech must complete it’s lifecycle by laying it’s eggs in water after taking a laying it’s eggs in water after taking a

blood mealblood meal

Relationships Between OrganismsRelationships Between Organisms

Predation – The act of one organism Predation – The act of one organism consuming another for food.consuming another for food.– PredatorPredator– PreyPrey

*An understanding of these relationships give *An understanding of these relationships give farmers alternatives to pesticides.farmers alternatives to pesticides.

Competition – When more than one Competition – When more than one organism uses a resource at the same organism uses a resource at the same time.time.

Energy in an EcosystemEnergy in an Ecosystem

Producers/Autotrophs: Producers/Autotrophs: organisms that organisms that capture energy from the sun and capture energy from the sun and manufacture their own nutrients.manufacture their own nutrients.

Obtaining EnergyObtaining Energy

Consumers/Heterotrophs: Consumers/Heterotrophs: organisms that organisms that must feed on other organisms for nutrientsmust feed on other organisms for nutrients

Types of HeterotrophsTypes of Heterotrophs

Herbivores/ primary consumers: Herbivores/ primary consumers: consume consume only plantsonly plants

Carnivores: Carnivores: consume only animals consume only animals

Types of HeterotrophsTypes of Heterotrophs

Omnivores: Omnivores: consume both plants and consume both plants and other animalsother animals

Types of HeterotrophsTypes of Heterotrophs

Organisms that return Organisms that return

nutrients to the air, soil and waternutrients to the air, soil and water

Scavengers: Scavengers: consume animals thatconsume animals that

are already deadare already dead

Decomposers: Decomposers: break down and break down and

absorb nutrients from dead organismsabsorb nutrients from dead organisms

Dentrivores: eat fragments of Dentrivores: eat fragments of

dead matterdead matter

Food Chains and WebsFood Chains and Webs

Food chain: Food chain: a simple model showing how a simple model showing how energy flows from one organism to energy flows from one organism to anotheranother

A Food Chain A Food Chain From the From the OceanOcean

Trophic levels are represented by each organism.

Energy is lost at each trophic level as organisms:•Produce new cells•Regulate body temperature•Move about

Food Web from the OceanFood Web from the Ocean

Food Chains and WebsFood Chains and WebsFood web: Food web: a more complex model that a more complex model that more accurately depicts how energy flows more accurately depicts how energy flows from organism to organismfrom organism to organism

Pyramid of Biomass / Energy

Pyramid of Numbers

Transfer of Energy Within a Food Chain

Ecological Pyramids of EnergyEcological Pyramids of Energy

BioEd Online

Ecological Pyramids of BiomassEcological Pyramids of Biomass

BioEd Online

Quizzy PooQuizzy Poo

Jason is watching a science fiction movie when he Jason is watching a science fiction movie when he hears one of the characters mention the term hears one of the characters mention the term biosphere. Jason has never heard the term biosphere. Jason has never heard the term before and looks it up. Which would be included before and looks it up. Which would be included in the definition of biosphere?in the definition of biosphere?

A.A. All parts of the earth where life can survive.All parts of the earth where life can survive.

B.B. Regions of the earth where many organisms liveRegions of the earth where many organisms live

C.C. The inner core, the continents, and oceans of the The inner core, the continents, and oceans of the earthearth

D.D. The living things that inhabit earthThe living things that inhabit earth

Quizy PooQuizy PooMia takes an early morning hike through a forest near her Mia takes an early morning hike through a forest near her

home. She spots white tailed deer browsing on home. She spots white tailed deer browsing on undergrowth vegetation and a raccoon eating an apple undergrowth vegetation and a raccoon eating an apple and tuna carelessly left behind by another hiker. Mia and tuna carelessly left behind by another hiker. Mia discovers bright yellow mushrooms growing on a rotting discovers bright yellow mushrooms growing on a rotting log. Mia shares her observations with workers at the log. Mia shares her observations with workers at the local nature center. Which would Mia share with the local nature center. Which would Mia share with the center’s ecologist?center’s ecologist?

A.A. All organisms spotted during the hike are heterotrophs.All organisms spotted during the hike are heterotrophs.

B.B. The oak trees and mushrooms are two types of forest autotrophs.The oak trees and mushrooms are two types of forest autotrophs.

C.C. The raccoon is an omnivore because it eats plants and animals.The raccoon is an omnivore because it eats plants and animals.

D.D. The deer are considered carnivores of forest plants.The deer are considered carnivores of forest plants.

Creating a Food WebCreating a Food WebMini Lab 2.1Mini Lab 2.1Follow the procedure on p. 42.Follow the procedure on p. 42.

Analysis: Analysis: 1.1. Color code each type of organism and shade the Color code each type of organism and shade the

names of each organism according to the color names of each organism according to the color code you created. code you created.

2.2. Put circles around all heterotrophs and squares Put circles around all heterotrophs and squares around all autotrophs.around all autotrophs.

3.3. Pull out one food chain and draw it on the side Pull out one food chain and draw it on the side labeling primary, secondary, and tertiary labeling primary, secondary, and tertiary consumerconsumer

4.4. Answer question # 2 on the back.Answer question # 2 on the back.

HerbivoreHerbivore

CarnivoreCarnivore

OmnivoreOmnivore

DetrivoreDetrivore

AutotrophAutotroph

Red Fox

Racoon

White Oak Tree