Slide 1

Ecology Ecology: the study of how organisms interact with each other and with their physical environment. Ecologists organize their study into several levels (ecological hierarchy). A single living thing Same species sharing a habitat Different populations interacting in a particular area Living community + physical environment Total area of Earth where living things are found Slide 2 Biotic and Abiotic Components There are two types of environmental factors in an ecosystem. 1) The living components of the ecosystem are called biotic factors. E.g. Plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc. 2) The non-living components, including the physical and chemical components in the environment, are called abiotic. E.g. Temperature, wind, water, sunlight, and oxygen. Slide 3 Biosphere Biosphere: Anywhere on earth living things exist. Biome: Largest division of the biosphere. A biome is a region with similar biotic and abiotic components Region that the organism lives in Slide 4 If biotic and abiotic conditions are the same, similar biomes can exist in different parts of the world. Refer to page 10-11 in your textbook. In your notes, list the 8 terrestrial (land based) biomes we will study In this course Slide 5 What are the 8 terrestrial biomes found on Earth? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Which biome is Vancouver in? Paris? Santiago? Jakarta? Slide 6 Opener. 1.List the 8 terrestrial biomes on Earth. 2.Which biome is Vancouver in? 3.List 5 biotic items found in the biome from #2. 4.Which 2 abiotic factors have the greatest influence on a biome? Slide 7 Factors Influencing the Characteristics and Distribution of Biomes Certain characteristics help to identify biomes. Temperature and precipitation (rainfall, snow, mist, fog) are two of the most important abiotic factors. Knowing the average annual temperature and average annual precipitation of a region, we can use this graph to determine the type of biome of the region that is being studied. Slide 8 Slide 9 Slide 10 Latitude is the distance north and south from the equator (0 o of latitude). It influences both temperature and precipitation. At the equator, rays of the Sun shine down from almost directly overhead. So.this region receives a lot of sunlight and experiences little annual fluctuation in temperature. Other factors that can influence biomes include latitude, elevation and ocean currents. Slide 11 Slide 12 Elevation The height of a land mass above sea level. At higher elevations, atmosphere is thinner because of less air, and therefore less heat is retained. Windward sides of mountains are wet because clouds filled with moisture rise and cool, releasing rain or snow. Leeward side of mountains (sides sheltered from wind) are dry because air at that region warms, allowing it to absorb water and thus creating dry land area. Slide 13 Ocean currents carry warmth and moisture to coastal areas. Where warm currents meet land, temperate biomes are found. Slide 14 Climate : the average pattern of weather conditions over a period of several years. Climatograph: a graphical way to show the monthly changes in temperature and precipitation throughout a year. Information is usually collected for a location over a period of 30 years or more Biomes are often defined using information from climatographs. Climatographs Examples: Slide 15 Biomes are identified with characteristic biotic factors Many of these characteristics factors have special adaptations for that biome. Adaptations and Biomes Think about as many plant or animal adaptations you can. List them in your notes with the title: Adaptations I Know Slide 16 Adaptation: a characteristic that allows an organism to better survive and reproduce 1.Structural adaptation: A physical feature that helps an organism survive. Ex: A wolf has large paws to help it run in snow. 2. Physiological adaptation: A physical or chemical event inside the body of an organism that allows it to survive. Ex. A wolf maintains a constant body temperature 3. Behavioural adaptation: A behaviour that helps an organism to survive. Ex. A wolf hunts in packs to capture large prey. Slide 17 In your note: Create a column titled: Type of Adaptation beside the list of adaptations you came up with. Fill in the column with: Structural, Physiological, or Behavioural Slide 18 1.Ch. 1.2 Notes 2.Planet Earth Video Slide 19 Ecosystems Ecosystem: the study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment By studying ecosystems now, and in the past, we can better understand what may happen in the future. Historical Ecology: the study of natural and written materials in an attempt to better understand the ecology of a certain area. The habitat of the red fox often includes the edges of forests or marshlands Slide 20 Youtube time! Slide 21 Biotic Interactions in Ecosystems _________: all the organisms within an ecosystem that have the same structure and who can reproduce with each other. ___________: all of the members of a certain species within an ecosystem. ____________: All the organisms that interact within an ecosystem. Population Community Species Slide 22 Symbiosis: The interaction between members of two different species that live together in close association. Symbiotic Relationships Bumble bees help gather nectar from a flower 1.___________: BOTH species benefit. In some cases, two species are unable to survive without each other. Ant: for food and shelter. Plant: protected by ants to fight off other insects and animals Mutualism Another Example Slide 23 2. _________________: one species benefits, the other one is neither helped nor harmed. E.g. The barnacles on a whale Barnacles: gets new food sources and are transported to new locations in the ocean by attaching to whales Spanish moss: grows on other trees to obtain sunlight, nutrients, and moisture Commensalism Slide 24 3. ____________: One species benefits, the other is harmed. Hookworms/Tapeworms: obtain food from hosts blood. They are found in soil and animal feces. They enter the body through the feet, and can then enter bloodstream and travels to the intestine where it attaches by its teeth to the intestinal wall. Parasitism Slide 25 Abiotic Interactions in Ecosystems Although they are sometimes overlooked, the ________ components are what allow the biotic components to survive in an ecosystem. Abiotic factors include _________, _______, __________, ______, and _____. Light is required for _______________, which is the process in plants that converts and stores the Suns energy into starches and carbohydrates. Soil not only contains _______ and __________, but also is home to many plants and animals. Oxygen: ___________ by the _____________ and certain _________________, and is ______ by _________ and most other micro-organisms. Water is necessary for all _____. Nutrients often enter the ___________ with plants, and are very important for ________. abiotic oxygen waternutrientslightsoil produced green plants micro-organisms used animals life food chain growth photosynthesis water nutrients Slide 26 You Tube Slide 27 Niche: The role that an organism has within an ecosystem Niches, Competition, and Predation Blue heron: always live near water, and have longs legs that allow them to find food in deeper water, and allow them to occupy a niche that other heron species with shorter legs cannot Slide 28 Competition: When a resource desired by two or more individuals Usually happens when resources are limited, and can limit the size and health of a population. Coyotes: hunt small animals (rabbits, squirrels, mice) on their own, and compete with other coyotes if food sources are limited. Slide 29 __________ is the relationship between the predators and prey. ______: have adaptations to help avoid predators. Porcupines have sharp spines to keep them from being eaten. __________: have adaptations to help them catch their prey. Cougars have long canine teeth to catch prey. Again? The EATER The EATEN Predation Predators Prey Slide 30 The size of prey population is affected by the number of predators Predator: Lynx Prey: Snowshoe hare Population of prey (hare) grows when there are few predators (lynx) Population of prey (hare) shrinks when there are many predators (lynx) Slide 31 Camouflage ____________: An adaptation in which prey animals use to hide from predators. E.g. Stick bugs camouflage themselves to make them look like twigs in order to avoid getting eaten by birds. Mimicry _________ is an adaptation in which a prey animal mimics another species that is dangerous or tastes bad. Camouflage Mimicry E.g. Viceroy butterfly mimics the bitter-tasting monarch butterfly to avoid their predators. Slide 32 Biodiversity in Ecosystems ____________ refers to the ________ of the _________ of different individuals and species in an ecosystem. Most biodiversity losses occur from the loss of ________. _________ often have a __________ impact on biodiversity. Many efforts are now made to lessen this impact in order to maintain biodiversity. _______________________________ try to balance human progress with maintaining biodiversity. _________ ecosystems generally have ______ biodiversity. Biodiversityvariety number Healthy high habitat Humans negative Ecological management programs Slide 33 1.Planet Earth Video 2.Ch. 1 Quiz