Ecology is…the study of how living things interact with their environment.

Living things have an effect on their environment and the environment has an effect on living things.

Okay…turn to your neighbor and see if you can come up with an example of each.

Ecological Heirarchy (Whaaa?)

1. The BiosphereThe Biosphere

All of the world’s ecosystems together.

The inhabitable portion of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

2. ECOSYSTEMSAn ECOSYSTEM is…all of the living AND non-living things within an area.A HABITAT is the place where an organism gets FOOD, WATER, and SHELTER.An ecosystem can have many different types of habitats within it.Let’s look at the components that make up an ECOSYSTEM…shall we?

Types of Factors in an Ecosystem

1. BIOTIC Factors- These are the living things in the ecosystem…all of ‘em! This includes the plants and animals as well as microorganisms (like bacteria).

2. ABIOTIC Factors- These are the non-living things. They include WATER, SUNLIGHT, OXYGEN, TEMPERATURE, and SOIL. Let’s look at these a little closer.

ABIOTIC FACTORS

1. Water- Ok, that’s a no-brainer…ever been thirsty? Well you ain’t alone. So has every other living thing on the planet. You’re not special…get over it.

Most living things are mostly water…mostly (70% +/-)!

Water is a crucial reactant in photosynthesis and respiration. Oh…now you wanna know what crucial means.

2. Sunlight- Yup…you need that for photosynthesis (well…not “you” unless you happen to be a photosynthetic autotroph…uhhh…that’s a plant or certain bacteria).

3. Oxygen- Most living things need this gas. Air breathing critters get it from the air (duh!). Others get it from the water (there’s oxygen dissolved in the water).

2. Temperature- Every living thing has a range of temperatures within which it can survive. Ever go outside in the middle of winter without a coat? Well…there’s yer limit right there. Come on in or DIE (ok…not instantly or anything dramatic like that…but eventually…never mind…just come back inside). There’s actually a name for this…Range of Tolerance. Shhhh! It’s high school stuff…don’t tell anyone you learned that

3. COMMUNITIESA COMMUNITY consists of all of

the populations that live in an area…that’s all of the bunches of different living organisms. So…now…turn to another person

and see if you guys can think of a specific ecosystem and list the community members within it.

4. POPULATION What are these? Well, I am glad you

asked…a population consists of ALL of the members of ONE SPECIES that live in a particular area.

The area can be huge (the entire Earth) or really small (a drop of water).

Some populations migrate (they don’t stay in one place)

5. Organism An individual living thing.

One saguaro cactusOne Atlantic sailfishOne Escheria coli bacteriumOne grey wolf

1.List: as many BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors as you can find...separate lists please

2. What is the difference between a population and a community?3. How is a community different from an ecosystem? How are they similar?

Interactions Among Living Things An Organism’s Adaptations Enable it to Survive. Populations of organisms can accumulate

beneficial adaptations over time depending upon the nature of their environment…that’s called NATURAL SELECTION…more on that when we study evolution.

Anyway, every organism has a unique role in it’s ecosystem…that’s called a NICHE.

The NICHE includes:1. Type of food2. How food is obtained3. What organisms eat THIS one.4. When and how reproduction takes place5. Physical conditions required for survival6. How the organism interacts with other

organisms.

Interactions Among Organisms Let’s look at some major types of

interactions

1. COMPETITION The struggle between organisms to

survive in a habitat with limited resources. Resources include food, water, space,

and mates.

2. Predator-Prey Relationships Predators their behavior is called…

PREDATION. One organism hunts and kills another. The predator does the killin’ and eatin’. The prey does the gettin’ killed and et. PREDATOR ADAPTATIONS: speed,

sharp teeth and/or claws, venom, night vision, radar, infrared spotting scopes and air to ground rockets…ok…I made that last one up.

PREY ADAPTATIONS: Camouflage, protective coverings, warning coloration, mimicry, false coloring

Predation can have a major affect upon prey populations.

If the death rate exceeds the birth rate…population goes down.

Predators and prey have an important relationship. When we interrupt this natural balance…trouble

SYMBIOSISA close relationship between two species in which at least one species benefits.

MUTUALISM: Both benefit (+/+). Such as the clownfish and sea anemone. Each one protects the other against predators.

COMMENSALISM: One benefits, the other gets squat (+/0). Example: remoras hitch rides on sharks and eat the scraps from the shark’s meal. The shark don’t get nuthin’.

PARASITISM: One organism benefits; the other organism is harmed (+/-). The organism that benefits is called the parasite, and the one that is harmed is called the host. Example Fleas and dogs.