Ecology

The study of how organisms interact with

their environment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-HwPR_4mP4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5q8hzF9VVE

Biogeography –the study of where organisms live

Continental Drift – Motion of the earth’s Continents

Has led to how speciesare distributed on earth

Primary Succession is a series of changes that occur in an area where no soil or organism can exist. Formed by a volcanic eruption or an undersea volcano.

The first species to occur are known as pioneer species. Usually plant life.

Species Dispersal

Wind

Water

Animals

Humans

How is species dispersal limited? Physical Barriers

Competition

Climate

How did continental drift affect climate?

Different biomes are as a result of different temperature and precipitation.

TundraDesertRain ForestBoreal ForestGrasslandsDeciduous Forest

Deciduous Forest BiomeDeciduous means losing leaves30-60 inches of rain per year50° F average yearly temperature4 seasons, cold in winter, hot in summer

Layers of the Deciduous ForestEmergent – tallest trees, exposed to strong sun and wind

Canopy – roof of the forest, home to birds, small mammals, and insects

Understory – shrubs, shade tolerant trees, provides shelter for larger mammals, insects, this is the future forest

Forest Floor – seeds, dead trees, and leaves, fungi, small mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles,

Secondary succession are changes that occur to an area where the ecosysltem has been disturbed but where soil and organisms exist. Ex. Forest fire or clear cutting

Pennsylvania Forests60% of Pennsylvania is forestedLess than 15% of Montgomery county is forestedMost common tree is the Red MapleMost valuable tree is the Cherry

Pennsylvania Habitats are places that provides living things with food , water, shelter and space.

Forests Fields

Streams and Rivers

Riparian buffer is the edge of a water way lined with vegetation. Their roots help to reduce soil erosion and they also help to absorb pollutants.

Pennsylvania Habitats continued

Wetlands – areas that are regularycovered with water.

They are important in reducing soil erosion and also trap pollutants in theirSediment.

Home to many different migratory birds

Pond - is a small area of shallow open water

Home to migratory birds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oGymnSJ4Ek Bill Nye video on wetlands

FoodWaterShelterMates

What needs are met by an organism’s habitat?

List the abiotic and biotic factors in these pictures.

Organism – one individual

Population – one species living in a certain area

Community – all living species in a certain area

Ecosystem – all the living and nonliving things that interact in the deciduous forest.

Studying PopulationsDirect Observation – counting all of the members of a population

Indirect Observation – observing signs of organisms

Studying Populations Sampling – if populations are very large or spread over a wide area and estimate is madeEx. To estimate the hemlock (PA State Tree) population in Pennsylvania you would count the trees in a small area and multiply to find the number in a larger area

Wooly Adelgid

Studying PopulationsMark – and – Recapture – estimate only, Organisms are captured and marked then rereleased only to be captured and counted at a later date

Scientists need to know the population density which is the total number of organisms that live within an area.

The population density ( number of organisms in an area) is determinedby the carrying capacity (the total number of organisms that the habitat can support)

How do populations increase in size?Birth Rate – Number of births in a population with a certain time period

Immigration – moving into a population from another area

How do populations decrease in size?

Death rate – the number of deaths in a population in a certain time period

Emigration – moving out of a population to another area

Limiting factors for populations are things in the environment that decreases a population.

Food and Water

Space and Weather are also limiting factors.

Adaptations are traits that organisms have to make them better suited for their environment.

Energy roles of organisms in an EcosystemProducers

Consumers

Decomposers

Food chains vs. Food webs

Food Pyramid

Cycles in Nature - Water cycle

Precipitation

Surface Runoff

Evaporation

Condensation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al-do-HGuIk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPJYPo2qhOM Bill Nye Water cycle video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SY1Evgjhn8

Carbon and Oxygen Cycleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzImo8kSXiU

Nitrogen Cycleshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NKGS4bj7cc

Relationships between organisms

Predator/Prey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odc7PEfit40

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hecXupPpE9o

Symbiotic Relationships are between two species where at least one species benefits.

Mutualism = both species benefits

Commensalism = one species benefits the other is neither harm or helped

Parisitism = one species benefits and the other is harmed