Ecology—the study of the interaction between organisms and their environment

I. Feeding relationshipsA.A.Autotrophs=producersAutotrophs=producers

MAKE their own foodMAKE their own food

Ex: plants, algae, some bacteriaEx: plants, algae, some bacteria

B.B. Heterotrophs=consumersHeterotrophs=consumers

Eat other organisms; do NOT Eat other organisms; do NOT make their own foodmake their own food

Types of Consumers:1. Herbivore—only eat plants

2. Carnivore—kill and eat other animals

3. Omnivore—eat both plants and animals

4. Scavenger—eat dead animals

5. Decomposer—(also called saprobe/ saprophyte)—break down and absorb nutrients from dead organisms

II. Survival relationships

A. A. PredationPredation (Predator-prey)—(Predator-prey)—Predator hunts and eats prey.Predator hunts and eats prey.

B. B. CompetitionCompetition—occurs when 2 —occurs when 2 species fight for the same limited species fight for the same limited resourcesresources

PredatorsPredators

CompetitionCompetition

C. C. SymbiosisSymbiosis-2 species -2 species living living togethertogether; at least one ; at least one depends on the otherdepends on the other

Types of Symbiosis:

1. 1. MutualismMutualism—BOTH species —BOTH species benefit (mutually beneficial!)benefit (mutually beneficial!)

Ex: clownfish & sea anemoneEx: clownfish & sea anemone

flower & beeflower & bee

cattle & white birdscattle & white birds

Mutualism

2. 2. CommensalismCommensalism—One species —One species benefits and the other is NOT benefits and the other is NOT AFFECTEDAFFECTED

Ex: orchid & treeEx: orchid & tree

human & eyelash miteshuman & eyelash mites

Commensalism

3. 3. ParasitismParasitism—One species —One species benefits and the other is benefits and the other is HARMED.HARMED.

Ex: tick on a dogEx: tick on a dog

mistletoe in a treemistletoe in a tree

mosquitoes on humansmosquitoes on humans

Parasites

III. Matter and Energy relationships

A. A. Food WebFood Web——expresses expresses ALLALL possible possible feeding relationships in feeding relationships in a communitya community

Food Web exampleFood Web example

B. B. Food chainFood chain— one path — one path in a food web in a food web

Food chain example

1.1. A food chain MUST start with A food chain MUST start with a a producerproducer..

2.2. Arrows are used to show the Arrows are used to show the direction of energy transferdirection of energy transfer..

3.3. A food chain does NOT A food chain does NOT typically have more than typically have more than 5 5 levelslevels..

Why are food chains this short?

• Only about 10% of the energy at each level is passed to the next level.

C. C. TroTropphic levelhic level—represents a —represents a feeding step in a food webfeeding step in a food web

1. 1. FirstFirst trophic level— trophic level—producerproducer2. 2. SecondSecond——herbivoreherbivore//omnivoreomnivore

3. 3. ThirdThird——carnivorecarnivore//omnivoreomnivore

4. 4. FourthFourth——carnivorecarnivore//omnivoreomnivore

5. 5. FifthFifth—carnivore/ —carnivore/

omnivore/omnivore/decomposerdecomposer

D. D. Ecological or energy pyramidsEcological or energy pyramids——describe energy conversion in an describe energy conversion in an ecosystemecosystem

1. The SOURCE of energy for all 1. The SOURCE of energy for all pyramids is the SUN.pyramids is the SUN.

2. The BASE of the pyramid 2. The BASE of the pyramid is PRODUCERS.is PRODUCERS.

3. The TOP is the top 3. The TOP is the top CARNIVORE or omnivore.CARNIVORE or omnivore.

4. 4. BiomassBiomass——thethe total mass total mass of all organisms at any one of all organisms at any one level in the pyramidlevel in the pyramid

5. Biological Magnification—the concentration of toxic substances increases as it moves up the food chain *Will be highest in top level

IV. The Organization of Life

A. A. OrganismOrganism—3 Things that affect —3 Things that affect organisms:organisms:

1. 1. habitathabitat—where it lives—where it lives

2. 2. nicheniche—its way of life—its way of life

3. 3. trophic leveltrophic level—its feeding —its feeding level in the food chainlevel in the food chain

Niche

B. B. PopulationPopulation—all members of —all members of the same species that live in a the same species that live in a certain area certain area

--Animal population is also --Animal population is also called a breeding group.called a breeding group.

A group of individuals of one species usually occupying a defined area.

A group of individuals of one species usually occupying a defined area.

Populations

C. C. CommunityCommunity—All —All populations in a populations in a certain areacertain area

D. D. EcosystemEcosystem—the biotic and —the biotic and abiotic factors interacting in an abiotic factors interacting in an areaarea

1. 1. bioticbiotic—living things—living things

2. 2. abioticabiotic—nonliving things—nonliving things

Ex: water, soil, temperature, Ex: water, soil, temperature, precipitationprecipitation

Ecosystem

E. E. BiomeBiome—A large area —A large area defined by the presence defined by the presence of certain plants and of certain plants and animalsanimals

Biomes

PermafrostPermafrost

F. F. BiosphereBiosphere——

the area on Earth the area on Earth where life exists (the where life exists (the SURFACE)SURFACE)

Biosphere

V. Geochemical CyclesV. Geochemical Cycles

Water CycleWater Cycle

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Oxygen CycleOxygen Cycle

Types of LakesTypes of Lakes Oligotrophic Eutrophic

Estuary• Place where

freshwater, such as a river, meets the sea

• Ex:

bay, swamp, marsh, bayou

VI. Homeostasis in CommunitiesVI. Homeostasis in Communities

A. A. Carrying capacityCarrying capacity—the —the largest number of organisms largest number of organisms from a species that can be from a species that can be supported by the environment supported by the environment

Ex: There is only enough food Ex: There is only enough food for for a certain number of deer.a certain number of deer.

Why Hunting is LegalWhy Hunting is Legal

B. B. Limiting FactorLimiting Factor—any living or —any living or nonliving thing that restricts the nonliving thing that restricts the existence, numbers, existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of reproduction, or distribution of organismsorganisms

Ex: food available, Ex: food available, temperaturetemperature

Why These Animals Live Only Why These Animals Live Only in Certain Placesin Certain Places

C.C. ToleranceTolerance—the ability to —the ability to withstand fluctuations withstand fluctuations (changes) in environmental (changes) in environmental factorsfactors

--There is a range of --There is a range of conditions (temp., amt. of food, conditions (temp., amt. of food, etc.) in which organisms can etc.) in which organisms can survive.survive.

D. D. SuccessionSuccession—orderly, natural —orderly, natural changes that take place in a changes that take place in a community community

**climax communityclimax community—a stable, —a stable, mature community that mature community that undergoes little to no successionundergoes little to no succession

2 Types of Succession:

1. 1. PrimaryPrimary—establishment & —establishment & development of an ecosystem in an area development of an ecosystem in an area that was previously that was previously UNINHABITEDUNINHABITED

Lichens and algae on bare rock

Succession of plant species on abandoned fields in North Carolina. Pioneer species consist of a variety of annual plants. This successional stage is then followed by communities of perennials and grasses, shrubs, softwood trees and shrubs, and finally hardwood trees and shrubs. This succession takes about 120 years to go from the pioneer stage to the climax community. From http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9i.html on 10-6-10

2. 2. SecondarySecondary--REESTABLISHMENTREESTABLISHMENT of a damaged ecosystem in an area of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intactwhere the soil was left intact

Secondary Succession—Illustration of (1) a climax forest (2) destroyed by wildfire and (3) and (4) its eventual recovery. Secondary succession occurs in an area where life once existed but has then Secondary succession occurs in an area where life once existed but has then

been destroyed. been destroyed. (Reproduced by permission of The Gale Group)