organisms and their environment. ecology – study of interactions that take place b/t organisms...
TRANSCRIPT
VOCABULARY
Ecology – study of interactions that take place b/t organisms and their environment
Abiotic factor – non living parts of an organisms environment (i.e. rocks, air currents)
Biotic factor – all living organisms that inhabit an environment (including things that are dead but were once living)
Biosphere – portion of Earth that supports living things
VOCABULARY
Food web – shows all possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community
Trophic level – each organism in a food chain representing a feeding step in the passage of energy and materials
Mutualism – symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit
Commensalism – symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
VOCABULARY
Parasitism – symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organsims is harmed
Symbiosis – relationship in which 2 organsisms live closely together
Biodiversity – variety of life in an area, usually measured by the # of species
Niche – all the strategies and adaptations a species uses in its environment; how it meets its specific needs for food and shelter; how it survives; where it reproduces
VOCABULARY
Habitat – place where an organism lives out its life
Food chain – simple model that scientists use to show how matter and energy move through an ecosystem
Producer – organism that make organic molecules from inorganic molecules; serve as a food source for other organisms (i.e. plants)
VOCABULARY
Consumer – organism that eats other organisms or organic matter instead of producing its own nutrients or obtaining nutrients from inorganic sources (i.e. rabbits, deer, humans)
Decomposer – organism that feeds by breaking down organic matter from dead organsims (i.e. bacteria, fungi)
THE BIOSHPERE
Earth – the planet we live on (duh!) Divided into different parts
Lithosphere – Earth’s crust Hydrosphere – Earth’s water in all forms Biosphere – contains all life Atmosphere – all of Earth’s air
Biosphere overlaps/encompasses some or all of each of the other spheres
BIOSPHERE
Consists of all living –biotic factors, and non living –abiotic factors
Abiotic factors are necessary to sustain life Air currents Temperpature Moisture Light Soil, rocks
ABIOTIC FACTORS
Affect the environment i.e. amount of rain fall determines the
abundance & diversity of life an area can support
Whale page 37 Problem-Solving Lab 2.1
BIOTIC FACTORS
Biotic factors affect the abundance and diversity of life in an area as well Competition among species Symbiotic relationships
ORGANIZATION OF THE BIOSPHERE (WHALE 40)
In order from smallest to largest: Organism Populations Community
Ecosystem Biosphere Organism: single individual of a species Population: species of organism that lives
in the same place at the same time Community: all populations living in the
same place at the same time Ecosystem: biotic and abiotic factors in
the same place at the same time
ORGANISMS IN AN ECOSYSTEM
Each organism has its own habitat i.e. Birds may live in trees; centipedes live on the
ground Each organism has its own niche
Different species may share habitats, food, shelter There will be at least one essential resource that will
be used in a different way by each organism Leads to reduced competition for resources If 2 species use the same resources, eventually one
will gain control and the other will die off or migrate
ENERGY FLOW THROUGH AN ECOSYSTEM
How organisms obtain energy: Producers – make their own Primary Consumers – only eat producers
(herbivores) Secondary consumers – eat primary consumers
(carnivore), sometimes producers as well (omnivores)
Tertiary consumers – eat secondary consumers, sometimes eat producers as well
Decomposers – eat decomposing producers and consumers
ENERGY FLOW IN AN ECOSYSTEM
Food chain Follows the flow of energy as it moves
through organisms i.e. Seaweed perch shark sea slug As food moves through the chain, the
amount of energy passed to each level diminishes considerably (Whale 52)
ENERGY FLOW THROUGH AN ECOSYSTEM Food web – encompasses all the food
chains in an ecosystem (Whale 51-52) Problem Solving Lab 2.2 on Whale 50
AFFECTS ON BIODIVERSITY
Changes in an ecosystem can affect its biodiversity
What would happen if it stopped raining in the Mojave Desert? Or, if the amount of acid in the rain falling in the Sierra Nevada Mts increased dramatically to lethal levels?
Whale page 51
AFFECTS ON BIODIVERSITY
Uncontrolled population growth of a single species can affect biodiversity
Humans as a species can have a devastating affect on biodiversity i.e. hunting to extinction the grey wolves in Yellowstone
Non native/alien/invasive/introduced species can affect the biodiversity Usually have no natural predators so they can flourish
in the new area & dominate the resources, leaving little resources for the native species which do have natural predators
CYCLES IN NATURE
Water cycle – precipitation evaporation / transpiration condensation Process recycles water through the
environment Carbon cycle – all life on Earth is based
on carbon They form all biological molecules (protein
etc) Plants use CO2 to make food consumers
exhale CO2 back to the atmosphere for plants to use
CYCLES IN NATURE
Nitrogen cycle – plants need nitrogen to produce Plants get nitrogen from soil & turn it into
food consumers eat plants & store nitrogen in their bodies, then release as urine or they die and are decomposed and the nitrogen returns to the soil
LIFE W/IN COMMUNITIES
Limiting factors – any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the existence, numbers, reproduction, or distribution of organisms i.e. availability of food & water, predators,
temperature, climate Tolerance – the ability of organisms to
w/stand fluctuations in biotic and abiotic factors
LIFE W/IN COMMUNITIES
Succession – change over time Primary succession: colonization of barren
land by communities of organisms Takes place where there is no life i.e. lava fields Pioneer species – 1st species to take hold, they
eventually die, but they change the land so other species can thrive
Climax community – the stable, mature community that undergoes little/no change in species following primary succession
LIFE W/IN COMMUNITIES
Secondary succession – sequence of changes that takes place after an existing community is severley disrupted in some way Compare to primary – primary is barren
land w/ no life, secondary is some life but largely devastated
i.e. fire devastated areas, some life will still exist, but most of it will have been wiped out
BIOMES
Biome – large group of ecosystems that share the same type of climax community
Divided into terrestrial and aquatic Organisms w/in each are adapted to
the conditions of that particular biome
AQUATIC BIOMES
Marine/Ocean, divided into zones Photic zone: portion shallow enough for
sunlight to penetrate, photosynthesis can occur
Aphotic zone: deep waters that never receive sunlight, photosynthesis cannot occur
AQUATIC BIOMES – PHOTIC ZONES
Intertidal zone (tide pools) Close to shore line Organisms are adapted to periodic
exposure to air during low tide times Types of organisms: crab, mussels,
oysters, sea anemones, sea stars Organisms must be able to w/stand
crashing waves
TIDE POOLS
PHOTIC ZONES
Neritic Zone Extends from intertidal zone over the
continental shelf Most productive marine zone Upwellings carry nutrients from ocean
bottom Species: plankton, numerous fish, sea
turtles
PHOTIC ZONES
Neritic Zone – Coral Reefs Form in tropical neritic areas Rich in species Built by coral animals over long periods of
time Constructed by their external skeletons, as
animals die, the skeletons acculuate Species: fish, crustaceans, mollusks, etc
NERITIC ZONE
AQUATIC BIOMES – PHOTIC/APHOTIC ZONES
Oceanic Zone The upper portion of the oceanic zone is
photic The lower portion (deep ocean) is aphotic Contains fewer species than the other
zones, even in the photic zones Species in upper portion –
Producers: microscopic protists, bacteria, plants, invertebrate plankton
Animals: fish, mammals like whales, large invertebrates
OCEANIC ZONE
Aphotic zone Species feed on sinking plankton & dead
organisms Deep ocean – near freezing temps &
crushing pressure Species have slow metabolisms & reduced
skeletal systems, large jaws & teeth, expandable stomachs
Species: squid, by thermal vents – clams, crabs, worms
AQUATIC BIOMES - ESTUARIES
Where freshwater meets sea i.e. bays, mud flats, mangrove swamps, salt
marshes Shallow water gets lots of sunlight & rivers deposit
lots of minerals Interaction of fresh and salt water causes great
variation in temp and salinity Surface is exposed to air during low time Organisms are adapted to frequent change Species: mangrove trees, softshell clams,
plankton, snails, shrimp, crab, grasses and trees
ESTRUARIES
AQUATIC BIOMES - FRESHWATER
Lakes and ponds Eutrophic lakes – rich in organic matter and
vegetation, waters are murky Oligotrophic lakes – contain little organic
matter, water is clearer, bottom usually rocky or sandy
Species – fish, ducks, turtles, snakes, salamanders, frogs
AQUATIC BIOMES - FRESHWATER
Rivers and streams Body of freshwater that flows downward Organisms are adapted to strong currents Slow-moving rivers are richer in nutrients
& support greater diversity of life, rooted plants
Species: brook trout and other fish
AQUATIC BIOMES - FRESHWATER
Freshwater wetlands Land covered w/ fresh water at least part of each year Marshes – non woody plants (cattails) Swamps – woody plants (trees/shrubs) Bog – sphagnum mosses Most productive freshwater biomes Species – birds, fish, mammals, amphibians,
invertebrates, reptiles, whooping crane, Florida panther, american crocodile, american alligator
Provide protection for spawning organisms Filter pollutants out of the water & act as flood control
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES - TUNDRA
Temp: -14.8 F to 53.6 F Precipiation: <25 cm Soil: moist, thin topsoil over permafrost;
low in nutrients; slightly acidic Vegetation: mosses, lichen, grasses,
dwarf woody plants Animals: arctic fox, caribou, ermine,
grizzly bear, harlequin duck, musk ox, polar bear, snowy owl
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – TAIGA
Temp: 14 F to 57.2 F Precipitation: 35-75 cm Soil: low in nutrients; highly acidic Vegetation: coniferous evergreen trees Animals: American black bear, bald
eagle, bob cat, Canadian lynx, grey wolf, grizzly bear, long eared owl, red fox, river otter, snowshoe rabbit, wolverine
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – FORESTS: TEMPERATE FOREST
Temp: 42.8 F to 82.4 F Precipitation: 75-125 cm Soil: moist, moderately thick topsoils;
moderate nutrient levels Vegetation: broad-leaved deciduous trees and
shrubs or evergreen coniferous trees Animals: American bald eagle, American black
bear, coyote, duckbilled platypus, eastern chipmunk, European red squirrel, fat dormouse, least weasel, white tailed deer
TEMPERATE FOREST (DECIDUOUS FOREST)
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – FORESTS: TROPICAL FORESTS
Temp: 68 F to 93.2 F Precipitation: 200-400 cm Soil: moist, thin topsoil; low in nutrients Vegetation: broad-leaved evergreen trees and
shrubs Animals: African forest elephant, Bengal tiger,
chimpanzee, common palm civet, dawn bat, golden lion tamarin, harpy eagle, jambu fruit dove, king cobra, kinkajou, Linn’s sloth, orangutan, probiscus monkey, red shanked douc
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – GRASSLANDS: TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS
Temp: 32 F to 77 F Precipitation: 25-75 cm Soil: deep layer of topsoil; very rich in nutrients Vegetation: dense, tall grasses in moist areas;
short grasses in drier areas Animals: corsac fox, Mongolian gerbil, saiga
antelope, northern lynx, saker falcon, American bald eagle, badger, bob cat, bumble bee, prairie dog, swift fox, Geoffrey’s cat, greater rhea
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – GRASSLANDS: SAVANNA
Temp: 60.8 F to 93.2 F Precipitation: 75-150 cm Soil: dry, thin topsoil; porous; low in
nutrients Vegetation: tall grasses and scattered
trees Animals: African elephant, African wild
dog, black mamba, caracal, chacma baboon, Egyptian mongoose, emu, Grant’s zebra, koala bear, lion, nigriceps ants, nile crocodile
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES – GRASSLANDS: CHAPARRAL
Temp: 50 F to 64.4 F Precipitation: <25 cm Soil: rocky, thin topsoil; low in
nutrients Vegetation: succulent plants and
scattered grasses Animals: aardwolf, black tailed jack
rabbit, cactus wren, golden jackal, grey wolf, island grey wolf, puma, spotted skunk, wild goat
TERRESTRIAL BIOMES - DESERTS
Temp: 44.6 F to 100.4 F Precipitation: <25 cm Soil: dry, often sandy; low in nutrients Vegetation: succulent plants and scattered
grasses Animals: armadillo lizard, banded gila
monster, bob cat, cactus wren, coyote, desert bighorn sheep, desert kangaroo rat, desert tortoise, javelina, cactus, ferruginoug pygmy owl, thorny devil