What is Ecology?What is Ecology?

EcologyEcology : is the : is the study of the study of the interactions of interactions of living things with living things with each other and each other and their physical their physical environmentenvironment

Abiotic vs. Biotic

Abiotic factors: those physical and chemical factors which affect the ability of organisms to survive and reproduce

Biotic factors: all the living things that directly or indirectly affect the environment Thus, the organisms, their presence, parts, interaction, and wastes are all biotic factors.

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors1. Intensity of light 1. Intensity of light

2. Range of temperatures

3. Amount of moisture

4. Type of substratum (soil or rock type)

5. Availability of inorganic substances such as minerals

6. Supply of gases such as oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen

7. pH

Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determine the Abiotic factors vary in the environment and determine the types of organisms that exist in that environment.types of organisms that exist in that environment.

1. A high annual temperature determines the species of plants which can exist in that area.

2. The amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water will help determine what species of fish live there.

3. The dry environment of desert regions limits the organisms that can live there.

Community: All populations of organisms living in a defined area.

Ecosystem: The living community and the physical environment functioning together as an independent and relatively stable system

Population: all the members of a species inhabiting a given location

Biosphere: that portion of the earth where life exists

Individual Organism: one member of a species

Biome: A major regional community, such as a grassland or desert characterized by the plant life and climate.

HabitatHabitat - address - address

the physical place the physical place where an organism where an organism lives.lives.

Niche – occupation the resources (biotic & abiotic) an organism uses for survival, growth and reproduction.

Marsh Forest

AutotrophsAutotrophs: can synthesize their own food : can synthesize their own food from inorganic compounds and a usable from inorganic compounds and a usable energy source energy source

producersproducers: includes plants convert the radiant energy of the sun : includes plants convert the radiant energy of the sun

into the chemical energy of food. into the chemical energy of food.

HeterotrophsHeterotrophs: can NOT synthesize their own food and are : can NOT synthesize their own food and are

dependent on other organisms for their fooddependent on other organisms for their food

SSaprophytesaprophytes: include those : include those heterotrophic plants, fungi, and heterotrophic plants, fungi, and bacteria which live on dead bacteria which live on dead matter  AKA decomposersmatter  AKA decomposers

HerbivoresHerbivores : plant-eating animals: plant-eating animals

OmnivoresOmnivores : consume both plants and meat: consume both plants and meat

CarnivoresCarnivores: meat-eating animals: meat-eating animals

PredatorsPredators: animals which kill : animals which kill and consume their prey and consume their prey

ScavengersScavengers: those animals that : those animals that feed on other animals that they feed on other animals that they have not killedhave not killed

Quiz Link

Carrying capacity Carrying capacity The maximum number of organisms The maximum number of organisms

the resources of an area can the resources of an area can support support

The carrying capacity of the The carrying capacity of the environment is limited by the environment is limited by the available abiotic and biotic available abiotic and biotic resources, as well as the ability of resources, as well as the ability of ecosystems to recycle the residue ecosystems to recycle the residue of dead organisms through the of dead organisms through the activities of bacteria and fungi. activities of bacteria and fungi.

Limiting Factor: Limiting Factor:

An environmental factor An environmental factor that limits the growth, that limits the growth, abundance, or distribution abundance, or distribution of a population of organisms of a population of organisms in an ecosystem (e.g., water, in an ecosystem (e.g., water, nutrients, sunlight, prey, nutrients, sunlight, prey, etc.). etc.).

What is a Symbiotic Relationship?What is a Symbiotic Relationship?

Symbiosis: living together with another organism in close association

Commensalism: one organism is benefited and the other is unharmed ex. barnacles on whales, orchids on tropical trees

Mutualism: both organisms benefit from the association ex. Lichen, nitrogen-fixing bacteria on legume nodules, certain protozoa within termites (also ruminants)

Parasitism: the parasite benefits at the expense of the host ex. athlete's foot fungus on humans, tapeworm and heartworm in dogs