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Ecology. What is Ecology?. Study of relationships & interactions among organisms with each other & environment. Ecology – Why Study it?. The environment is changing. Global Warming. 1875. Pasterze Glacier Austria. 2004. Connection to us.
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What is Ecology? • Study of relationships & interactions among organisms with each other & environment
Ecology – Why Study it? • The environment is changing
1875 Pasterze Glacier Austria 2004
Connection to us • 40 million acres lost / year to deforestation • The US uses 20.7 million barrels of oil / day China uses 6.5 million
Current Population U.S. 318,892,103China 1,355,692,576 India 1,236, 344,631 World 7,165,958,649 5/14/14 http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html
History of Human Population Trends 1939-1945: 58 million people killed during WWII 1347-1351: Bubonic plaque killed 75 million people 1/3 of Europe’s Population 1940-1950: Baby Boom in US 1800: Industrial Revolution = population explosion 1918: Spanish Flu killed 20-40 million people 2006: 2.9 million people die as a result of AIDS in Africa
Increase Immigration High birth rates Decrease Emigration Competition Predation High death rates Disease What affects population size? Limiting Factors
Limiting Population Size • The most important limiting factor in an ecosystem is energy. • WHY?
Limiting Population Size (cont.) • Energy limits the amount and types of life in an ecosystem
___________________________________ ORGANISMS POPULATIONS COMMUNITY similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring SAME SPECIESLIVING TOGETHER IN AN AREA Ex: “herd” DIFFERENT POPULATIONS LIVING TOGETHER IN AN AREA
_______________________ _____________ ECOSYSTEMS BIOMES BIOSPHERE All the organisms that live in a place together with their NON-living environment Group of ecosystems that have same climate and similar communities The portion of the planet in which all life exists
Key Ecology Terms Population: Group of same species living in an area Community: All living things in an area Niche: an organism’s role within the community
Key Ecology Terms (cont.) Ecosystem: biological community Habitat: Where organisms live Biome: Group of ecosystems
Flow of Energy in Ecosystems • Energy limits ecosystem size and biodiversity
How Does Energy Flow? 1. Sun 2. Producers (Autotrophs) • Photosynthesize • Ex: green plants, algae
Review: Autotroph • Auto means self • Troph means energy Autotrophs make own energy
Energy Flow (cont’d) 3. Energy goes to consumers Aka. heterotrophs • Can’t make own food, must eat other organisms
Types of Consumers • Primary Consumer herbivore: • plant eaters • Secondary Consumercarnivore or omnivore
Types of Consumers (cont) • Carnivore: eat animals • Omnivore: eat plants and animals
Energy Flow (cont’d) Last step of energy chain decomposers • AKA detritivores • Feed on dead & decaying matter Ex. bacteria, fungi - molds, mushrooms, worms
Trophic Levels • 1st trophic level: producers • 2nd level:primary consumers (herbivores) • 3rd level: secondary consumers (carnivores and omnivores)
Energy Pyramid • Energy loss diagram • Greatest amount of energy is available at bottom
Energy Pyramid (Cont) • 10% of energy is transferred to next level
Food Chain • Pathway of energy through a community Producers Primary Consumers Secondary Consumers Decomposers
Food Web • Food chains connected in a community
How are we connected? • Environment has many interconnected factors • Biotic: living factors • Abiotic: nonliving factors
Community Interaction Symbiotic relationships • Competition for resources 2. Predation: Predator Prey
3. Mutualism • Both organisms benefit Example: Protists live in termite gut & help it digest wood
4. Commensalism • One organism benefits other not affected Example: Remora rides on sharks & eats food scraps
5. Parasitism • One organism (parasite) benefits & other (host) is harmed • Parasite usually doesn’t kill host Example: Flea & Dog
Parasitism Examples HIV Tick “Myxi” disease
Other Relationships • Keystone Species: niche affects many others • Invasive Species: introduced species can affect native species
Nitrogen Cycle 1. Animal waste & decomposition put nitrogen into soil 2. Bacteria in soil “fix” nitrogen gas by converting it into ammonia
Nitrogen Cycle 3. Ammonia is absorbed by plants and used to make proteins
Water Cycle 1. Evaporation & transpiration put water into atmosphere 2. Precipitation replaces water that has evaporated