Intro to Ecology

1. Intro to Ecology How do organisms interact with each other and their environment?

2. Ecology • The study of the interactions of organisms and their environment

3. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors • Bio = life • tic = pertaining to. • A = not/without, bio = life

4. Levels of Biological Organization

5. Organism a single individual of one particular species

6. Population • A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same area.

7. Community • A collection of populations of different species that interact with one another.

8. Ecosystem • Interactions of a community and its abiotic factors

9. Biome large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. 

10. Biosphere • The portion of the Earth that supports life.

11. Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the tree Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of the tree Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches Spruce tree Niche vs. Habitat

12. Habitat • The place where the organism lives.

13. Niche • The role a species plays in a community. • Includes -

14. NOTE: • Several species may share a habitat, but the food, shelter, and resources of that habitat are divided into separate niches.

15. Interactions between Organisms Aka relationships

16. Autotroph vs Heterotroph • Auto = self • Also called Producers • Hetero = other • Also called consumers

17. 5 Types of Heterotrophs

18. Herbivores • Plant-eaters

19. Carnivores • Eat heterotrophs

20. Scavengers • Eat dead organisms

21. Omnivores • omni = all

22. DecomposersDetritivore • Decomposer:Fungi, Bacteria • Detritivore: worms, maggots

23. Competition Organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an abiotic or biotic resource in the same ecosystem.

24. Predation An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

26. Symbiosis • A relationship where two species live closely together • 3 types

27. 1) Mutualism • Both species benefit • +/+

29. 2) Commensalism • One species benefits and the other is not harmed or benefited. • +/0

31. 3) Parasitism • One species benefits and the other is harmed. • +/-

32. Symbiosis: Parasitism

33. Energy in Ecosystems

34. Energy Flow • Energy flows thru an ecosystem in one direction: sun autotroph heterotroph

35. Food Chain • Shows one way flow of energy

36. Trophic Level • A feeding step in a food chain that represents each organism.

37. 4 3 2 1

39. Ecological pyramids • Diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. • 3 types

40. Pyramid of Energy Heat 0.1% Consumers 1% Consumers Heat 10% Consumers Heat 100% Producers Heat Parasites, scavengers, and decomposers feed at each level. Energy Pyramid • 10% Rule - Only about 10% of energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level • The rest is lost as heat

42. Pyramid of Numbers Fox (1) Birds (25) Grasshoppers (250) Grasses (3000) Pyramid of numbers • Based on the number of individual organisms at each trophic level

43. Biomass Pyramid • The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called biomass. • A pyramid of biomass represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem.

44. Biomass Pyramid

45. NOTE: • Matter is constantly being recycled. Energy is constantly being transformed and replenished. A balance of everything going on in an ecosystem is called HOMEOSTASIS.