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Biosphere. WHAT IS ECOLOGY?. Ecology- the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments, focusing on energy transfer Ecology is a science of relationships. Daily Dose: Biomes. DD Questions. Define a biome in your own words.
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WHAT IS ECOLOGY? Ecology- the scientific study of interactions between organisms and their environments, focusing on energy transfer Ecology is a science of relationships
DD Questions • Define a biome in your own words. • List some factors that affect biomes around the world. • Put your list into two inclusive categories. Inclusive categories - word can NOT be put into both list, words only works in one list.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY ENVIRONMENT? The environment is made up of two factors: • Biotic factors- all living organisms inhabiting the Earth • Abiotic factors- nonliving parts of the environment (i.e. temperature, soil, light, moisture, air currents)
Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism
Organism -any unicellular or multicellular form exhibiting all of the characteristics of life, an individual. • The lowest level of organization
POPULATION • a group of organisms of one species living in the same place at the same time that interbreed • Produce fertile offspring • Compete with each other for resources(food, mates, shelter, etc.)
Community -several interacting populations that inhabit a common environment and are interdependent.
Ecosystem -populations in a community and the abiotic factors with which they interact (ex. marine, terrestrial)
Biosphere - life supporting portions of Earth composed of air, land, fresh water, and salt water. • The highest level of organization
Niche -the role a species plays in a community; its total way of life Habitat- the place in which an organism lives out its life Habitat vs. Niche
Feeding Relationships • There are 3 main types of feeding relationships 1. Producer - Consumer 2. Predator - Prey 3. Parasite - Host
Feeding Relationships Producer- all autotrophs (plants),they trap energy from the sun – photosynthesis • Bottom of the food chain
Feeding Relationships Consumer- all heterotrophs: they ingest food containing the sun’s energy • Herbivores • Carnivores • Omnivores • Decomposers
Feeding Relationships CONSUMERS • Primary consumers • Eat plants • Herbivores • Secondary, tertiary … consumers • Prey animals • Carnivores
FeedingRelationships Consumer-Carnivores-eat meat • Predators • Hunt prey animals for food.
FeedingRelationships Consumer- Carnivores- eat meat • Scavengers • Feed on carrion, dead animals
FeedingRelationships Consumer- Omnivores -eat both plants and animals
SymbioticRelationships Parasitism- one species benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (host) • Parasite-Host relationship
TrophicLevels • Each link in a food chain is known as a trophic level. • Trophic levels represent a feedingstepin the transfer of energy and matter in an ecosystem.
TrophicLevels Foodchain- simple model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem
TrophicLevels Food web- shows all possible feeding relationships in a community at each trophic level • Represents a network of interconnected food chains
Food chain Food web (just 1 path of energy) (all possible energy paths)
Biodiversity Daily Dose
Question 1 • How many reptile species are located in North Carolina? • 7 • 32 • 121 • 5,000
Biodiversity DD Questions: • In your own words define biodiversity. • Why is biodiversity so important in a biome? • Create a list of how animals are becoming extinct.
What is biodiversity? • Biodiversity – variety of living things in an area • Three levels • Genetic diversity • Species diversity • Ecosystems diversity • When you hear “biodiversity of Earth” it means species diversity
Biodiversity of Earth • Species diversity – Last estimate there are 8.7 million species many still yet to be discovered • Can affect the stability of ecosystems • If one species is lost it affects the entire ecosystem is effected • Humans need biodiversity for medical, industrial, and agricultural proposes Foxglove Digitalis for heart failure Pacific yew Ovarian Cancer
Areas of Critical Biodiversity Biodiversity “hotspots” • High numbers of endemic species – means many organisms that live there are not found anywhere else in the world • Threatened by human activities • Tropical rainforests • Coral reefs and coastal ecosystems • Islands
U.S. Biodiversity Hotspots 2 4 3 5 Top Six Hot Spots 6 1 Hawaii 2 San Francisco Bay area 3 Southern Appalachians 4 Death Valley 5 Southern California 6 Florida Panhandle Concentration of rare species 1 Low Moderate High
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How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO • Habitat destruction – may be complete destruction or habitat fragmentation Habitat destruction is the number one threat to biodiversity
How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO • Introduction of invasive species Example: Mites, called Verroa destructor, introduced from Asia have seriously reduced the wild honeybee population in the U.S.
1918 2000 Spread of fire ants
Kudzu • Fast-growing climbing vine from Asia • Introduced to control erosion
European Starling • Released into New York City in the late 1800’s by a man who wanted to introduce to the U.S. all of the birds mentioned in Shakespeare • Now widespread across North America • Outcompetes many native birds, such as bluebirds, for nest holes
How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO 3. Population growth – root of the problem? Food for thought: What native species could live in these conditions?
How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO 4. Pollution Example: Use of DDT almost caused the extinction of the Bald Eagle and other predatory birds
Biomagnification Also called biological magnification Accumulation of pollutants in higher order trophic levels
How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO • Climate change polar bear – loss of sea ice bleaching of coral reefs
Males • Golden toads were discovered in 1964, in Monteverde, Costa Rica • The mountainous cloud forest has a perfect climate for amphibians • Extreme sexual dimorphism • Unfortunately, they became extinct within 25 years • Causes: • Changes in habitat – drying of cloud forest due to global warming, ENSO • Narrow window of time for reproduction – breed in temporary ponds which dried up early • Limited range • Disease Female
How do humans cause extinction?HIPPCO 6. Overharvesting, hunting, poaching Both legal and illegal collecting of organisms has had a negative impact