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Ecological Relationships: Investigating Interactions Among Organisms, Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems

This chapter explores the scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environments. Topics include techniques of field ecology, abiotic and biotic factors, carrying capacity, and the levels of organization in ecology.

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Ecological Relationships: Investigating Interactions Among Organisms, Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems

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  1. Ecology Goal 5 Chapter 2T. J. Hill

  2. Goal 5 • The learner will develop an understanding of the ecological relationships among organisms.

  3. Objective 5.01 • Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems. • Techniques of Field Ecology. • Abiotic and Biotic Factors. • Carrying Capacity.

  4. I. What is Ecology? A. The scientific study of interactions among organisms and their environments.

  5. II. Aspects of Ecological Study. • Biosphere- portion of earth that supports life.

  6. III. The Nonliving Environment. • Abiotic Factors- nonliving elements in an ecosystem. • Air • Temperature • Currents • Light • Soil • Moisture • Noise

  7. IV. The Living Environment. • Biotic Factors- living elements in an ecosystem (Plants & Animals, Protists, Bacteria).

  8. Biotic or Abiotic?

  9. Biotic or Abiotic?

  10. Biotic or Abiotic?

  11. Biotic or Abiotic?

  12. V. Levels of Organization in Ecology A. All organisms are dependent on others for food, shelter, reproduction and protection.

  13. Interactions within populations. • Population- all the individuals of the same species. (must be counted)

  14. 2. Community- a collection of interacting populations.

  15. 3. Ecosystem- the community plus the physical factors in an area.

  16. a. Three Major Kinds of Ecosystems. 1. Terrestrial- (located on land)

  17. 2. Aquatic- (occur in fresh and salt water.) a. Freshwater Ecosystems- ponds, lakes, streams. b. Salt Water Ecosystem – also called marine ecosystems make up 75% of earth’s surface. (Oceans)

  18. Biodiversity- variety of life in an area, usually measured as the number of species can live in an area.

  19. VI. Organisms in Ecosystems (Living Styles) • Habitat- the place where organisms live out their lives.

  20. Niche- the role and position a species has in its environment. 1. How it meets its needs for food and shelter. 2. How it reproduces. 3. Includes all interactions with the biotic and abiotic parts of its habitat.

  21. VII. Living Relationships • Predator- animals that kill and eat other animals. • Prey- animals that predators hunt, kill and eat. • Predation- the act of one organism feeding on another.

  22. D. Symbiosis- living together. • Commensalism -a symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited. a. Peregrine falcon and the red breasted goose

  23. 2. Mutualism- a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit. a. ants and the acacia tree

  24. 3. Parasitism- a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits at the expense of the other. a. ticks and dogs

  25. VIII. How Organisms Obtain Energy. • Producers- carry on photosynthesis. • Autotrophs – able to make their own food. a. Plants

  26. Consumers- obtain nutrients by eating other organisms. • Heterotrophs -can not make their own food. Must feed on other organisms. a. Animals

  27. Scavengers- animals that feed on animals that have already died. 1. Black Vultures 2. Eagles

  28. 4. Decomposers- feed on dead or decaying plants or animals. a. Break them down into simpler molecules. 1. Some bacteria, protozoa, fungi.

  29. IX. Food Chains- Pathways for Matter and Energy. • Food Chain- a simple model that scientists use to show how matter and energy move through an ecosystem. 1. Represents only one possible route for the transfer of matter and energy in an ecosystem. 2. Example a. algae fish heron

  30. B. Tropic Level- feeding step in a food chain. 1. Represent links in the food chain. 2. Producers 3. 1st Order Heterotrophs a. Primary Consumers - Herbivore 4. 2nd Order Heterotrophs a. Secondary Consumers - Carnivore or Omnivore 5. 3rd Order Heterotrophs a. Tertiary Consumers - Carnivore or Omnivore

  31. X. Energy and Tropic Level Facts. • The initial source of energy for ecological pyramids is energy from the Sun. • Energy decreases as tropic level increases. • Population size decreases as the tropic level increases. • Only 10 percent of energy is transferred from one tropic level to the next.

  32. XI. Pyramid Facts • Pyramid of Numbers show that population size decrease at higher tropic levels. • A pyramid of biomass express the weight of living material at each tropic level. • The energy that is lost at each tropic level enters the environment as heat.

  33. XII. Cycles of Nature. • Water Cycle- Cycle where water is reused over and over again. 1. Cycle is controlled by energy from the sun. 2. Water is turned to vapor. a. Vapor is cooled or condenses to clouds. b. Water builds up in clouds and it rains. 3. Rainfall equals the same amount of evaporated water. (recycled)

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