210 likes | 373 Views
ECOLOGY. A STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS. ECOLOGY. Studies the way organisms interact with their environment. Ecologists are :. Wildlife biologists or Conservation biologists. ECOSYSTEM. A functional unit of a biome
E N D
ECOLOGY A STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS
ECOLOGY • Studies the way organisms interact with their environment
Ecologists are : • Wildlife biologists or • Conservation biologists
ECOSYSTEM • A functional unit of a biome • A group of organisms that live together and interact with each other and their physical environment
Ecosystems can be : Natural Man-Made • Badlands, S.D. • Amazon Rain Forest • Yellowstone N.P . • A farm • A city • An aquarium
HABITAT • A place in an ecosystem where an organism prefers to live • All its’ needs are met here • Ex: food, water, cover, living space
WOODPECKERS DOWNEY HAIRY only 6 ½ inches up to 9 ½ inches Lives at edges, along roads lives in interior of forest Soft, dead wood hard dead wood
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeSIwdMgsM0 • Downey woodpecker • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTxJt6ZoguM • Both woodpeckers • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epvA2rDmpNQ • Bluebirds • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHSjghhbjI4 • Wood duck
POPULATION The number of members of a species in an area
BLUEBIRDS Can’t make own cavity; prefer open areas near scattered trees; feed on insects on ground; once very common (1900)
Decline of Bluebirds • Pesticides • Loss of habitat- fences now made of steel • More aggressive birds drove away- tree swallows and house wrens • Competition with non-native species- starlings and house sparrows
WOOD DUCK • Also a cavity nester • Endangered by human activities
LIMITING FACTORS • SPACE- need breeding territory • FOOD- predator/prey relationship • CLIMATE/WEATHER-severe vs. day to day • COVER- hiding spot • DISEASE- population density • HUMAN ACTIVITY-development • SHADE- layers of forest
CARRYING CAPACITY • Number of individuals the environment can support