Ecology is The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, AND

1. Ecology is The study of the distribution and abundance of organisms, AND the flows of energy and materials between abiotic and biotic components of ecosystems.

7. Ecology is an integrative/ interdisciplinary science -Understanding of the biological (biotic) and physical (abiotic) sciences -Provides a context for the reductionist sciences in biology -Closely tied to genetics and evolution -Ecology can be studied at different spatial and temporal scales -Includes the role of humans in their environment (= global change)

8. Factors to consider • Non living (abiotic) factors such as light, temperature, salinity, water, oxygen. • Living factors (biotic) such as competition, predation, symbiosis, disease, mating, camouflage

10. Abiotic Factors • Light necessary for photosynthesis, affects distribution and growth of plant and animals. Adapt to low levels of light. • Temperature affect metabolic rate, most organisms cannot adapt to extreme temperatures and seasonal changes (eg. Plant wilt, animals hibernate) • Water necessary for life (metabolism), adquate supply necessary. Xerophytes (plants) and desert animals have adaptations to low levels of water. Hydrophytes are adapted to high water conditions • Oxygen necessary for metabolism, adaptations to receive oxygen (Pneumatophores in magrove) fishes have gills and come to the surface.

12. Salinity important for water organisms (high salt, low salt). Microbes have contractile vacuole to pump out excess water. Fishes have adaptations to extreme salinity. pH value is important, for ponds and streams, the pH value can change whether plants absorb CO2 or give off CO2. (more acidic)

16. 1. Camouflage • Cryptic coloration: a. Hides from predators. b. Example: English Peppered Moth

17. 2. Aposematic • Bright colors a. Advertises noxious trait b. Example: Monarch Butterfly

18. 3. Mimicry • Two examples: 1. Mullerian Mimicry: when two unpalatable species mimic each other in the same habitat. 2. Batesian Mimicry: palatable species mimic unpalatable species.

19. Symbiotic Relationships • Help structure communities. • Three examples: 1. Parasitism 2. Commensalism 3. Mutualism

20. 1. Parasitism • Symbiotic relationship which benefits one organism and harms the other. • Example: 1. Tick on a coyote 2. Tapeworm in a dog 3. Flea on a cat

21. 2. Commensalism • Symbiotic relationship which benefits one organism while the other is unaffected. • Example: 1. Cattle egrets and cattle in field

22. 3. Mutualism • Symbiotic relationship which benefits both organisms. • Examples: 1. Acacia ants and acacia tree 2. Termites and gut protozoa 3. Legumes and nitrogen-fixing bacteria

25. Scales of Ecological Organization

26. Scales of Ecological Organization Organism: Survival and reproduction unit of natural selection

27. Individuals • Important to ecologists who study: • Behavioral ecology • Feeding patterns of predators feeding optimally • Symbioses • Lichens are “partnerships” between an alga and a fungus

28. Scales of Ecological Organization Population: Population dynamics unit of evolution demography sex ratios

29. Population • A group of individuals, all belonging to just one species • A community may have several populations

30. Scales of Ecological Organization Community: Interactions among populations species diversity, trophic dynamics competition, succession

31. Community • All of the living species in an area • These species may interact • DOES NOT include abiotic factors

32. Scales of Ecological Organization Ecosystem: Energy flux and nutrient cycling, primary productivity material fluxes

33. Ecosystem • The largest unit of biological organization • Includes both the biotic (living) and the abiotic (non-living) factors in an area • Biotic: all the plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, molds • Abiotic: temperature, wind, soil nutrients, fire, flood, rain

34. Scales of Ecological Organization Biosphere: Global processes includes biotic and physical systems oceans, atmosphere, geology

35. Biosphere • Includes all of Earth’s resources and life forms • A large variety of habitats • Important to ecologists who study distribution of organisms (biogeographers)

36. Ecosystem Services the processes and conditions provided by ecosystems that are beneficial to humans and other organisms the processes and conditions provided by ecosystems that are beneficial to humans and other organisms

37. Ecosystem -- a community of animals and plants interacting with one another and their physical environment -- includes physical and chemical components such as soils, water, nutrients that support the organisms that live within them, ranging from bacteria to rainforest trees to elephants and humans too

38. Food Chains and Food Webs

40. Food Webs

42. Global Cycles

43. Ecosystem Ecology Definition: All the organisms living in a community AND the abiotic factors with which they interact Scale depends on questions asked One, small habitat, up to – The biosphere Energy flow through trophic levels Biogeochemical cycling Carbon (climate change) Inorganic nutrients (eutrophication)

46. 54.1 Decomposers Heterotrophs (dead remains) PHOTO, chemo Autotrophs Ecosystem Dynamics • Energy flows through ecosystems • ultimately lost as heat • Matter cycles around ecosystems • Elements are not lost but cycle through “pools” Heterotrphs Fig. 54.1

47. Energy Flow 1st Law of Thermodynamics Energy is conserved Ecosystems: energy in from outside sources passed from trophic level to trophic level 2nd Law of Thermodynamics Energy transformation is not100% efficient Ultimately all lost as heat Trace energy flow Outside source to heat Compute energy budgets at each transfer Decomposers Heterotrophs & dead remains PHOTO, chemo Autotrophs • HEAT OUT Fig. 54.1

50. Trophic Structure • The different feeding relationships that determine the route of energy flow and the pattern of chemical cycling. • According to the “rules of ten,” approximately 10% of the potential energy stored in the bonds of organic molecules at one trophic level fuels the growth and development of organisms at the next trophic level.