Notes on Ecology

1. Notes on Ecology

2. Standards: SB3 – Students will derive the relationship between single-celled and multi-celled organisms and the increasing complexity of systems SB4 – Students will assess the dependence of all organisms on one another and the flow of energy and matter within their ecosystem SB5 – Students will evaluate the role of natural selection in the development of the theory of evolution

3. eco - household ology – study of Ecology – study of the interactions between organisms and the living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) components of their environment

4. Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Organism Levels of Organization in Ecology

5. Levels of Organization in Ecology 1. Biosphere • refers to the thin volume of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life and abiotic factors

6. 2. Ecosystem • all the living and nonliving things in a particular place Ex. pond, lake, forest

7. 3. Community • all the interacting organisms living in an area Ex. all the plants, fish, bacteria, algae living in a pond

8. 4. Population • all the members of a species in one place at one time Ex. All of the deer that live in the Chickamauga Battlefield now are a population

9. 5. Organism • simplest level of organization • refers to individuals of a particular species

10. Biomes Biome - A group of plants and animals in the same region and climate

11. Seven Terrestrial Biomes of the Earth Tundra Abiotic factors: strong winds, low precipitation; short, soggy summers; long, cold dark winters; poorly developed soils; permafrost

12. Dominant producers: mosses, lichens, sedges, short grasses Dominant consumers: caribou, musk ox, arctic fox, lemming

13. N. Canada, N. Alaska Latitudes: 60-70º North

14. Taiga Abiotic factors: long, cold winters; short, mild summers; moderate precipitation; high humidity; poor soils

15. Dominant producers: spruce, fir, small berry-bearing shrubs, some broadleaf deciduous trees

16. Dominant consumers: lynx, timber wolf, weasels, moose, grizzly bear

17. S. Canada, S. Alaska Latitudes: 50-60º North

18. Temperate Grasslands Abiotic factors: warm to hot summers; cold winters; moderate seasonal precipitation; fertile soil; occasional wildfires

19. Dominant producers: lush grasses and herbs, most resistant to drought

20. Dominant consumers: bison, coyotes, badgers, wolves, prong-horned antelope, prairie dogs

21. Mid-Western U.S. Latitudes: 24-60º North or South

22. Temperate Deciduous Forest Abiotic factors: cold to moderate winters; warm summers; year-round precipitation; fertile soils

23. Dominant producers: broadleaf deciduous trees, flowering shrubs, herbs, mosses, ferns

24. Dominant consumers: deer, black bears, bobcat, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, turkeys

25. Eastern U.S.; Europe, NEAsia; Australia Latitudes: Mid-latitudes, north/south of tropics

26. Desert Abiotic factors: low precipitation; variable temperatures; soils rich in minerals but not in organic matter

27. Dominant producers: cactus, creosote bush, plants with short growth cycles

28. Dominant consumers: kangaroo rat, bats, roadrunners, rattlesnakes, lizards

29. Western U. S.; Sahara Desert Latitudes: 18-28º N & S

30. Tropical Rainforest Abiotic factors: hot and wet year-round; thin nutrient poor soils

31. Dominant producers: broadleaved evergreen trees, ferns, large woody vines and climbing plants, orchids, bromeliads

32. Dominant consumers: sloths, jaguars, anteaters, toucans, parrots, piranhas, caimans, boa constrictors, anaconda

33. Central America, Caribbean, & Southern tip of Florida; Brazil, sub-Saharan Africa Latitudes: 23ºN to 23ºS

34. Savanna (Tropical grassland) Abiotic factors: warm temperatures; seasonal rainfall; compact soil; frequent fires set by lightning

35. Dominant producers: tall perennial grasses, some drought-tolerant and fire-retardant trees or shrubs

36. Dominant consumers: lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, wildebeest, zebras, baboons, termites

37. South America, Africa, India and Australia 15ºN to 30ºS

38. Biome Overview

39. Marine Biomes Open Ocean: Description: The type of organisms present depends on temperature, the amount of sunlight and nutrients available.

40. The ocean covers nearly ¾ of earth’s surface but most of ocean life is concentrated in shallow water around the edges of continents Dominant producers: phytoplankton

41. Dominant consumers: zooplankton, jellyfish, seals, whales, sharks, dolphins

43. Coral Reefs: Abiotic factors: warm, shallow enough for photosynthesis

44. Dominant producers: seaweed, tiny floating plants, phytoplankton Dominant consumers: tropical fish, snails, clams, sponges, moray eels, anemones

46. Energy Flow through an ecosystem A. Producers • autotrophs that can make their own food from sunlight or chemicals • change carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and sugars and starches

47. photosynthesis: 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2 • chemosynthesis: bacteria use chemical energy to make carbohydrates

48. B. Consumers • Heterotrophs that rely on other organisms for food and energy Herbivores – eat plants Carnivores – eat meat Omnivores – eat plants and meat

49. Detritivores – eat plant / animal remains Decomposers – breakdown organic matter (bacteria, fungi)

50. C. Feeding Relationships Sun  Autotroph  Heterotroph  Decomposer