Ecology Unit

1. Ecology Unit

2. Ecology • Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and the living and nonliving components of their environment. • Organisms depend in some way on other living and nonliving organisms.

3. Interdependence • Interdependence- Dependence on each other or one another • Examples: • Hare and lynx • Hare and grasses/shrubs • Birds and insects

5. Levels of Organization

6. Levels of Organization • Biosphere- • broadest; earth and atmosphere that supports life

7. Levels of Organization • Ecosystem- • all of the organisms and nonliving environment found in a particular place

8. Levels of Organization • Community- • all interacting organisms living in an area

9. Levels of Organization • Population- • members of a species that live in one place at a time

10. Levels of Organization • Organism- • individual

11. Ecology of Organisms • Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors • Biotic- living factors in the environment • Ex. Plants, animals • Abiotic- non-living factors in the environment • Ex. Climate, soil

12. Ecology of Organisms • Niche • The specific role, or way of life of a species within its environment • What is the difference between a habitat and a niche?

13. Exit Slip • An ecosystem contains? • Hunting season on deer increases the amount of grass/shrubs is an example of? (word for things depending on one another) • A biotic factor in a pond is? Abiotic factor?

14. Ecology of Organisms • Conformers- do not regulate their internal conditions • Regulators- use energy to control some of their internal conditions

15. Ecology of Organisms • Two ways species can escape unfavorable conditions: • 1. Dormancy- state of reduced activity • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzz9LZ554NM • 2. Migration- Move to a more favorable habitat

16. Ecology of Organisms • Generalists • Organisms forage on a variety of food; feed on what is available • Specialists • Focus on a specific food source

17. Species Interactions • Predation • Predator- organism preys on other organisms • Prey- animal taken by predator as food • Examples?

18. Why are these animals fast or camouflage?

19. Adaptations • Predator Adaptations • Adaptations that help predators acquire food • Chemical • Rattlesnack vs. Rat • Camouflage • Chameleon • Speed • Cheetah

20. Prey Adaptations • Jesus Lizard Adaptations that increase chance of survival Chemical Combat Camouflage Speed Mimicry

21. Mimicry

22. Prey AdaptationsMimicry • Batesian • Harmless species mimics a harmful species • Octopus Defense • Mullerian • Two or more species share similar warning colors or attributes

23. Exit Slip • What are two ways carbon enters the atmosphere? • How is carbon removed from the atmosphere? • Give one example of a predator adaptation and one prey adaptation. • What is the difference in Mullerian and Batesian Mimicry?

24. Plant Adaptations Defense Catching Prey Venus Fly Trap

25. What is happening here?

26. Competition • Interspecific • Competition among members of different species • Ex. Lions and Cheetahs • Prey on the same food (one will have less food)

27. What is happening here?

28. Competition • Intraspecific • Competition among members of the same species • Ex. Trees of same species competing for light, nutrients • Ex. Deer fighting for territory and mates

30. Symbiotic relationship • Parasitism   • One organism benefits, the other is harmed • Ticks and humans/animals

32. Symbiotic Relationship • Mutualism   • Both organisms benefit • Birds cleaning teeth

34. Symbiotic Relationship • Commensalism   • One organism benefits, the other is unaffected • Shark and remora fish

35. Review 1. Example of a biotic and abiotic factor on a farm. 2. What is the niche of a turkey? 3. What is interdependence?

36. Energy Transfer • Producers • Autotrophs- manufacture food for themselves • Ex. Plants, Bacteria • Consumers • Heterotrophs- get energy by feeding on other organisms

37. Energy Transfer • Types of Consumers • Herbivore-plants only • Carnivore-meat only • Omnivore-both plants and meat • Detrivores-dead plant and animal matter • Decomposer-break down dead and decaying organic matter

38. Ecology of Organisms Generalists Specialists Herbivores • Omnivores

39. Energy Transfer • Trophic Levels • Position an organism occupies in the food chain • What it eats, and what eats it…

40. Energy Transfer

41. Food Chain vs. Food Web • Food Chain • Food Web

42. Biomes • Tundra • Coldest temps • Very little precipitation • Thin topsoil over permafrost • Mosses, small woody plants

43. Biomes • Taiga • Cold • Low in nutrients • Evergreen trees

44. Biomes • Temperate Grassland • Good precipitation • Deep layer of topsoil • Rich in nutrients • Most have been transformed to farmland

45. Biomes • Savanna • Dry, thin topsoil • Tall grasses • Scattered trees

46. Biomes • Chaparral • Little precipitation • Rocky, thin topsoil • Low nutrients • Shrubs and small trees

47. Earth’s Layers • The earth is made up of 4 layers: • Biosphere • Atmosphere • Hydrosphere • Geosphere

48. Atmosphere • 78% Nitrogen • 21% Oxygen • Greenhouse gases

49. Greenhouse Effect • 1) Energy from the sun passes through the atmosphere and heats the earth’s surface • 2) Some of the heat radiates away from earth • 3) Some of the heat radiates into space • 4) Some heat is absorbed by gases and returned to earth

50. Hydrosphere • All of the water on earth • Only 3 percent of surface water is freshwater • Most is in the form of glaciers