Chapter 2 - Ecology

Ecology = the study of how organisms interact with one another and the non-living environment Parts of the environment:

Biosphere - Portion of the earth that supports life.

http://stloe.most.go.th/html/lo_index/LOcanada1/102/images/L02_4.jpg

2 Types of Factors

anything in the environment that is non-living

Examples: air, currents, temperature, moisture, light, chemicals, water…

anything in the environment that is living

Examples: animals, plants, bacteria…

1. Abiotic 2. Biotic

Habitat Area where an organism lives ( “address”). Example: the habitat of a polar bear

is the ice-covered arctic waters.

www.greenpeace.org/raw/image

Niche A living thing’s particular role in the

environment (“occupation”). “What does it eat?” “Where does it

eat?” Example: polar bears are seal-

eating carnivores in the arctic. Note: no two species can occupy the

same niche! 

Levels of Organization Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Organism

Any individual thing that is livingOrganism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Species

A group of organisms that can produce fertile offspring

Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=64220&rendTypeId

Population

A group of the same species in an area

www.hiltonpond.org/images/MonarchCluster01.jpg

Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Community

The collection of interacting populations in a given area

www.thedailygreen.com/cm/thedailygreen/images/UG/monarch-butterfly-lg.jpg

 

Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Ecosystem

A community and its physical surroundings Open vs. Closed

www.jaxshells.org/spi13.jpg

Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Ecosystem

A community and its physical surroundings Open vs. ClosedOrganism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Biosphere

The layer of the Earth that supports life (all of the ecosystems on the planet).

Bacteria have been found 16,400 feet below sea level and some birds are known to fly over Mt. Everest (the highest point on Earth)!

Organism

Species

Population

Community Ecosystem

Biosphere 

Warm-Ups 9/14

1. Which of the following factors are abiotic? Water current Algae Temperature Fish Salinity (salt concentration) Light

2. True or false? An organism’s niche is like its “address.”

3. Many populations of species and their physical surroundings are called a(n) __________.

Make an outline! Then research information that addresses the paper.

1. What is the issue? Learn about it.2. What are the pros? (social, $, etc…)3. What are the cons? (social, $, etc…)

Abstract hints: PREWRITING

Abstract hints: PREWRITINGLook for sources with specific information

Don’t go searching for a single source with all the information you need

Make an outline of what you need first, then go hunting. Example: If you need info on the positive

financial impact of cloning, skim for sources that specifically discuss how much money cloning companies can make.

Living Together Symbiosis = a relationship in which there

is a close and permanent association among organisms of different species.

  Three different kinds of symbioses:

Mutualism = both species benefit from each otherExamples: Lichens = Fungi & Algae Ostrich & Gazelle

Commensalism = one species benefits and the other is not harmed.

Examples: Remora & Shark

Parasitism = one species benefits and the other is harmed (but not killed).

Examples: ticks, tapeworms, leeches 

Ostrich and Gazellemaratriangle.wildlifedirect.org/.../dscf4402.JPG

Mutualism

Lichen

Mutualism

Shark and Remorabp.blogspot.com/.../s400/remora1.jpg

Commensalism

Eyebrow mites

Commensalism

You and a tick

Parasitism

http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/diaglab/hilites/hilt5_7.html

Other kinds of interrelationships: 

Inter-specific Competition = between two different populations

Example: an owl and an eagle both want a rodent

  Intra-specific Competition = is among the same

species

Example: two redwing blackbirds compete for mates, territory and/or food

Predation = predator/hunter eats prey/huntedExamples: a Venus fly trap eats insects or a

Hawk eats a rabbit

Interrelationships: 

Warm-Ups 9/15

1. What are mutualism, commensalism and parasitism all forms of?

2. True or false? Two bucks fighting over a doe is an example of inter-specific competition?

3. What type of symbiotic relationship would include moss growing on a tree?

Pick good sources Books in library Articles found through SIRS (filtered for

you) Websites ending in .edu, .org, .gov Avoid using the first result from a Google

search, or Wikipedia Interview people that work in the field

related to your topic

Abstract hints: PREWRITING

Keep track of sources while you are researching

Make note cards Keep a list Use your student folders, gaggle account,

digital locker…

Abstract hints: PREWRITING

ENERGY FLOW

TYPES OF CONSUMERS

Herbivore: eats only plants

Carnivore: eats only animals

Omnivore: eats both plants and animals

Saprovore: eats dead organisms (cleaners)Scavengers: eat dead things (e.g.

crows)Decomposers:

fungus/maggots/bacteria

FOOD CHAIN

A food chain = direct feeding links in the environment.

A chain of organisms in which each link feeds on the one ahead and is eaten by the one behind.

Shows transfer of matter and energy.

neuromanagement.files.wordpress.com/2009/

Trophic levels Organisms in a food chain that represent a

feeding step in the passage of energy and materials through an ecosystem.

Place the following organisms in their appropriate trophic levels: Snake, Grass, Hawk, Mouse

  1st trophic level = Producer - 2nd trophic level = 1st Order Consumer - 3rd trophic level = 2nd Order Consumer - 4th trophic level = 3rd Order Consumer -

1st trophic level = Producer - GRASS

www.momgoesgreen.com/wp-content//grass.jpg

2nd trophic level = 1st Order Consumer - MOUSE

http://www.australianfauna.com/images/pilligamouse.jpg

3rd trophic level =2nd Order Consumer - SNAKE

www.lucis.me.uk/snake_1.jpg

4th trophic level = 3rd Order Consumer - HAWK

www.thevillager.com/vil_92/hawk.gif

ENERGY

90 % of all the energy that passes from one organism to another is lost through heat/use

  Therefore, only 10% is

passed on after the material is digested.

FOOD WEB =

ridge.icu.ac.jp/.../ecosystem-jpgs/food-web.jpg

All the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in the ecosystem (a tangle of many food chains). pg 53

Usually food webs are based on a specificcommunity.

Thought o’ the day:

Imagine you are in a roped-off section of the forest. All the producers, herbivores, and consumers are put into piles. Which do you think will be the largest? Why?

Create a food web below using the following organisms in an ecosystem:bee, deer, beetle, squirrel, rabbit, mouse, blackberries, snake, owl, grass, bear, wolf, oak tree, sparrow.

Warm-Ups 9/16

1. What is the term for the interrelationships of populations in an area?

2. What is the ultimate source of energy in all ecosystems?

3. Animals are heterotrophs and plants are ________.

Check MANY sources! Do multiple sources say the same thing? Skim a variety of articles/books/websites

first, then go diving deeper into specific sources

Abstract hints: PREWRITING

Warm-Ups 9/17

1. What do saprovores eat? What are the two types of saprovores?

2. Which of the following organisms is a producer?

Grass SunNathan Lane Mushroom

3. How much energy is lost by heat/use by each trophic level?

4. What is ecology?