Ecology

What is the biosphere and how is it organized?

Biosphere

Area of the earth where life exists; extends from ocean depths to a few kilometers above land

Biomes

An extensive area of similar climate and vegetation; there are six terrestrial biomes and three aquatic biomes.

Ecosystem

A physically distinct, self-supporting unit of interacting organisms and their environment.

Ex. Forest or pond

Ecosystem

Four important processes:1. Production of

energy (usually from sunlight)

2. Energy transfer

3. Decomposition

4. Reuse of nutrients

Ecosystem

Includes biotic and abiotic factors

Biotic - living things

Abiotic - nonliving things

Ex. Temperature, light, nutrients

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Simple picture of an ecosystem (label a biotic and abiotic factor):

Communities & Populations

Communities - all the ecosystems interacting biotic factors

Communities may be broken down into smaller units called populations

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Simple picture of a community:

Communities & Populations

Populations - a group of individuals that belong to the same species and occupy the same area and share common resources

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Simple picture of a population:

Communities & Populations

Each population has a specific niche, which means total way of life.The niche includes habitat, place in food web, competition, interrelationships, and resource needs (temperature, water)

Communities & Populations

A community may have 1000’s of populations (tropical rainforest) or relatively few (tundra)

Check Yourself!1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from

highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level (niche).

2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and a community?

3. What four essential processes would be found in an ecosystem?

a. c. b. d.

Check Yourself!1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from

highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level (niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM -> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL (NICHE)

2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and a community?

3. What four essential processes would be found in an ecosystem?

a. c. b. d.

Check Yourself!1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from

highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level (niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM -> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL (NICHE)

2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and a community? ECOSYSTEM = BIOTIC & ABIOTIC FACTORS (LIVING & NONLIVING); COMMUNITY = BIOTIC FACTORS ONLY (ONLY LIVING)

3. What four essential processes would be found in an ecosystem?

a. c. b. d.

Check Yourself!1. List the levels of organization of the biosphere from

highest level (biosphere) to the most specific level (niche). BIOSPHERE -> BIOME -> ECOSYSTEM -> COMMUNITY -> POPULATION -> INDIVIDUAL (NICHE)

2. What is the difference between an ecosystem and a community? ECOSYSTEM = BIOTIC & ABIOTIC FACTORS (LIVING & NONLIVING); COMMUNITY = BIOTIC FACTORS ONLY (ONLY LIVING)

3. What four essential processes would be found in an ecosystem?

a. ENERGY PRODUCTION c. DECOMPOSITION

b. ENERGY TRANSFER d. REUSE OF NUTRIENTS

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How do living things interact in a community?

Competition - a struggle for resources among organisms.

Ex. Nesting space for birds

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Picture of competition:

How do living things interact in a community?

Predation

Predators are organisms that consume other organisms

Ex. Zebra eating grass (?)

Prey are organisms that are being consumed.

Ex. Earthworm being eaten by a bird

How do living things interact in a community?

Symbiosis - two organisms of different species living together in a close, permanent relationship; 3 types

3 types of symbiosis:Mutualism - two organisms benefit each other (+,+)

Ex. Termite and protozoan

Ex. Lichen - an alga and a fungus

3 types of symbiosis:

Parasitism - one organism benefits and the other is harmed (+,-)

Ex. Tapeworm and human

Ex. Mistletoe and tree

3 types of symbiosis:

Commensalism - one organism benefits and the other is unaffected (+,0)

Ex. Clownfish and sea anemone

Ex. Whale and barnacles

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Fill in the correct type of symbiosis for the following symbols:

+,+ __________________

+,- ___________________

Check Yourself!1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a

“struggle for resources”?

2. In your backyard, you observe a snake entering your birdfeeder. Who is the predator and who is the prey?

3. What is symbiosis?

Check Yourself!1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a

“struggle for resources”? COMPETITION

2. In your backyard, you observe a snake entering your birdfeeder. Who is the predator and who is the prey?

3. What is symbiosis?

Check Yourself!1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a

“struggle for resources”? COMPETITION

2. In your backyard, you observe a snake entering your birdfeeder. Who is the predator and who is the prey? PREDATOR = SNAKE; PREY = BIRD

3. What is symbiosis?

Check Yourself!1. Which biotic relationship is defined as a

“struggle for resources”? COMPETITION

2. In your backyard, you observe a snake entering your birdfeeder. Who is the predator and who is the prey? PREDATOR = SNAKE; PREY = BIRD

3. What is symbiosis? CLOSE, PERMANENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO ORGANISMS