What is ecology?What is ecology?
EcologyEcology: study : study of interactions of interactions that take place that take place between between organisms and organisms and their their environmentenvironment
BiosphereBiosphere
the portion of the Earth that supports the portion of the Earth that supports living thingsliving things
Ex: ocean, forest, atmosphere.Ex: ocean, forest, atmosphere.
Abiotic vs. Biotic factorsAbiotic vs. Biotic factors
AbioticAbiotic = nonliving parts of the = nonliving parts of the environmentenvironment Ex: light, air, temperature, soilEx: light, air, temperature, soil
BioticBiotic = living parts of the environment = living parts of the environment Ex: bacteria, protist, fungus, plant, Ex: bacteria, protist, fungus, plant,
animalanimal
Levels of organization Levels of organization from smallest to largestfrom smallest to largest
IndividualIndividual PopulationPopulation CommunityCommunity EcosystemEcosystem
IndividualIndividual
made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, made of cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and developsresponds, grows, and develops
PopulationPopulation
group of organisms all of the same group of organisms all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the species, which interbreed and live in the same area at the same timesame area at the same time
CommunityCommunity
interacting populations in a certain area interacting populations in a certain area at a certain timeat a certain time
EcosystemEcosystem
interacting communities and abiotic interacting communities and abiotic factorsfactors
Habitat vs. NicheHabitat vs. Niche
HabitatHabitat: place where organism lives: place where organism lives
NicheNiche: role or position a species has in : role or position a species has in its environmentits environment
Habitats are capable of Habitats are capable of changing.changing.
What can lead to changes in habitats?
Symbiosis: interactions Symbiosis: interactions between two speciesbetween two species
MutualismMutualism: both benefits: both benefits
CommensalismCommensalism: one benefits, the other : one benefits, the other unaffectedunaffected
ParasitismParasitism: one benefits, one is harmed: one benefits, one is harmed
MutualismMutualism
Clownfish is protected, while providing a lure for the anemone.
Some say that this relationship can be commensalistic.
CommensalismCommensalism
Volcano sponge using the crinoid sponge as a “lift” for increased filtration but the crinoid sponge is unaffected.
How organisms obtain How organisms obtain energyenergy
AutotrophAutotroph (producer): photosynthetic or (producer): photosynthetic or chemosynthetic, makes own foodchemosynthetic, makes own food
HeterotrophHeterotroph (consumer): “eat” other (consumer): “eat” other organisms, cannot make own foodorganisms, cannot make own food
DecomposerDecomposer: breaks down dead or : breaks down dead or decaying organisms, recycles matterdecaying organisms, recycles matter
Heterotrophs - Heterotrophs - scavengersscavengers
ScavengersScavengers: feed off of dead or : feed off of dead or decaying living things but do not recycle decaying living things but do not recycle matter back into the ecosystemmatter back into the ecosystem
Heterotrophs - Heterotrophs - herbivoresherbivores
consume only consume only vegetative mattervegetative matter
mostly mostly primary primary consumersconsumers..
Heterotrophs - carnivoresHeterotrophs - carnivores
obtain energy from obtain energy from eating other eating other consumersconsumers
Secondary and Secondary and tertiary consumerstertiary consumers
Food chainFood chain
shows how matter and energy move shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem (one route)through an ecosystem (one route)
berries → mice → black bear
Food webFood web shows shows
interactions interactions between between organisms organisms (all possible (all possible routes)routes)
Energy pyramidEnergy pyramid
Shows how Shows how much much energy is energy is available at available at each each trophic trophic (energy) (energy) levellevel
Pyramid of Energy
Heat
Heat
Heat
Heat
0.1% Consumers
1% Consumers
10%
Consumers
Parasites, scavengers, and
decomposers feed at each
level.
Four cycles in natureFour cycles in nature
Water cycleWater cycle Carbon cycleCarbon cycle Nitrogen cycleNitrogen cycle Phosphorus cyclePhosphorus cycle