Download - ecological sucession
Intro Marine Ecology
• Ecology: relationship of living things/environment
• Marine Ecology: interdependence of all organisms in the ocean.
Marine Environment
• Abiotic Factors: nonliving elements/ Chemical, Geological, Physical Variables
• Biotic Factors:organisms / interactions among organisms
What is abiotic/biotic?
• Water• Light• Temperature• pH value• Salinity• Substratum• Plants• Dissolved Gases
• Pressure• Tides• Currents• Animals• Waves• Exposure to Air
Biotic Levels of Organizations
• Individual: one organism• Population: group of individuals of one
species (organisms) Habitat
• Communities: plants and animals inhabiting the same physical area.
• Ecosystems: Many communities / large geographic area.
Population
Communities
Characteristics of an Ecosystem
1. Requires a source of energy.
2. Organisms capturing energy / produce organic molecules.
3. Organic material available to all.
4. Cycle nutrients between environments
Zonation of Marine Environment
• See handout
Ecological Distribution
• Pelagic Organisms: in the water Plankton- drifting organisms. Nekton- swimmers
• Benthic Organisms: in or on substrate (sand/rock) burrow, crawl, walk, or affixed Epifauna:live on. Infauna:live within
Plankton/ Nekton
Epifauna/Infauna
Trophic (Feeding) Relationships
• Autorophs: absorb sunlight energy & transform inorganic mineral nutrients into organic molecules. Producers
• Heterotrophs: consumers / cannot synthesize their own food. Need producers.
• Decomposers: live on dead plant and animal. Break down organic material / inorganic nutrients.
Energy Transfer
• Pyramid of numbers: numerical relationship of trophic (feeding) levels.
• Energy Pyramid: energy distribution at each trophic level.
Pyramid of Numbers
Pyramid of Numbers
Pyramid of Numbers
Energy Pyramid
Energy Pyramid
Lost Energy/Energy Pyramid
1. Consumer do not consume (eat) entire organism.
2. Energy used in capture (food).
3. Energy used in metabolism.
4. Energy lost as heat.
* 10% energy pass to next level.
Lost Energy/Energy Pyramid
Food Chain/Energy Pyramid
Food Web
Types of Food Relationships
• Predator-Prey: Predator Needs? Prey Needs?
• Scavenger: Feed on dead plants and animals
• Symbiotic/Symbiosis: nutritional association
Symbiosis in Marine Animals
• Parasitism: (+;-) one benefits, one harmed or interfered with body function.
• Commensalism: (+;0) one benefits, one neither gains or loses.
• Mutualism: (+;+) both benefit.
Parasitism/ Isopod on Fish
Commensalism/Anemone &Crab
Mutualism/Clown & Sea Anemone
Mutualism/Clam & Zooplankton
Population Cycles
• Changes season/season and year/year
• Regulated by Natality (new organisms) and Mortality (rate of death)
• What are factors that affect population cycles?
Biomass Lab Activity
• The Living Ocean: