Ecology

Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment; focus is on energy transfer – It is a science of

relationships!

Why does ecology matter?Why does ecology matter?

Ecologists complete investigations on the environment, climate change, farming, energy, food, health, green living, and eco friendly products, etc..

• Example problems that ecology handles: – How do humans affect the atmosphere and

contribute to global warming? – How does the population of wolves in an area

affect the population of rabbits?– Do clownfish and anemone benefit each other?

Why does ecology matter?Why does ecology matter?

Scenario: Imagine that there is an insect that lives on peanut plants growing on farms in Effingham County. Is there a way that we can limit insect damage to the peanut crops in order to decrease the price of peanuts at the store by 20 cents per pound?

Ecology

A. There are two parts of an environment :1. ____________- all of the organisms that live

together and interact with one another.- Living factors

Examples: ___________, ______________, _____________, ________________, _____________

Ecology

A. There are two parts of an environment :1. Biotic- all of the organisms that live together

and interact with one another.- Living factors Examples: ___________, ______________,

_____________, ________________, _____________

Examples of Biotic Factors in the Environment

• Biotic means having to do with life or living organisms.

2. _________________- part of the environment that includes all of the physical, nonliving, factors.

Examples: _____________, _____________, _______________

2. Abiotic- part of the environment that includes all of the physical, nonliving, factors.

Examples: _____________, _____________, _______________

Examles of Abiotic Factors in the Environment

• Abiotic factors are characterized by the absence of life or living organisms.

• Sunlight, soil, temperature, and precipitation are examples of abiotic factors in the environment

Biotic Factors

ECOSYSTEM

Abiotic Factors

Section 4-2

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

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Abiotic or Biotic?Abiotic or Biotic?

Biotic (plant)

Abiotic (rainwater)

Abiotic or Biotic?

• The air temperature is 45 degrees F =

• The soil is made of rocks and minerals =

• A bird lays eggs =

• Bacteria break down dead organisms =

• The pH or the water is 2 (acidic) =

abioticabiotic

abioticabiotic

abioticabiotic

bioticbiotic

bioticbiotic

Abiotic or Biotic?Abiotic or Biotic?Biotic Biotic BioticAbiotic

Which of the following is a Which of the following is a relationship between abiotic and relationship between abiotic and

biotic factors?biotic factors?A) The rain on an open field washes away

soil

B) A hawk hunts a mouse and swoops down into the forest for the kill

C) A lake has very acidic water which causes many fish populations to die

D) A deer grazes in a field of grassesAbiotic

Biotic

EcosystemsEcosystems

• Ecosystem: An area containing an interaction of living and non-living factors in an area/region

• Example ecosystems: – South Georgia forests (pine forests)– Coastal Plains of Georgia– Okefenokee Swamp ecosystem– Clark’s Hill Lake Ecosystem

The organization of our world!The organization of our world!

The earth is a biosphere

Ecosystems are the living and nonliving things in an area

Populations are a group of one type of organism living in an area

Ecosystem- a community of organisms and its abiotic environment.

Abiotic + Biotic = Ecosystem

Hierarchy of Biology

• Molecules• Organelles

• Cells• Tissues

• Organs• Organ systems

• Organisms• Populations

• Communities• Ecosystems

II. Organization in the Environment

1. _______________- the individual.

II. Organization in the Environment

1. Organism- the individual.

2. __________________- group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time.

II. Organization in the Environment

1. Organism- the individual.

2. Population- group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same area at the same time.

3. ________________- all of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area.

3. Community- all of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area.

Animals found on the ocean floor

4. Biomes are areas on earth that can be characterized by the climate, vegetation, and organisms that live in a specific environment.

5. ______________The part of the earth and its atmosphere in

which living organisms exist.

5. BiosphereThe part of the earth and its atmosphere in

which living organisms exist.

Ecological Levels of Organization

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Levels of Organization

How do we study How do we study environments?environments?

• Quadrant Studies: Tracking changes in a small section of the environment

How do we study How do we study environments?environments?

• Sampling: Only measuring a small, random part of an environment

An example of an ecology study

• pH: the measurement of how acidic, basic, or neutral a solution is

1 ------------ 4 ----------- 7 ------------ 11 ------------- 14

Strong Acid(very acidic)

Weakly Acidic

Neutral

Weakly Basic

Strong Base(very basic)

Guided Examples• Vinegar

– pH of 4• Baking Soda

– pH of 8-9• Tap water

– pH of about 7• 1 M HCl (hydrochloric acid)

– pH of about 1• 1M NaOH

– pH of about 14

AcidicAcidic

AcidicAcidic

BasicBasic

BasicBasic

NeutralNeutral

Guided Examples

• Which is more acidic?A) pH of 2

B) pH of 5

C) pH of 7

D) pH of 11

• Which is more basic?A) pH of 2B) pH of 5C) pH of 7D) pH of 11

A scientist performs an experiment to see if acids have an effect on the health of a particular type of plant. Three sets of plants were treated with acidic solutions of known pH while the control set was treated with a solution of neutral pH 7.

What is the best conclusion for this experiment?

A. Acid has no effect on the health of this type of plant

B. High acidity is helpful to this type of plant

C. Low acidity is harmful to this type of plant

D. High acidity is harmful to this type of plant

1.Tropical Rainforest – hot, humid, heavy rainfall, tall trees, occur around the equator, many different species; most live in the canopy, birds, frogs, snakes, monkeys

2. Taiga – coniferous forest; long cold winters; Canada; usually only one or two types of conifers- evergreen trees like pines, bear, caribou, deer, elk, beaver

3. Temperate Deciduous Forest – Eastern U.S. ; leaves of trees change color, warm summers and mild winters; maple, oak, and elm trees, squirrel, deer, fox

4. Desert – hot in the daytime, cold at night; dry; Africa; U.S.; Australia, plants and animals exhibit adaptations and behaviors that help them conserve water; cactus, short shrubs, scorpions, rodents, and snakes.

Tundra

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/enlarge/arctic-fox_image.html

5. Tundra – Cold; permafrost- soil is permanently frozen; little rainfall; soggy soil, Arctic; lichen and moss grow, caribou, arctic fox, arctic hare, owl.

6. Savanna- tropical grassland with a few scattered trees; Africa; wet & dry season, have large grazing animals like zebra, elephants, giraffes

Prairie – North American Grassland; U.S- very fertile soils

WaterMarine and Freshwater

7. Water Biomes - controlled by abiotic factors like temperature, salt content, amount of sunlight that travels thru the water, distance from the land, and depth of the water.

A. Three types – marine, estuary, and freshwater

1. Marine – Base of the food chain is phytoplankton (producers) and zooplankton (consumers); ocean and sea biomes are divided into different zones

2. Estuary – occur where freshwater flows into salt water; tidal changes cause salt concentration changes; nutrient rich due to run-off from land; large numbers of plankton

3. Freshwater – 3 types depending on speed of waterA. Fast moving– rivers; producers and

consumers cling to rocksB. Slow moving- river grows wider as it

approaches the ocean; deltas form due to sediment build up

C. Still water– lakes and ponds, divided into different zones; shore, open water, and deep water

Nutrient Cycles

Cycling maintains homeostasis (balance) in the environment.

•3 cycles to investigate:

1. Water cycle

2. Carbon cycle

3. Nitrogen cycle

Water cycle-

•Evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation

Water cycle-

Carbon cycle-

•Photosynthesis and respiration cycle carbon and

oxygen through the environment.

Carbon cycle-

Nitrogen cycle-

Atmospheric nitrogen (N2) makes up nearly 78%-80% of air.

Organisms can not use it in that form.

Lightning and bacteria convert nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen cycle-

Only in certain bacteria and industrial technologies can fix nitrogen.

Nitrogen fixation-convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonium (NH4

+) which can be used to make organic compounds like amino acids.

N2 NH4+

Nitrogen cycle-

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria:

Some live in a symbiotic relationship with plants of the legume family (e.g., soybeans, clover, peanuts).

Nitrogen cycle-

•Some nitrogen-fixing bacteria live free in the soil.

•Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are essential to maintaining the fertility of semi-aquatic environments like rice paddies.

Atmospheric nitrogenLightning

Nitrogen fixing

bacteria

Ammonium Nitrification by bacteria

Nitrites Nitrates

Denitrification by bacteria

Plants

Animals

Decomposers

Nitrogen Cycle