ecology interactions of living things. sea otters wrap themselves in a blade of kelp to keep from...

Ecology

Interactions of Living Things

Sea otters wrap themselves in a Sea otters wrap themselves in a blade of kelp to keep from drifting blade of kelp to keep from drifting while they sleep.while they sleep.

FACTFACT

Blades of kelp can grow as tall as the Blades of kelp can grow as tall as the Statue of Liberty and they can be Statue of Liberty and they can be useful to sea otters.useful to sea otters.

Fact or FibFact or Fib


Many animals prefer to live in areas Many animals prefer to live in areas with acidic soil. with acidic soil.

FIBFIB

Acidic soil limits the number of plants Acidic soil limits the number of plants that will grow and therefore limits that will grow and therefore limits the food source for many animals. the food source for many animals.


The Australian mallee fowl relies on The Australian mallee fowl relies on bacteria and fungus to regulate the bacteria and fungus to regulate the temperature of its nest.temperature of its nest.

FactFact

As they decompose leaves on the As they decompose leaves on the nest, they give off heat. When it’s nest, they give off heat. When it’s just the right temperature, the birds just the right temperature, the birds lay their eggs. lay their eggs.


Alligators make homes for fish and Alligators make homes for fish and other aquatic life.other aquatic life.

FACTFACT

They dig a hole for themselves They dig a hole for themselves and when they leave that hole is and when they leave that hole is inhabited by other animals. inhabited by other animals.

What is common in each of these?What is common in each of these?

Australian mallee Australian mallee relyrely on bacteria on bacteria and fungus.and fungus.

Sea otters Sea otters relyrely on kelp. on kelp. Some aquatic animals Some aquatic animals relyrely on on

alligators.alligators. Many animals Many animals relyrely on fertile soil. on fertile soil.

EcologyEcology

All living things are connected.All living things are connected.

What do we call the study of What do we call the study of relationships among organisms?relationships among organisms?

Lesson 1- Matter, Energy, & the Lesson 1- Matter, Energy, & the EnvironmentEnvironment

EEcologycology is the study of the is the study of the interactions between organisms and interactions between organisms and the environmentthe environment

An organism’s environment is An organism’s environment is anything that affects the organism anything that affects the organism including living & non-living factorsincluding living & non-living factors

Living vs. Not Living FactorsLiving vs. Not Living Factors BioticBiotic- living things- living things

• Examples:Examples: AnimalsAnimals PlantsPlants Bacteria & FungiBacteria & Fungi

AbioticAbiotic- non-living things- non-living things• Examples:Examples:

TheThe sunsun Climate-Climate- average weather conditions in an area over timeaverage weather conditions in an area over time TemperatureTemperature WaterWater AtmosphereAtmosphere-- layer of gases that surround Earthlayer of gases that surround Earth SoilSoil

If either a biotic or abiotic factor is If either a biotic or abiotic factor is disturbed, other parts of the disturbed, other parts of the ecosystem are affected.ecosystem are affected.

biotic

from Greek biotikos, means “fit for life”

Living Things Need EnergyLiving Things Need Energy Organisms in an Organisms in an

ecosystem can be ecosystem can be divided into 3 groups divided into 3 groups based on how they based on how they obtain energyobtain energy..

ProducersProducers• Use Use sunlightsunlight to to

make food using make food using photosynthesisphotosynthesis

PlantsPlants Some AlgaeSome Algae Some Bacteria Some Bacteria

ConsumersConsumers• Eat producers or other organismsEat producers or other organisms• They cannot directly use sunlightThey cannot directly use sunlight

HerbivoresHerbivores- plant eaters- plant eaters CarnivoresCarnivores- meat eaters- meat eaters OmnivoresOmnivores- eat both meat & plants- eat both meat & plants ScavengersScavengers- feed on bodies of dead - feed on bodies of dead

animals animals

DecomposersDecomposers• Break down the remains of Break down the remains of dead dead

organisms. organisms. • Natures recyclers because they Natures recyclers because they

produce simpler material such as produce simpler material such as water and carbon dioxide.water and carbon dioxide.

• Examples: bacteria and fungiExamples: bacteria and fungi

How does energy move through How does energy move through ecosystems?ecosystems?

In most cases, In most cases, energy flow begins energy flow begins with the Sun and with the Sun and moves from one moves from one organism to organism to another.another.

Food ChainFood Chain A model that shows how energy A model that shows how energy

flows in an ecosystem through flows in an ecosystem through feeding relationships.feeding relationships.

In a food chain, arrows show the In a food chain, arrows show the transfer of energy.transfer of energy.

•The amount of available energy decreases every time it is transferred from one organism to another.

Food WebFood Web Food webs illustrate Food webs illustrate

all the complex all the complex feeding relationships feeding relationships in a real ecosystem.in a real ecosystem.

Some organisms in a Some organisms in a food web might be food web might be part of more than one part of more than one food chain in that food chain in that web.web.

Few organisms eat Few organisms eat just one kind of foodjust one kind of food

There are many There are many possible connections possible connections

Food chains & Food webs Food chains & Food webs video clipvideo clip

Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid shows the amount of energy shows the amount of energy

available in each step of a available in each step of a food chain.food chain.

• The steps of an energy The steps of an energy pyramid are called trophic pyramid are called trophic levels.levels.

• Producers, such as plants, Producers, such as plants, make up the trophic level at make up the trophic level at the bottom of the pyramidthe bottom of the pyramid

• Consumers that eat producers Consumers that eat producers make up the next trophic make up the next trophic level.level.

• Consumers that eat other Consumers that eat other consumers make up the consumers make up the highest trophic level.highest trophic level.

• Less energy is available for Less energy is available for consumers at each higher consumers at each higher trophic level.trophic level.

Energy PyramidEnergy Pyramid video clip video clip

What would happen to the food What would happen to the food web if a specific organism were web if a specific organism were

removed?removed?

Gray wolves were almost wiped out when Gray wolves were almost wiped out when the US wilderness was settledthe US wilderness was settled

This caused the elk population to This caused the elk population to increase.increase.

How do you think the fox How do you think the fox population was effected by this?population was effected by this?

Their population decreased…why?Their population decreased…why?

Here’s why.Here’s why.

Wolves eat elkWolves eat elk Elk graze Elk graze Overpopulation of elk causes Overpopulation of elk causes

overgrazingovergrazing This means, there is not enough food This means, there is not enough food

for hares which also means not for hares which also means not enough food for foxes.enough food for foxes.

How do wolves help the How do wolves help the community?community?

Wolves kill old, injured, or diseased Wolves kill old, injured, or diseased elk and regulate the populations in elk and regulate the populations in the community.the community.

How would the introduction of How would the introduction of an exotic (invasive) species an exotic (invasive) species

affect the food web?affect the food web?

•Mute swans were brought to the Hudson River Valley during the 19th century to ornament the estates of the wealthy.

•They consume enormous quantities of submerged aquatic vegatation (SAV) and edge other waterfowl out of their habitats.

A thought to take with you.A thought to take with you.

• When one tugs at a single thing in When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."the world."

Muir, John Naturalist, Preservationist and Naturalist, Preservationist and Founder of the Sierra Club (1838-1914)Founder of the Sierra Club (1838-1914)

Lesson 2- Populations & Lesson 2- Populations & CommunitiesCommunities

5 Levels of the environment5 Levels of the environment

Individual Individual organismorganism


A group of individuals of the same A group of individuals of the same species that live together in the same species that live together in the same area at the same time make up a area at the same time make up a populationpopulation..


All populations of different species that live in All populations of different species that live in the same area make up the the same area make up the comcommunitymunity


Community Community plus abiotic plus abiotic factors make factors make up the up the ecosystemecosystem

Anywhere that life exists is the Anywhere that life exists is the biospherebiosphere• From the deepest parts of the ocean to From the deepest parts of the ocean to

very high up in the atmospherevery high up in the atmosphere


Population SizesPopulation Sizes Changes in environmental factors can Changes in environmental factors can

result in population size changes.result in population size changes.• Populations cannot grow indefinitelyPopulations cannot grow indefinitely• Environments only contains so much food, Environments only contains so much food,

water, living space, and other resourceswater, living space, and other resources When one of these becomes scarce, it is When one of these becomes scarce, it is

said to be said to be limitinglimiting A A limiting factorlimiting factor is anything that restricts is anything that restricts

the size of a population. the size of a population. • Available sunlight is a limiting factor for most Available sunlight is a limiting factor for most

organisms.organisms.• Without sunlight, green plants cannot make Without sunlight, green plants cannot make

food, which effects animals that eat plants.food, which effects animals that eat plants.

Population SizesPopulation Sizes

Temperature is a limiting factor for Temperature is a limiting factor for some organisms.some organisms.• When the temperature drops below When the temperature drops below

freezing, many organisms die because it freezing, many organisms die because it is too cold to carry out their life is too cold to carry out their life functions. functions.

• Disease, predators, and natural Disease, predators, and natural disasters such as fires or floods are also disasters such as fires or floods are also limiting factors.limiting factors.

Population SizesPopulation Sizes

The largest number of individuals of The largest number of individuals of one species that an environment can one species that an environment can support is the support is the carrying capacitycarrying capacity

A population grows until it reaches A population grows until it reaches the carrying capacity of an the carrying capacity of an environment.environment.

Carrying capacity is determined in Carrying capacity is determined in part by limiting factorspart by limiting factors

The carrying capacity The carrying capacity of an environment is of an environment is not constant because not constant because it increases and it increases and decreases as the decreases as the amount of available amount of available resources increases resources increases and decreases.and decreases.

When the size of a When the size of a population becomes population becomes larger than the larger than the carrying capacity of its carrying capacity of its ecosystem, ecosystem, overpopulation occurs.overpopulation occurs.

Communities, Habitats & NichesCommunities, Habitats & Niches

A community is made up of all the A community is made up of all the species that live in the same species that live in the same ecosystem at the same timeecosystem at the same time.

HabitatHabitat

The place within an ecosystem where an The place within an ecosystem where an organism lives is its habitatorganism lives is its habitat

A habitat provides all the resources an organism A habitat provides all the resources an organism needs, including food and shelter.needs, including food and shelter.

•ForestsForests•GrasslandsGrasslands•DesertsDeserts•TundraTundra

NicheNiche An organism’s way of life within an An organism’s way of life within an

ecosystem ecosystem Different species have different Different species have different

niches in the same environmentniches in the same environment How an organism obtains energy is How an organism obtains energy is

an important part of its nichean important part of its niche.

Relationships in CommunitiesRelationships in Communities

CompetitionCompetition- - 2 or more 2 or more individuals or populations try to individuals or populations try to use the same limited resource use the same limited resource such as such as food, waterfood, water, shelter, or , shelter, or sunlightsunlight

Can occur within or between Can occur within or between populationspopulations


Predators and Prey- Predators and Prey- interaction when interaction when one organism eats anotherone organism eats another

PreyPrey-organism that is eaten-organism that is eaten• Adaptations to survive- run, stay in Adaptations to survive- run, stay in

groups, camouflage, poisonousgroups, camouflage, poisonous PredatorsPredators- organism that eats the - organism that eats the

preyprey• Adaptations to catch prey- fast, Adaptations to catch prey- fast,

camouflage camouflage


A close relationship between two or A close relationship between two or more organisms of different species more organisms of different species that live in direct contact is called that live in direct contact is called symbiosissymbiosis

Individuals can benefit from, be Individuals can benefit from, be unaffected by, or be harmedunaffected by, or be harmed

Kinds of SymbiosisKinds of Symbiosis MutualismMutualism-both organisms benefit -both organisms benefit

from the relationshipfrom the relationshipEx. Algae produce food for coral, which provides Ex. Algae produce food for coral, which provides shelter for algaeshelter for algae

Kinds of SymbiosisKinds of Symbiosis

CommensalismCommensalism- one organism - one organism benefits and the other is unaffectedbenefits and the other is unaffected• Ex. Sharks and RemorasEx. Sharks and Remoras

Remoras “hitch a ride” and feed on scraps of Remoras “hitch a ride” and feed on scraps of food left by sharks; shark is unaffectedfood left by sharks; shark is unaffected

Kinds of SymbiosisKinds of Symbiosis

ParasitismParasitism-one benefits and the -one benefits and the other is harmedother is harmed

Ex. Fleas & ticks on your petEx. Fleas & ticks on your pet ParasiteParasite benefits (ex: ticks, tapeworms) benefits (ex: ticks, tapeworms) HostHost is harmed is harmed

How do humans rely on other How do humans rely on other organisms?organisms?

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to "Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our children."from our children."• Proverb-Ancient Native American • -More quotes about [Ecology] -More quotes about [Ecology]

[Interdependence] [Stewardship] [Native-[Interdependence] [Stewardship] [Native-American]American]

-More quotes about [Common Good] [Core -More quotes about [Common Good] [Core Democratic Values] [Ecology] [Interdependence] Democratic Values] [Ecology] [Interdependence] [Stewardship][Stewardship]

ecology interactions of living things. sea otters wrap themselves in a blade of kelp to keep from...

Documents

energy organisms

available energy

energy available

food source

energy flows

transfer of energy

food webfood webs

food chaina model