Ecology Word Parts1. Eco - environment2. Auto – self3. Hetero – others4. Homo – same5. Troph – eating/feeding6. Photo – light7. Synthesis – to make8. Carne - meat9. Herb – plant10. Omni – all/every11. -vorous –eat/swallow

What Is Ecology?Ecology is the scientific study of

interactions among organisms (biotic)

and between organisms and their non-living environment

(abiotic).

Energy Transfer through Trophic Levels

0.1% Third-level consumers

1% Second-level consumers

10% First-level consumers

100% Producers

About 10% of the energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.

Types of Energy TransfersAutotrophs/Producers – convert sunlight into

chemical energy (ex plants and bacteria)

Heterotrophs/Consumers – rely on other organisms for energy

• Carnivores – meat eater• Herbivore – plant eater• Omnivore – eats plant and animals• Detritivores – break down dead material & returns nutrients

to the soil– Scavengers – eats scraps and leftovers– Decomposers – eats dead and decaying organisms

Ecology Triangle

First Trophic Level – Producers, Autotrophs, Examples: Plants, Flowers, Grass, Shrubs

Second Trophic Level – Primary Consumers, Heterotrophs, Examples: Herbivores

3rd Trophic Level – Secondary Consumer, Heterotroph

Ex: Carnivores/Omnivores

4th Trophic Level Tertiary

Consumer, Heterotroph,

Ex: Top Carnivore

Sun- Ultimate Source of all Energy

Detritivores:

Scavengers and Decomposers

Most Energy

Least Energy

Food Chain

• A simple linear feeding process where energy is transferred by eating or being eaten. (Predator/Prey)

Example:GrassZebraLionDecomposer

GrassGiraffeHyenasLionDecomp.

Food Web• Drawing

• The arrow always follows the one way direction of energy.– High Energy Low Energy– Producer Consumer

• A food web is a feeding network of complex interactions

Cycles of Cycles of MatterMatter

Think about the trip a single Think about the trip a single atom of carbon or nitrogen or atom of carbon or nitrogen or phosphorus. Where would it phosphorus. Where would it go, what would it see, what go, what would it see, what stops would it make on it’s stops would it make on it’s

journey?journey?

It all starts with Energy!It all starts with Energy!• Organisms need Organisms need energyenergy to move matter against to move matter against

opposing forces, such as gravity and friction.opposing forces, such as gravity and friction.• Kinetic Energy is what moves things.Kinetic Energy is what moves things.• Potential Energy is stored based on its location or Potential Energy is stored based on its location or

structure. Ex water behind a dam.structure. Ex water behind a dam.• Radiant energy is electromagnetic waves, or Radiant energy is electromagnetic waves, or

energy from the sun. energy from the sun. • Chemical energy is stored in molecules as a result Chemical energy is stored in molecules as a result

of the arrangement of atoms. *Most important to of the arrangement of atoms. *Most important to biologists. biologists.

Atoms and MoleculesAtoms and Molecules• Most organisms obtain chemical Most organisms obtain chemical

energy by eating other organisms. energy by eating other organisms. • Organisms require atomsOrganisms require atoms

– Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon, Hydrogen, PhosphorusPhosphorus

• Organisms require moleculesOrganisms require molecules– HH22O, COO, CO22, NO, NO33-, NO-, NO22-, NH-, NH33, C, C66HH1212OO66, O, O22, ,

ATP, DNAATP, DNA

Molecules are everywhereMolecules are everywhere• 78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen.78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen.• Carbon is in limestone and sediments Carbon is in limestone and sediments

as CaCOas CaCO33 (Calcium Carbonate) and as (Calcium Carbonate) and as COCO22 from from respiration.respiration.

• Hydrogen and Oxygen are obtained Hydrogen and Oxygen are obtained from water.from water.

Producers-organisms in the 1Producers-organisms in the 1stst trophic trophic level, obtain chemical energy from the level, obtain chemical energy from the sun. sun. • Sunlight is the main source of energy for Sunlight is the main source of energy for

life on earth. life on earth. • Plants, some algae, and certain bacteria Plants, some algae, and certain bacteria

capture energy from sunlight capture energy from sunlight ((photosynthesisphotosynthesis) to produce living tissue ) to produce living tissue from inorganic compounds. from inorganic compounds.

• These organisms are These organisms are autotrophsautotrophs..• HerbivoresHerbivores pass pass organic molecules organic molecules to the to the

next trophic level.next trophic level.

Consumers-organisms that rely on Consumers-organisms that rely on other organisms for their energy other organisms for their energy and food supply, or and food supply, or heterotrophsheterotrophs..• Primary consumers obtain energy from Primary consumers obtain energy from

autotrophs.autotrophs.• Secondary consumers eat primary Secondary consumers eat primary

consumers.consumers.• Tertiary consumers eat secondary Tertiary consumers eat secondary

consumersconsumers• Each trophic level obtains 10% of the Each trophic level obtains 10% of the

energy from the previous level. energy from the previous level.

1 calorie is the amount of 1 calorie is the amount of energy required to raise 1 energy required to raise 1 gram of water 1gram of water 1oo C. C.

450,000

45,0004,500450

CYCLES CONNECTIONSCYCLES CONNECTIONS

• Water CycleWater Cycle• Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle• Carbon Cycle (Fast Track)Carbon Cycle (Fast Track)• Carbon Cycle (Slow Track)Carbon Cycle (Slow Track)• Energy CycleEnergy Cycle• Rock CycleRock Cycle• Life CycleLife Cycle

WATER CYCLEWATER CYCLE• Evaporation (Gas)Evaporation (Gas)• Condensation Condensation

(Liquid)(Liquid)• Precipitation (Liquid)Precipitation (Liquid)• Storage Area Storage Area

– Glaciers & Icebergs Glaciers & Icebergs (Solid)(Solid)

– GroundwaterGroundwater– Lakes & OceansLakes & Oceans

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle• Denitrification – bacteria converts nitrates (NODenitrification – bacteria converts nitrates (NO33-, -,

NONO22-) into nitrogen gas (N-) into nitrogen gas (N22).).• Fixation – bacteria from soil and the roots of legumes Fixation – bacteria from soil and the roots of legumes

convert Nconvert N2 2 from the atmosphere to ammonia (NHfrom the atmosphere to ammonia (NH33))• Other sources of NHOther sources of NH33 are from decaying organic are from decaying organic

matter and excretions.matter and excretions.• Bacteria converts NHBacteria converts NH33 to nitrates to nitrates• NHNH33 and nitrates are available for producers to use to and nitrates are available for producers to use to

make proteins. make proteins.

NITROGEN CYCLENITROGEN CYCLE

Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle• Photosynthesis – plants take in sun’s energy Photosynthesis – plants take in sun’s energy

to turn carbon dioxide into oxygento turn carbon dioxide into oxygen• Respiration – releasing carbon dioxide into the Respiration – releasing carbon dioxide into the

airair• Geochemical processes (erosion and volcanic Geochemical processes (erosion and volcanic

activity) release carbon into the atmosphere.activity) release carbon into the atmosphere.• Coal and petroleum store carbon undergroundCoal and petroleum store carbon underground• Human activities release excess carbonHuman activities release excess carbon

CARBON CYCLECARBON CYCLE

Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle• Exists in the biosphere as inorganic Exists in the biosphere as inorganic

phosphatephosphate• As rock sediments wear down, As rock sediments wear down,

phosphate is releasedphosphate is released• Essential part of living organismsEssential part of living organisms

– DNADNA– RNARNA– ATPATP

ROCK CYCLEROCK CYCLE

6 Levels of Organization

1) Individual – one organism of one species in the environment

(one deer in the woods)2) Population – all the organisms of one species in an environment

(all the deer in the woods)3) Community – all the populations in an environment (all biotic factors) (all animals, plants, bacteria, fungus, and protist in the woods)

4) Ecosystem – all the abiotic and biotic factors in the environment (all living things as well as temperature, water, sunlight, air, etc in the woods)5) Biome – ecosystems with similar climates and abiotic and biotic factors (Temperate forest)6) Biosphere – entire earth and all it’s components (earth)

The Major Biomes

• Biomes are defined by a unique set of abiotic and biotic factors—***particularly climate

• Habitat – area an organism lives

The 10 Major Biomes

• Tropical Rain Forest• Tropical Dry Forest• Tropical Savanna• Temperate Grassland• Temperate Woodland

and Shrubland

• Temperate Forest• Northwestern

Coniferous Forest• Boreal Forest• Tundra• Desert

Tropical Rainforest

Tropical Dry Forest

Tropical Savanna

Temperate Grassland

Temperate Woodland and Shrub land

Temperate Forest

Northwestern Coniferous Forest

Boreal Forest

Tundra

Desert

Three Types of Community Interactions

1.) Competition: when organisms attempt to use a resource in the same place at the same time

2.) Predation: interaction when one organism captures and feeds on another

– Predator (hunter): kills and eats– Prey (hunted): killed and eaten

3.) Symbiosis: “living together”

• Mutualism: both benefit (ex. Clownfish/anemone,

bison/cowbirds)

• Parasitism: one benefits and the other is harmed

(ex. fleas, ticks, tapeworms)

Niche – the role an organism plays in an environment

Ecological Succession• Predictable changes that occur in a community over

time

• Two Types:

1. Primary Succession – occurs on surfaces where no soil exists

Ex: volcanic ash, rock

Pioneer Species – 1st to arrive on rock (Lichen)

2. Secondary Succession – when a disturbance changes the community without removing the soil

Ex: Wildfires, Hurricanes, Floods

Animal Behaviors

• Innate Behavior (instinct) – born with knowledge

• Learned Behavior(aquired) – developed over

time

• Imprinting - Innate/Learned Combined

• Social – interaction between individuals

4 Types of Learned Behavior

1. Habituation – ignoring

2. Classical Conditioning – mental connection between reward or punishment (Pavlov)

3. Operant Conditioning/Trial-and-Error – repeated practice (Skinner Box)

4. Insight – reasoning

Social Behaviors

• Territory – guarded area

• Society – colonies, schools, packs

• Communication– Visual – Puffer Fish– Sounds – Rattle Snake– Touch/Agression – Moose/Rams– Smell/Pheromones – Dogs/Cats

Behavior Cycles

• Seasonal – Hibernation, Estivation, Migration

• Daily – circadian rhythms

• Yearly – Courtship/mating

Demography

The scientific study of populations

Four Characteristics of a Population

1.) Geographic Distribution (range): the area

2.) Density: number of individuals in area

3.) Growth rate: number of births, deaths, and immigration (in), or emigration (out)

• Exponential growth: rapid growth (J-Shape Curve)

• Logistic growth: slows after exponential because of limited resources (S-Shape Curve)

• Carrying capacity: the maximum number • Draw

•Growth limiting factors: causes a population growth to decrease

A: Density-Dependent- are biotic factors that limit growth

Ex) competition, predation, parasitism, and disease

B: Density-Independent – abiotic factors that limit growth

Ex) floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, droughts etc.

4. Age Structure

• Diagram to show population growth

• Rapid growth rate = triangle shape

• Stable growth rate = NO triangle

US POPULATION

Questions:

• What percentage of the male Rwanda population is between the ages of 5-9?

• What percentage of the female US population is between the ages of 10-14?

• Which country is growing faster?

Biodiversity

• Sum total of all the variety of organisms in the biosphere.

• It’s earth’s greatest natural resources. This diversity of life gives us food, shelter, and medicine.

• Valuable because it’s the biological life support system of our planet

The greatest threat to biodiversity is habitat destruction: deforestation, pollution, and human activityThe only solution to the loss in biodiversity and ultimately your life is conservationConserve: use only what is needed