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Ecology Part 1

• Introductory Vocabulary

• Nutritional Relationships

• Energy Relationships

Gulf Oil Spill

• Gulf Oil Spill Effects on Wildlife – Science

Magazine

Let’s BeginEcological Organization

• Ecology

- relationships

between

organisms and

their environment

• Biosphere

– the portion of

earth where life

exists

Characteristics of Ecosystems

• Requirements

– Constant flow of energy from the sun

– Cycle of materials

• Abiotic Factors of Ecosystems (nonliving)

– Light, temperature, water, soil, gases, pH

– Also called limiting factors

• Biotic Factors of Ecosystems (living)

– Trees, animals, fungi, bacteria

Biotic Vs. Abiotic

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Biotic Factors·Organisms that look alike and can mate among

themselves.

Species

Population

• all members of a species living in a particular location

Community • interacting populations (white tail deer,

maple trees, coral reef, etc.)

Ecosystem

• members of a community and their physical environment

• The organisms

plus:

– Water

– Temperature

– Sunlight

– pH

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.

html

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CommunityHow does a community differ from a population? An ecosystem?

Habitat vs. Niche• Habitat

– environment in which

an organism lives

• Niche

– the role a species fills

in its habitat (what it

eats, where it lives)

Niche

coyote

wolf

NC State Bird

What is

this bird?

NC State Mammal

Symbiotic Relationships - living

together in close association

• Mutualism

– both organisms benefit

• Commensalism

– 1 organism benefits, the other is not affected

• Parasitism

– 1 organism benefits, the other is harmed

Mutualism

Lichens – algae

And fungi

Figure 31.17 Anatomy of a lichen

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A remarkable 3-way mutualism

appears to have evolved between an

ant, a butterfly caterpillar, and an

acacia in the American southwest.

The caterpillars have nectar organs

which the ants drink from, and the

acacia tolerates the feeding

caterpillars. The ants appear to

provide some protection for both

plant and caterpillar.

Mutualism Commensalism

Commensalism

Barnacles

Buffalo and Egrets

Parasitism - TapewormParasitism - Athletes Foot

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List the various symbiotic

relationships

• Zombie snails

Reef Symbiosis

Complex Symbiotic Relationships

Fungus Growing Ants

Parasitic Wasps

Be able to discuss the interactions of these 2

complex symbiotic systems.

Nutritional Relationships

• Autotrophs– make their own food (plants)

– Also called producers

Nutritional Relationships• Heterotrophs

– eat autotrophs and other organisms

– Also called consumers

– Examples are animals, fungi, protists, and bacteria

• Types of Heterotrophs:

– Herbivores

• eat plants

– Carnivores

• eat animals

– Predators

» hunt

– Scavengers

» feed on animals they haven’t killed

– Omnivores

• eat plants and animals

Energy Flow Relationships• Producers

– plants (autotrophs)

• Consumers – animals (heterotrophs)

• Primary – eat producers

• Secondary – eat primary consumers

• Decomposers – Break down dead organisms

• (bacteria and fungi)

• Saprotrophs– Breakdown dead or decaying material

– Enzymes

– Fungi, bacteria

• Detritivore – Eat dead or decaying material

– Earthworms, catfish, insects

Ecology – Part 2• Food Chains

• Food Webs

• Ecological Pyramids

• Ecological Cycles

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Energy Flow

• RADIANT ENERGY = SOLAR ENERGY =

SUNLIGHT = UV RADIATION

• The sun is the primary source of energy

on earth

• Living systems require a continuous input

of energy to maintain organization. The

input of radiant energy which is converted

to chemical energy allows organisms to

carry out life processes.

Most Energy is Lost as Heat

• Within ecosystems energy flows from the

radiant energy of the sun through

producers and consumers as chemical

energy that is ultimately transformed into

heat energy.

• Continual refueling of radiant energy is

required by ecosystems.

Only 1% of Solar Energy is

Utilized for Photosynthesis

The rest is absorbed by other sources or lost as heat

Energy Flow Relationships• Food chains

– transfer of energy in repeated stages

• Trophic Level– Feeding level (producers, primary consumers,

secondary consumers, etc.) of the food chain

Click on this box to play the game!

Click on the box to learn more about food chains!

Food Chain Food Web

•Food chains interconnected

•Note that the arrows go in the direction of energy

flow!!

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Food WebFood Web

Ecological Pyramids

• Pyramid of Energy

– shows how energy flows from producers to carnivores

– There is a 10% change level to level

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Energy Pyramid - 10% Rule

Scientists

estimate

That only 1 % of

the sun’s energy

is used in

photosynthesis!!

The energy that

is obtained is

only 10% of the

previous level’s

energy.

Figure 54.14 Food energy available to the human population at different trophic

levels

Ecological Pyramids

• Pyramid of Numbers

– Shows population sizes

and how they decrease at

each level

Ecological Pyramids

• Pyramid of Biomass

– organic mass found at

each level

– Producers at the

bottom, high level

consumers on top

Click on this biomass pyramid to

learn more about Ecological

pyramids:

Foldable

• We are going to construct a foldable

showing a food chain, energy pyramid,

and trophic levels!!

• Please grab a Pyramid Foldable, scissors,

and a glue stick.

• Cut Pyramid out. Wait to color!

• Do not paste foldable yet!

Construct your foldable like this:

• 3 sides to the Pyramid

– Each side should have 4 trophic levels in the correct

order

• 1 side: Energy pyramid

– Show energy relationships from most energy to least

energy (numbers should be used—start with

1,000,000 calories and 100%)

• 1 side: Trophic levels

– Include these words: primary consumer, autotroph, secondary

consumer, heterotroph, producer, carnivore, herbivore, 3rd level

consumer, 1st trophic level, 2nd trophic level, 3rd trophic level, and

4th trophic level.

• 1 side: Food chain

– Please draw and label what your organisms are!

Show at least 4 trophic levels!

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Wrap-up: Which organisms drive the

nitrogen cycle and where do they live?

Cycles of Materials

• Which are the most abundant elements

found in organisms?

– Carbon

– Hydrogen

– Oxygen

– Nitrogen

– Phosphorus

Carbon Cycle

Atmospheric

CO2

Dissolved CO2

Open burning Photosynthesis

RespirationRespiration

Fuel Combustion

Fuel Combustion

Photosynthesis

Respiration

Death and decay

Death and decay

Fossil fuels

•Driven by cellular respiration and photosynthesis How does carbon enter the food chain?

Nitrogen Cycle• Plants and animals can’t use atmospheric

nitrogen – it has to be converted!

• Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria drive the nitrogen

cycle

– Nitrogen nitrates

• They live in the root

nodules of legumes

(bean plants)

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The ability of an organism to withstand fluctuations in

environmental factors is known as tolerance.

Voc Review – Please work with your neighbor!

Ecology – Part 3

• Ecological Succession

• Carrying Capacity

• Population Growth

• Human Population

• Biodiversity

Ecosystem Formation

• Ecological Succession – Replacement of one community by another

• Pioneer organisms

– The first organisms in an area (lichens, algae)

– They make a more favorable environment for other plants

– Lichens, algae, grass

• Climax community– The final community

– Remains until nature destroys

Forest Succession

Primary

Succession-

takes place

where no life

has existed

before.

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Lake

Succession

Secondary Succession – occurs

where life has previously existed

Pioneer Species Think-Pair-Share

• Which kind of succession would take place?

– A forest that has had a fire

– A volcano erupting and leaving open rock

– A beach affected by a hurricane

– A Sand dune in a former desert where the

temperature has dropped drastically the last 10 years.

Exponential Growth Curve

Population Growth of Houseflies

1 million

500,000

100 One year

Po

pu

lati

on

siz

e

Carrying Capacity vs.

Exponential Growth• J-shaped curve S-shaped curve

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Carrying Capacity

• The maximum number of organisms of a

particular type that can be supported in an

area…

Carrying Capacity

• This graph shows an S-

curve

• As the population size

approaches the carrying

capacity (dashed-line),

the growth slows down

(note the blue arrows)

Time

Pop

ula

tion

Life History Patterns

• An organism’s reproductive pattern

– Elephant’s – slow pattern

– Mosquitoes – rapid pattern

• What are some factors that would keep

the population at a steady level?

• Competition

- organisms struggling for limited resources

Figure 41.9 Bulk-feeding: a python

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Figure 52.19 Population cycles in the snowshoe hare and lynx

Certain limiting factors are related

to population density (size)…

• Density-dependent factors (food, disease,

predators)

– These factors have an increasing effect as the

population increases.

Certain limiting factors are NOT

related to population density

(size)…• Density-independent factors (temperature,

storms, floods, droughts)

– These factors can affect populations,

regardless of their density.

Human Population

• Demography – the study of human

population size

– Census

– Birth rate (live births/1000 people)

– Death rate (deaths/1000 people)

– Birth rate – death rate = Population Growth

Rate (PGR)

Human Population Human Population (con’t)

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Human population growth

• Technology has helped to increase Earth’s

carrying capacity and population.– gas-powered farm equipment

• Access to food

– medical advancements• Antibiotics, vaccinations

World population and

exponential growth• As the human population

grows what might be the

impact on the following:

(1) Resources use and

waste

(2) Loss of biodiversity

(different species in an

area)

(3) Global Climate Change

Resource use

• As population increases, demand for food,

water, and land increases– Renewable resources

• Wind, sunlight, water

– Nonrenewable (cannot be renewed in the environment)

• Fossil fuels, fresh drinking water, nutrient rich soil

• Growing use of nonrenewable resources

may lead to a crisis.

• Resources must be properly managed.

Resource useNegative impacts

• Food

– Monoculture (one type of crop) farmlands replace natural habitats

• Water

– Diverting of natural waterways for cities (Las Vegas)

• Land

– Habitat destruction to construct new living structures

• Displaced organisms

– Urbanization

• Runoff (flooding because of increased paving of roads, parking lots)

– Beach erosion

• Structures on beaches aid in the movement of sand

• Loss of coastline

Waste and pollution• Hog farming

– Waste runoff from lagoons

• Poo in the water

• Factory emissions

(burning of fossil fuels)– Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen

dioxide react with water

molecules

– Creates acid rain

• Mount Mitchell

– Carbon dioxide

• CO2 is a greenhouse gas

(keeps heat in, global climate

change)

Waste and pollution

• Bioaccumulation– Buildup of a chemical as it moves up the food

web

– Pesticides• DDT: water zooplankton fish #1 fish #2 seagull

• DDT concentration in seagull was much greater than in water

– Mercury• Mad as a hatter

• Sharks have a high level (top of the food chain!)

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Waste and pollution

• CFCs– Chlorofluorocarbons

– Found in aerosols,

refrigerants, solvents

– Heavy use of CFCs

caused the depletion of

the ozone layer • Ozone layer protects us from

harmful UV radiation

– CFCs also act as a

greenhouse gas (keeps

heat in)

– Banned in 1989

Loss of biodiversity

Biodiversity

Variation of life in an area (or the world)

Availability of food and medicines

Habitat loss is the leading cause of the decrease

in biodiversity

BiodiversityA.Invasive species:

Nonnative species

inhabit an area with no

natural predators

(kudzu, stink bugs)

Invasive species thrive

and outcompete native

species

BiodiversityB. Endangered species

A species that is likely to go extinct

Habitat destruction, pollutants, invasive species

Example:

Spruce fir moss spider

--Balsam woolly adelgid destroys fir trees

--Fir tree base houses moss

--Spruce fir moss spider lives in moss mats

Global climate change

• Greenhouse gases

– Hold heat in the atmosphere

– Carbon dioxide• Cars, factories

– Methane• Source of carbon

• Cow farts, rice farming

– Nitrous oxide

• Burning anything!

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Global climate change

**Increase in greenhouse gases increases

the overall temperature of the Earth***

By 2100, expected increase of 2°F to 11.5°F

Habitats change too quickly

Species cannot adapt quick enough

Leads to mass extinction

Effective management of Earth’s

resources will help meet the needs

of the future.

• Earth’s resources must be used responsibly.

• Careless use of resources makes them

unavailable to future generations.

• Easter Island is

an example of

irresponsible

resource use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfbQA-Krx9Q

Ecological Footprint

• An ecological footprint is the amount of

land needed to support a person.

• The land must produce and maintain

enough– food and water

– shelter

– energy

– waste

Ecological footprint

• Several factors affect the size of the

ecological footprint.– amount and efficiency of resource use

– amount and toxicity of waste produced

Disease and human population

growth • Viruses and Pathogens

Not just human pathogens!

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Age Structure – number of people at each

different age

Population Biology - Please do this with your Neighbor!!

Population Growth Graph

Please do this with your Neighbor!!Biodiversity

• A wide range of different species of

organisms living in an ecosystem

• More biodiversity = More stability in the

ecosystem

– Biodiversity – forest

– No biodiversity – corn field

• Biodiversity allows ecosystems to better

survive a catastrophic environmental

event

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Figure 53.21 Which forest is more diverse? Biodiversity – True or False?

• Answers

– 9. true

– 10. false

– 11. false

– 12. true

– 13. false

– 14. true

– 15. true

Competition, Predation and

Symbiosis

Natural Selection

• A characteristic that makes an individual better suited to its environment may eventually become common in that species through a process called Natural Selection.

• Natural selection results in adaptations, the behaviors and physical characteristics that allow organisms to live successfully in their environment.

What is Natural Selection?

What adaptation?

Niche

• Every organism has a variety of adaptations that are suited to its specific living conditions.

• A niche is the role of an organism in its habitat, or how it makes its living.

• A niche includes:– Type of food the organism eats

– How it obtains its food

– Which other organisms use the organism for food

What is a niche?

What does a niche include?

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Competition

• There are three major types

of interactions among

organisms:

1. Competition

2. Predation

3. Symbiosis

What are three major types of interactions among organisms?

Competition, Predation, and Symbiosis |

Biology | Ecology

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1aRS

eT-mQE

Competition

Different species can share the same habitat and food requirements.

Competition is the struggle between organisms to survive as they attempt to use the same limited resource.

In any ecosystem, there is a limited amount of food, water and shelter.

Organisms that survive have adaptations that enable them to reduce competition.

What is competition?

What do organisms have to do in order to reduce competition?

Predation

• Predation is an interaction in

which one organism kills

another for food.

• The organism that does the

killing for food is the

predator.

• The organisms that is killed

for food is the prey.

What is predation?

What is the relationship between predator and prey?

Predator-Prey competition relationships

help maintain stability within an ecosystem.

BUT… If a prey population decreases or is eliminated, predator population

decreases.

Prey population Predator population

Likewise, if a prey population increases, predator population increases

Prey population Predator population

Symbiosis

• Symbiosis – is a close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species.

• There are three types of symbiotic relationships:

1. Mutualism

2. Commensalism

3. Parasitism

What is symbiosis?

What are the three types of symbiotic relationships?

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Survival Relationships

►A….Mutualism-a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit ex ants and acadia trees. Ants protect the acadia tree by attacking any animal that tries to feed on tree, tree provides nectar and home for ants.

►B…. Commensalism-symbiotic relationship in which one species is neither harmed or benefited. Ex orchids, ferns, mosses can live on branches of trees and benefit but tree not harmed or benefited

►C… Parasitism-interactions in which a member of one species benefits at the expense of another. Ex.tick on dog, bacteria host

Mutualism

• Mutualism – A relationship in which both species benefit.

• Example:– The relationship between the

Saguaro Cactus and Long Eared Bats.

• Cactus flowers provide bats with food

• The cactus benefits because the bats carry pollen from cactus to cactus on their noses.

What is Mutualism?

Mutualism—you scratch my back I

scratch yours

• Clownfish and sea anemones: Clownfish are small, brightly-colored fish found in coral reefs. They are frequently found in the tentacles of sea anemones, which typically capture their prey by paralyzing them with discharged cnidoblasts (nematocysts) , and then ingesting the animal within the gastrovascular cavity. Studies have shown that a component of clownfish mucus inhibits the discharge of these cnidoblasts.

• Clownfish and sea anemones present an example of facultative mutualism. The clownfish benefits by having a protected home territory. What does the sea anemone gain from this arrangement?

Mutualism• One example of a mutualistic relationship is that of the

oxpecker (a kind of bird) and the rhinoceros or zebra.

Oxpeckers land on rhinos or zebras and eat ticks and

other parasites that live on their skin. The oxpeckers get

food and the beasts get pest control.

Mutualism

•

► aphids and ants. The aphids

secrete a sugary solution called

honeydew. Ants drink the

honeydew and, in return, they

protect the aphids from predators.

Mutualism

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_xs1D

HJ35A

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Commensalism

• Commensalism – Is a relationship in which one species benefits and the other species is neither helped nor harmed.

• Example –– The red-tailed hawks’ interaction

with the saguaro cactus .• The hawks benefit by having a

place to build their nests.

• The cactus is not affected by the hawks.

What is commensalism?

Commensalism

Commensalism is not very common in nature because species are usually either helped or harmed a little by any interaction.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkzUziLiiDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzLQugxNjY

Commensalism- one benefits• Another example of commensalism: birds following army

ant raids on a forest floor. As the army ant colony travels on the forest floor, they stir up various flying insect species. As the insects flee from the army ants, the birds following the ants catch the fleeing insects. In this way, the army ants and the birds are in a commensal relationship because the birds benefit while the army ants are unaffected.

• Orchids and mosses are plants that can have a commensal relationship with trees. The plants grow on the trunks or branches of trees. They get the light they need as well as nutrients that run down along the tree. As long as these plants do not grow too heavy, the tree is not affected.

A titan triggerfish (Balistoides viridescens) creates feeding

opportunities for smaller fish by moving large rocks too big

for them to shift themselves.

•

• Commensalism

Barnacles are highly sedentary crustaceans that must attach themselves

permanently to a hard substrate, such as rocks, shells, whales or anything

else on which they can gain a foothold. When they attach to the shell of

scallop, for instance, barnacles benefit by having a place to stay, leaving the

scallop presumably unaffected.

Parasitism

• Parasitism – involves one organism living on or inside another organism and harming it.

• The organism that benefits is called a parasite.

• The organism that the parasite lives on or in is known as the host.

What is parasitism?

What does a parasitic relationship consist of?

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Parasitism

• Common parasites are fleas, ticks and leeches.

• These parasites have adaptation that enable them to attach to their host and feed on their blood.

• Other parasites live inside the host’s body such as tapeworms, that live inside the digestive systems of dogs, wolves, and some other mammals.

Parasitism

• Unlike predators, a parasite does not usually kill the organism it feeds on.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGSUU3E9ZoM

WHY IS THIS GOOD FOR THE PARASITE?????

ParasitismAll 3

• Parasitism- Dodder and Shrub, Dodder gets place to live and Shrub

is Harmed!

Parasitism- Flea and Dog, Flea gets home/food and Dog is harmed

b/c the flea feeds on its blood!

• Commensalism - Squirrel and Oak Tree, Squirrel gets place to live

and Oak is not harmed b/c it does not lose any nutrients

Commensalism - Deer and Shrub, Deer gets place to live and Shrub

is not harmed b/c it does not lose any nutrients.

• Mutualism- Bird and Deer, Bird gets a ride/food (from the insects off

the Deer) and Deer benefits from being cleaned

Mutualism - Croc and animals, Croc opens mouth and allows certain

animals to feed on its leeches. Some of this may be false because it

has to be a long lasting relationship.

VIDEO CLIPS EXAMPLES

http://www.vtaide.com/png/symbiosis.htm

Communication within

OrganismsPheromones-(bees, ants, termites)

Pheromones are chemicals released by living organisms that send information to other organisms of the same species via scent. These pheromones are released in response to stress, alarm, danger, and sexual fertility. They are released by both insects and mammals in many situations. Alarm Pheromone(ants near by), Trail Pheromone(releasing scents in response to danger, ants also release a scent when they are returning to their nest with food)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0GjQjLakeE

Predator/Prey A predator is an organism that eats another

organism. The prey is the organism which the predator eats. Some examples of predator and prey are lion and zebra, bear and fish, and fox and rabbit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwdumGwOHFc

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Continued

• Territorial Defense-ex fighting fish

*fighting for resources*• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF8Jl2oBf5I

• Courtship Dances—SEXUAL SELECTION

• BIRD FEATHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

• DANCES

• PEACOCK SPIDERSPeacock spider <3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_yYC5r8xMI

Territoriality