ECOLOGY Ecology is the study of homes. The average number of organisms that can be sustained in an ecosystem is known as carrying capacity. Food, water,

ECOLOGY

•Ecology is the study of homes. •The average number of organisms

that can be sustained in an

ecosystem is known as carrying

capacity.

•Food, water, and shelter are known

as limiting factors.

ECOLOGY

•Tolerance is the ability of a population to withstand fluctuations of biotic and abiotic factors.•Abiotic – All of the non-living elements in an ecosystem like air, water, and temperature.•Biotic – All of the living elements in an ecosystem.

ECOLOGY

• Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms found within a specified region.

• Extinction is when a species is no longer in existence.

• Endangered means a species is in danger of extinction throughout all of a significant portion of its range.

Primary Succession is the development of primary communities in a previously uninhabited and barren habitat with little or no soil.

Lichen and mosses

A

B

C

D

A

B

C

D

Secondary Succession is the reestablishment of a community that has been destroyed by a natural disaster.

ECOLOGY

• The first group of organisms to arrive after the devastation of an ecosystem is typically the lichen and moss. These would be known as the pioneer community.

• Climax community is a stable mature community which has reached equilibrium after having evolved through stages and adapted to its environment.

ECOLOGY

Food Chain – A chain including the organisms and their food source.

Grass grasshopper bird

A food chain illustrates the

transfer of energy from one trophic level to the

next.

ECOLOGY

Food Web – Multiple chains assembled into one large web.

ECOLOGY

Ecological Pyramid

A food chain that shows the

relationship between the

organisms in each trophic level.

The figures represent number of individuals counted at each trophic level.

Ecological Pyramids of Numbers

• The total dry weight of organisms in a particular trophic level is referenced as biomass.

Ecological Pyramids of Biomass

BIOMASS=

# of organisms x

the weight of an average individual

Ecological Pyramids of Biomass

Ecological Pyramids of Energy

•Energy in ecosystems flows from producers to consumers.•Energy is depicted in kilocalories. •Primary producers convert only about 1% of the energy in available sunlight. •The average amount of energy that is available to the next trophic level is about 10%.

Ecological Pyramids of Energy

Carbohydratesgram = 4Kcal

Proteingram = 4Kcal

Fatgram = 9Kcal

Limit to 30%

preAP : Calculating Kcals from Calories

Cycles

• Cycling of materials between the environment and organisms

• Chemical and biological processes

• Examples– Water cycle– Nitrogen cycle– Carbon cycle

Plants obtain nitrogenfrom nitrogen-fixingbacteria and pass it toother organisms throughthe food chain

Water Cycle

Carbon Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Biomes??a major bioticbiotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate

Tundra

Tundra

Flora FaunaGrasses

Dwarf shrubs

Cushion Plants

Treeless

Arctic foxes

Snoeshoe hares

Snowy owls

Musk oxen

Caribou

Reindeer

Adaptations in the Tundra

Flora Fauna•Short and grouped

together•Use a minimal

amount of energy

•Breeding and raising young in the

summer•Hibernation

Taiga

Taiga

Flora FaunaConiferous trees Red deer

MooseMigratory birds

Elk

Black bears

Adaptations on the Taiga

Flora Fauna•Trees typically are

evergreens

•Plants are dark and hairy

•Plants grow in clumps

•migrate to warmer climates.

•hibernate when temperatures drop.•produce a layer of

insulating feathers or fur to protect them

from the cold.

Desert

Desert

Flora FaunaBarrel Cactus

Prickly Pear Cactus

Joshua Trees

Tumbleweeds

Armadillo Lizard

Gila Monsters

Coyote

Javelina

Tortoise

Proghorn Antelope

Adaptations in the Desert

Flora Fauna•store water in the roots, stems, leaves or fruit •develop shallow roots

•adapt the size, sheen, or texture of their leaves

•are small in size•stay in shade or

burrowing underground •are nocturnal

•concentrate the body's fat in one

place

Marine Biomes: Oceans and Coral Reefs

Marine Biomes: Oceans and Coral Reefs

Flora FaunaKelp

Phytoplankton

Algae

Sharks

Rays

Fish

Sea Turtles

Lobster

Corals

Jellyfish

Whales

Adaptations: Pressure and temperature fluctuations

Estuaries

Flora FaunaAlgae

Seaweeds

Marsh grasses

Mangrove trees

Worms

Oysters

Crabs

Waterfowl

Flounder

Estuaries

Adaptations: Plants and animals living in estuaries must be able to respond quickly to drastic changes in salinity.

Rain Forest

Rain Forest

Flora FaunaBromeliads

Mangroves

Drip Tips

Nepenthes

Africa Forest Elephant

Bengal Tiger

Chimpanzee

Golden Lion Tamarin

Linn's Sloth

Orangutan

Toco Toucan

Vampire Bat

Highest biodiversity!!!!

Rain Forest

Temperature PrecipitationThe temperature in a rain forest rarely gets

higher than 93 °F and rarely drops

below 68 °F

High humidity 77-88%

Large amounts of rainfall: 50 to 260

annually.

50% of the precipitation comes

from its own evaporation.

Found near the equator!!!

Adaptations in the

Rain Forest

Flora Fauna•Thin smooth bark

•Drip tips... It is thought that these drip tips

enable rain drops to run off quickly.

•Buttresses may help transport water

•Large, broad leaves•Shallow roots

•Prehensile tails•Bright colors and

sharp patterns• Loud

vocalizations•Diets heavy on

fruits

Deciduous Forest

AKATemperate Forest

Deciduous Forest

Fauna FloraEagles

Brown Bears

Chipmunk

Red Squirrel

White-tailed deer

Coyote

American Beech

Pecan

White Oak

Carpet Moss

Ferns

Guelder Rose

Adaptations in the

Deciduous Forest

Flora Fauna•In the spring, leaves are thin, broad, light-weight

leaves.•Thick bark

•Cooler temps and limited sunlight causes the tree to

adapt. The leaves are unable to continue

producing chlorophyll and change colors.

•Birds migrate and mammals

hibernate.•Some tend to store food.

Grassland AKA

Steppes of EurasiaNorth American Prairie

The PampasSavannah

Velt

Grassland

Flora FaunaBuffalo Grass

Sunflower

Asters

Coneflowers, Clover

Wild Indigos

Coyotes

Eagles

Bobcats

Wild Turkey

Flies and crickets

Dung Beetle

Bison

Adaptations in the

Grassland

Flora Fauna•Have narrow leaves that lose less water

to evaporation.•Have roots that

extend as much as 3.5 m. for during dry

periods. •Have brightly

colored flowers.

•Are grazing or burrowing animals (flat-topped teeth) •Can run away for hungry predators

then•Are colors that blend in with the

plant life

Niche

Role of an organism

in a community

HabitatThe area or environment

where an organism or ecological community

normally lives or occurs

Symbiotic Relationships

Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship

between the individuals of two (or

more) different species that dwell

together.

Symbiotic Relationships

ParasitismOne benefits the other is harmed

Mutualism Both benefit

CommensalismOne benefits the other is unaffected

Symbiotic Relationships

NeutralismBoth are unaffected

CompetitionNeither benefits

Renewable Resources

• A natural resource that can replenish itself naturally over time, as wood or solar energy

Nonrenewable Resources

• any natural resource from the Earth that exists in limited supply and cannot be replaced if it is used up

http://www.oxford.net/~vigorocn/webpage/fert/bag/index.html