Overarching Theme Interactions INTERCONNECTEDNESS Ecology
studies the connections between all living things and their
environments. What are population dynamics? How do Fungi and
Viruses affect populations? Big Idea All living things are limited
by factors in the environment. Kingdom Fungi is extremely diverse
and plays a vital role in the environment as decomposers and
recyclers of organic material while viruses are non-living
microscopic agents found everywhere that invade cells and have a
profound impact on the living world.First off What is Ecology? from
the Greek work Oikos = house
-study of all relationships and interactions that occur amongst
living things and also between living things and their non-living
environment
Flow of EnergySun is the _____________ source of energy.
_____________, which are (usually)_________________ organisms that
make their own food from __________________ substances. Whereas,
_________________ get their energy directly or indirectly from
________________.
Primary consumers are _______________, which eat only
______________. Examples
are:____________________________________________.
Secondary consumers feed on herbivores and are called
_____________________. Examples
are:_______________________________________________________.
There may be tertiary (third level) or ________________
consumers (fourth level) as well.
__________________ are responsible for recycling the energy from
non-living organic matter (i.e. dead things).
Each step in the series of organisms eating each other is called
a ______________ level. Trophic levels can be represented by foods
or by food pyramids (which we will see later).
InteractionsA.__________________Factors- non-_________________
environmenti. CO2:required by _______________ and
_________________________ii. ___________: required by
_______________________Affected by: altitude (higher up, less
O2)iii. ______________: all organisms rely on sunlight for energy,
but only autotrophs have the ability to convert solar energy into
chemical energy.light intensity varies with: altitude (higher up,
__________light), atmospheric filters (ozone, clouds, smog,
rain)iv. Geographic formations: Mountains, valleysv.
____________________: Dependent on: Altitude (higher up, colder),
latitude (warmest at equator)vi. Humidityvii. SalinityB.
_______________________ Factors- living environmente.g. ferns,
grass, trees, predators, prey, competitorsetc
Vocabulary1. ________________: group that _________________ and
produces ________________ offspring2. Population: group of
interacting and interbreeding individuals in a _______________
area3. _____________________: all the populations of organisms
____________ in a ____________ area. This is the level at which
ecology is studied and analyzed.4. Ecosystem- all the
________________ that _______________ __________________ in an area
including the water, soil and climate.Types of OrganismsProducer-
organism that makes its __________ food and are the _____________
of a food chain Autotroph- organism that makes _______________
compounds from inorganic substances in the environment
(producer)Consumer- organism that obtains energy by
________________ other living things e.g
animals)___________________ - animal that eats only other animals (
consumer) Herbivore-______________- eating animal
(consumer)__________________- plant and animal- eating animal
(consumer)_________________ - agent that breaks down the bodies of
________________ organisms and _______________(consumer)
Symbiotic Relationships- an on-going relationship that exists
between two different species = symbiosisa) Mutualism organisms
that live closely together and benefit each otherb) Commensalism
one organism benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.c)
Parasitism one organism benefits at the expense of another.
Energy TransferThe transfer of energy through an ecosystem can
be shown in food chains, food webs and pyramids of energy. A. Food
ChainNature often works in a ____________. Plants and animals live,
die, are decomposed and ________________ again. Plants/producers
make the food, animals, eat the producers, and decomposers break
down leftovers.Eg._______________ _________________Consumer
______________ Consumer _______________ ConsumerExample:grass cow
humansB. Food Webs Most animals eat more than _________ food so
they belong to more than one food chain. When two or more food
chains overlap this is called a food _____________.C. Food Pyramids
A food pyramid shows many _____________ if read from the __________
of the pyramid ( 1st ________________ level) to the _________.1.
The amount of _______________ decreases as it moves up 2. The
amount of __________________ decreases3. The number of
_____________________ decreases
__________ Percent Rule: only 10% of the energy from one
________________ level is stored in the next. 90% of the energy is
_____________ to: i) __________________ii) ________________________
iii) __________________iv) ____________________ food Learning
Activity
Put the following organisms into a logical food chain. Arrow
points to the thing doing the consuming.
Ex. Fern, moth, weasel, mousefern moth mouse weasel
1. clam, killer whale, plankton, otter
2. trees, shrew, owl, mites
3. hawk, acorn, squirrel, owl
4. shark, fish, plankton, shrimp
5. coyote, hillbilly, garbage, raccoon
6. cats, spider, grass, birds, grasshopper
Food Webs
Food webs show all possible relationship between organisms
living in the same ecosystem.
Draw a possible food web for the following organisms:
Hawk
Bear Eagle
CatWolfFish
MouseNutSquirrel
Grains/BerriesQUESTIONS
1. What will happen to the food web if the squirrel were
removed?
2. What reasons are there for a sudden or gradual disappearance
of a species?
3. What do we call it when a species permanently disappears from
the planet? From one area?
4. What would happen to the ecosystem if there was a new species
such as a goat introduced?
5. Based on your own knowledge describe the impact of humans on
natural ecosystems.
Population Dynamics Populations of species are affected by
density, spatial distribution and growth rate
Population DensityPopulation = the number of one kind of
organism in a defined area Population Density = number of organisms
per unit area, e.g. Three egrets per square metre
Population Limiting Factors-keeps population levels in check (no
extinction; doesnt take over the world!)1) Density-
____________________ Factors - the _____________ dense the
population, the _________________ the effect of these
factors-includes the following:
___________________/__________________
Predation/parasitism/_________________________
_________________________ _________________________/ emigration
Crowding/_________________2) Density-________________________
Factors-not influenced by population density-includes the
following: __________________________ Rainfall Humidity
______________________ disaster
Types of Population GrowthA. ____________________ Growth (
Linear Growth = _____________ line) Increase in population size by
a ______________ percentage of the population of each generation
e.g. population of 100 that grows at a rate of 50%. In two years
population will be ____________________, ________________
Diagram
-seen in ____________________ conditions (has proper
___________________________, _____________________, ________, no
___________________________,
parasites)-_____________________________ rate is high and mortality
is ______________
B. Growth with Limits ( _______________- shaped Curve)
___________________ area with proper conditions; population will
increase ____________ Eventually, the conditions are _____________
and _____________ build up & become _________________.
Population will _______________, _________________, and eventually
die out
Diagram
C. Exponential Growth Often seen in _______________ populations
( binary fission) Population __________________ every generation
under ________________ conditions
Diagram
D. S-Shaped Curve (Logistic Growth)-nature is an _______________
system- energy & nutrients are constantly inputted from outside
the area- population increases ____________________-then
____________ out at the __________________ ___________________
(number of individuals of a species an environment can support for
an indefinite time period)Diagram
E. Boom and Bust Similar to exponential growth, but only occurs
in special circumstances Rapid population ____________________,
followed by massive ____________________ Only occurs in
____________________, rapidly reproducing species such as algae,
lemmings, locusts, etc, - i.e. organisms with short lifespan and
lots of offspring Can be related to seasonal cycles related to
rainfall, nutrient availability, temperature and also to
predator-prey interactionsDiagram
Confirm Your Learning Population Growth Curves and Regulation
Sheet
Kingdom Fungi Fungus is Latin for mushroomGeneral
Characteristics multicellular (except yeast), eukaryotic,
heterotrophic includes the mushrooms, yeasts, mildews, rusts, smuts
and most molds (not all fungi are mushrooms!) all parts of fungus
are composed of long, thread-like extensions called hyphae in turn,
the hyphae form a dense mat called a mycelium the fungus you see
above ground is called the fruiting body, this is the reproductive
structure hyphae provide evolutionary advantage by increasing
surface area and thus, absorptive capability have cell walls
composed of chitin (also saw this protein in exoskeletons of
arthropods) they lack chlorophyll, so are not photosynthetic,
instead they produce enzymes that breakdown material in their
surroundings (are all decomposers) most reproduce sexually as well
as asexually, very complex reproductive strategies three main ways
to get nutrients, but all digest food before they absorb it
Taxonomy fungi are divided into 4 phyla (plus one extra!) based
on their reproductive structures
1) Phylum Chytridiomycetes (Algal or Protist-like fungi) Known
as water molds since they do not normally exist on land However, if
the right conditions exist (lots of moisture, high humidity) they
can grow on land and when they do can cause serious crop diseases,
including potato blight Are the only fungi that produce motile
spores that can swim through dew and raindrops to get to new
sources of food
2) Phylum Zygomycetes (Common Molds) includes common bread molds
(Rhizopus spp.) produces billions of spores that exist on the
surface of just about everything! Once conditions are favourable
(think bacteria - warmth, moisture and food available), these
spores grow The root-like hyphae that penetrate the surface of the
food they absorb are called rhizoids, these anchor the fungus to
the food, release digestive enzymes and absorb digested organic
material Stem-like hyphae that run along the surface of bread are
called stolons
3) Phylum Ascomycetes (Sac Fungi) largest phylum of fungi,
30,000 + species produce spores in a sac-like container called an
ascus main group includes yeasts and morels when yeast are actively
growing they need to eat a high carbohydrate diet, they tend to eat
sugar and starch, the by-product of their feasting is carbon
dioxide gas it is this CO2 that makes a yeast bread rise
reproduction of yeasts is mainly by budding, morels undergo sexual
reproduction and produce a spore-bearing fruiting body
4) Phylum Basidiomycetes (Club Fungi) Has both saprophytic and
parasitic members This phyla contains the common fungi that you are
familiar with (mushrooms!) The phyla name is from a structure
called the basidia, a club-shaped reproductive structure on which
there are usually four spores suspended
Plus One!! Phylum Deuteromycetes (Imperfect Fungi) have no
visible sexual phase cause ringworm and athletes foot this type of
fungus is the source of penicillin, an important antibiotic (used
to kill bacteria)
Confirm Your Learning Fungus SheetLearning Activity Mold Lab
Connection to Biological Theme - So, how do Fungi affect
Populations? Why are they important to
ecosystems?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Viruses from the Latin word meaning ____________General
Characteristics submicroscopic (only discovered in 1944 with the
invention of the____________ microscope) are potentially
____________ (disease causing)
A) Classification: Alive or Not? dont fit into 5 kingdom system,
not classified as living things, but do have some characteristics
of living things
LivinLiving CharacteristicsNonNon-Living Characteristics
-
-
So, are they alive or not?
B) Viral Anatomy 101 very small, between 20-400 ____________ can
only be seen with electron microscope
C) Who Attacks Whom? Viruses depend on other cells for
____________ Large scale reproduction within an individual causes
diseases that are specific to specific viruses Diseases include
A virus is usually ____________ to a certain host, or range of
hosts. i.e. can only infect certain organisms Ex. Rabies, may
infect many species including dogs, people, bats, raccoons Colds,
only infect respiratory tract in humans Host specificity occurs
because viruses have specific ____________ configurations on their
capsid that match specific receptors on the host cells membrane,
like a ____________ and ____________
D) Reproduction in 5 steps 1. ____________ Virus attaches to a
cell wall or membrane of the host at specific ____________ cells2.
____________ The cells wall or membrane is weakened by viral
____________ and the ____________of the virus is injected into the
host cell.3. ____________ the DNA of the host cell is ____________
and the viral DNA takes over, making viral proteins and viral
nucleic acid.4. ____________ Viral protein coats (capsids) are
assembled with the nucleic acids filling the cell. The host cells
____________ systems are used for this.5. ____________ Enzymes
dissolve the host cell from within. The cell ____________
(cell________) and the newly formed virus particles are released,
free to infect other host cells.
This can happen in two ways1) The ____________ Cycle (see
handout)-exactly as above, very fast (as little as 25 minutes for
some viruses)-causes lysis (bursting of the host cell)-this type of
virus is ____________ (able to cause disease)
2) The ____________ Cycle (see handout)- does not immediately
cause cell ____________- viral nucleic acid is incorporated into
hosts own DNA- it reproduces inside the hosts genetic code every
time a cell replicates-virus can remain ____________ in a cell for
years- a ____________ (such as radiation, chemicals, emotional
stress) makes virus become active again
E) How Can I Stop/Treat a Virus?
1. First line of defense = ____________! intact skin and mucus
membranes keep most viruses out the stomachs ____________ juices
kill many pathogens2. Defense #2 = ____________ Once the virus has
been in your body for about 10 days, WBCs start making
____________.These circulate through bloodstream and have 2
effectsi) ____________ WBCs to sites of infectionii) ____________
pathogens so they no longer function3. What about drugs?i)
____________ = injections of fake viruses that stimulate the body
to produce antibodiesii) ____________ inhibition = use enzymes to
destroy receptors and prevent infectioniii) ____________ = a
chemical warning (naturally produced ____________ proteins) from an
infected cell to surrounding cells to shut down- ends up reducing
____________production so that not enough is present to replicate
virus particles
Connection to Biological Theme - So, how do viruses affect
populations?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Learning Activity - You will be given a specific ecosystem to
research and explain what role fungi and viruses play in it. You
will need to name at least one species of fungi and one virus
type/strain that lives in this ecosystem. Hand this assignment in
on _________________________________.12 | Page