Ecology notes for this unit

1. Ecology Word Parts
1. Eco - environment
2. Auto – self
3. Hetero – others
4. Homo – same
5. Troph – eating/feeding
6. Photo – light
7. Synthesis – to make
8. Carne - meat
9. Herb – plant
10. Omni – all/every
11. -vorous –eat/swallow

2. What Is Ecology?
Ecology is the
scientific study of
interactions among
organisms (biotic)
and between
organisms and
their non-living
environment
(abiotic).

3. Energy Transfer
through Trophic Levels0.1% 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.

4. Types of Energy Transfers
Autotrophs/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

5. 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

6. Food Chain
• A simple linear feeding process where
energy is transferred by eating or being
eaten. (Predator/Prey)
Example:
GrassZebraLionDecomposer
GrassGiraffeHyenasLionDecomp
.

7. 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

8. Cycles of MatterCycles of Matter
Think about the trip a single atomThink about the trip a single atom
of carbon or nitrogen orof carbon or nitrogen or
phosphorus. Where would it go,phosphorus. Where would it go,
what would it see, what stopswhat would it see, what stops
would it make on it’s journey?would it make on it’s journey?

9. It all starts with Energy!It all starts with Energy!
• Organisms needOrganisms need energyenergy to move matter againstto 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 locationPotential Energy is stored based on its location
or structure. Ex water behind a dam.or structure. Ex water behind a dam.
• Radiant energy is electromagnetic waves, orRadiant energy is electromagnetic waves, or
energy from the sun.energy from the sun.
• Chemical energy is stored in molecules as aChemical energy is stored in molecules as a
result of the arrangement of atoms. *Mostresult of the arrangement of atoms. *Most
important to biologists.important to biologists.

10. Atoms and MoleculesAtoms and Molecules
• Most organisms obtain chemical energyMost organisms obtain chemical energy
by eating other organisms.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,, ATP,
DNADNA

11. Molecules are everywhereMolecules are everywhere
• 78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen.78% of the atmosphere is Nitrogen.
• Carbon is in limestone and sediments asCarbon is in limestone and sediments as
CaCOCaCO33 (Calcium Carbonate) and as CO(Calcium Carbonate) and as CO22
fromfrom respiration.respiration.
• Hydrogen and Oxygen are obtained fromHydrogen and Oxygen are obtained from
water.water.

12. Producers-organisms in the 1Producers-organisms in the 1stst
trophic level,trophic level,
obtain chemical energy from the sun.obtain chemical energy from the sun.
• Sunlight is the main source of energy for life onSunlight is the main source of energy for life on
earth.earth.
• Plants, some algae, and certain bacteria capturePlants, some algae, and certain bacteria capture
energy from sunlight (energy from sunlight (photosynthesisphotosynthesis) to) to
produce living tissue from inorganic compounds.produce living tissue from inorganic compounds.
• These organisms areThese organisms are autotrophsautotrophs..
• HerbivoresHerbivores passpass organic moleculesorganic molecules to the nextto the next
trophic level.trophic level.

13. Consumers-organisms that rely onConsumers-organisms that rely on
other organisms for their energy andother organisms for their energy and
food supply, orfood supply, or heterotrophsheterotrophs..
• Primary consumers obtain energy fromPrimary consumers obtain energy from
autotrophs.autotrophs.
• Secondary consumers eat primarySecondary consumers eat primary
consumers.consumers.
• Tertiary consumers eat secondaryTertiary consumers eat secondary
consumersconsumers
• Each trophic level obtains 10% of theEach trophic level obtains 10% of the
energy from the previous level.energy from the previous level.

14. 1 calorie is the amount of energy1 calorie is the amount of energy
required to raise 1 gram of water 1required to raise 1 gram of water 1oo
C.C.
450,000
45,000
4,500
450

15. 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

16. WATER CYCLEWATER CYCLE
• Evaporation (Gas)Evaporation (Gas)
• Condensation (Liquid)Condensation (Liquid)
• Precipitation (Liquid)Precipitation (Liquid)
• Storage AreaStorage Area
– Glaciers & IcebergsGlaciers & Icebergs
(Solid)(Solid)
– GroundwaterGroundwater
– Lakes & OceansLakes & Oceans

17. 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 ofFixation – bacteria from soil and the roots of
legumes convert Nlegumes convert N22 from the atmosphere tofrom the atmosphere to
ammonia (NHammonia (NH33))
• Other sources of NHOther sources of NH33 are from decaying organicare from decaying organic
matter and excretions.matter and excretions.
• Bacteria converts NHBacteria converts NH33 to nitratesto nitrates
• NHNH33 and nitrates are available for producers toand nitrates are available for producers to

18. NITROGEN CYCLENITROGEN CYCLE

19. Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle
• Photosynthesis – plants take in sun’s energy toPhotosynthesis – plants take in sun’s energy to
turn carbon dioxide into oxygenturn carbon dioxide into oxygen
• Respiration – releasing carbon dioxide into theRespiration – releasing carbon dioxide into the
airair
• Geochemical processes (erosion and volcanicGeochemical 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

20. CARBON CYCLECARBON CYCLE

21. Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle
• Exists in the biosphere as inorganicExists in the biosphere as inorganic
phosphatephosphate
• As rock sediments wear down, phosphateAs rock sediments wear down, phosphate
is releasedis released
• Essential part of living organismsEssential part of living organisms
– DNADNA
– RNARNA
– ATPATP

22. ROCK CYCLEROCK CYCLE

23. 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)

24. 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)

25. The Major Biomes
• Biomes are defined by a unique set
of abiotic and biotic factors—
***particularly climate
• Habitat – area an organism lives

26. 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

27. Tropical Rainforest

28. Tropical Dry Forest

29. Tropical Savanna

30. Temperate Grassland

31. Temperate Woodland and
Shrub land

32. Temperate Forest

33. Northwestern Coniferous Forest

34. Boreal Forest

35. Tundra

36. Desert

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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)
1. Secondary Succession – when a disturbance changes
the community without removing the soil
Ex: Wildfires, Hurricanes, Floods

40. Animal Behaviors
• Innate Behavior (instinct) – born with
knowledge
• Learned Behavior(aquired) – developed over
time
• Imprinting - Innate/Learned Combined
• Social – interaction between individuals

41. 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

42. Social Behaviors
• Territory – guarded area
• Society – colonies, schools, packs
• Communication
– Visual – Puffer Fish
– Sounds – Rattle Snake
– Touch/Agression – Moose/Rams
– Smell/Pheromones – Dogs/Cats

43. Behavior Cycles
• Seasonal – Hibernation, Estivation,
Migration
• Daily – circadian rhythms
• Yearly – Courtship/mating

44. Demography
The scientific
study of populations

45. Four Characteristics of a
Population
1.) Geographic Distribution (range): the
area
2.) Density: number of individuals in
area

46. 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

47. •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.

48. 4. Age Structure
• Diagram to show population growth
• Rapid growth rate = triangle shape
• Stable growth rate = NO triangle

49. US POPULATION

50. 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?

51. 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

52. The greatest threat to biodiversity is habitat destruction:
deforestation, pollution, and human activity
The only solution to the loss in biodiversity and ultimately your
life is conservation
Conserve: use only what is needed