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Transcript
Ecology (Interdependence) Response to organisms & changes (Interdependence) • Interdependence of organisms: – Interdependence is when organisms in a biological community have evolved to live and interact with other organisms. – A biological community is a group of interacting organisms. – Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with each other and their environment. – Sunlight is the ultimate energy source for all organisms. – Energy from the sun is passed from one organism to another. » Ex: Producers (plants) to herbivores to carnivores to decomposers. – Abiotic factors, such as air, water, energy, soil, temperature, and minerals are also needed for survival. – Biotic factors include all living things on earth (plants, animals, fungi, & microorganisms) – Biosphere supports all life, including the biotic and abiotic factors on earth. 2 Organismal Relationships 1. Producer/Autotrophs • Producers (autotrophs): organisms that can use energy directly from the sun to produce simple sugars (glucose) that other organisms can use for food a. The sun is the ultimate source for most life on earth b. Less than 1% of the suns energy that reaches the earth is used by living organisms • Producers do not have to eat other organisms to survive Ex: plants, algae, some protists, some bacteria ** Remember the equation for photosynthesis: 6CO2 +6H2O+light C6H12O6+6O2 2. Consumers/Heterotrophs • Get energy by eating (consuming) food either plant or animals and therefore must depend on other organisms for food • Get energy through the process of cellular respiration C6H12O6+6O2 6CO2+6H2O+ATP • Consumers that eat producers are considered to be primary consumers since they are the primary (first) things to eat in the food chain. • When you eat the cow you are then a secondary consumer since you are the second thing that eats. Ex: some protists, all fungi and animals 3. Decomposers and Detrivores • • • Both are consumers since they don’t make their own food Decomposers break down dead organisms into matter called detritus. Detritus- non-living particulate organic matter (as opposed to dissolved organic material). – • It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms, as well as fecal material Detrivores convert the detritus (organic matter) into inorganic matter like nitrogen which plants need to survive Ex: earthworms, nematodes, most bacteria, some protists 4. Plant-Herbivore • Herbivore: an animal that eats producers Ex: Cows eating grass • Herbivores usually have special adaptations to chew and digest their food Ex: Cows have large molar teeth designed to chew grass and break down cellulose; they also have special bacteria that help them to digest their food; most have longer digestive systems since plants take longer to digest • Plants have adaptations like thorns and poisons to keep herbivores from eating them 5. Predation (Predator/Prey) • Predators: capture and feed on members of another species • Prey: the organism getting chased and eaten Ex: A hawk(predator) hunting and eating a rabbit(prey) • Predators have adaptations that help them to capture their prey Ex: A hawk has keen eyesight, sharp talons, and a sharp beak Ex: Mountain lion has fur that allows it to blend into its environment • Prey have adaptations to avoid being eaten Ex: poisonous frogs have bright colors to warn predators of dangers – mimicry: looking like a dangerous organism Ex: King snake (harmless) mimics a coral snake (dangerous) – Camouflage: Organisms blending in with their environment Ex: Leaf bug looking life a leaf 6. Competition • whenever organisms try to use the same resource like food, water, light, or space Ex: Two birds are competing for the same food source, nesting space, or water supply one species will be more successful than the other. • competitive exclusion: the extinction of one species due to competition with another species 7. Symbiotic Relationships: two species live together (Symbiosis means living together) – Mutualism • Both species benefit – Ex: Insects and bees; the flowers provide insects with nectar and pollen and the insects provide the flower with pollination – Commensalism • One species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor benefited – Ex: Barnacles on whales; the whale is neither harmed nor benefited while the barnacles hitches a ride on the whale, the water moves and the barnacle traps food (filter feeding) – Parasitism • one species benefits and one is harmed and possibly killed – Parasite: lives in or on another organism (the host); it gets its nutrients from the host; the host is not usually killed, but is weakened » Ex: Heartworms on your dog Ecosystem organization Organism • An individual living thing • Ex: mouse Population • Organisms of the same species live in the same place • Ex: group of mice in a field Community • All the different species that live in the same place at the same time • Biotic factors: Living things in the environment (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, protists) • Ex: Field of grass, field mice, earthworms, insects, lizards, etc Ecosystem • All the living organisms (biotic factors) and their environment, such as rocks, soil, etc. • abiotic factors: Non-living parts of the environment (water, rocks, soil, sunlight) Biosphere • All the ecosystems in the world; the portion of earth where living organisms can survive & interact with non-living factors • Ex: Earth Human Impact & Succession Human Impact • Natural Population Growth – Follows an S-shaped curve • A new population in an ecosystem will grow slowly at first and then more quickly, since there will be unlimited resources. • When the population levels off, it has reached carrying capacity • Carrying capacity: the largest number of organisms the environment will support. – As long as the birth/death rate and immigration/emigration rates are the same the organisms could live at carrying capacity. • This rarely happens; therefore, populations are limited by limiting factors. • Limiting Factors: Factors that limit the population growth • food • water • habitat Unrestricted Population Growth • When a non-native (invasive) species is introduced into an ecosystem, it normally has few or no natural predators and has plenty of food. • This causes the J-shaped curve • Ex: Two dozen rabbits were introduced into Australia in the 1800’s. They had no natural predators and unlimited food so they overpopulated. They multiplied quickly and now hunters can shoot 1200 rabbits a day and it would make no difference. They wiped out the plant population causing the extinction of 1/8th of the mammal species. Effects of Technology • Technology has allowed rapid population growth causing an increased competition for other space, food, and water. • This disrupts how nutrients are recycled. • After people were hunters and gathers, we became farmers. • This caused a need to clear land and for people to live closer to each other, which caused large areas of land to be cleared. – Technology has allowed us to: irrigate, have chemical fertilizers, and chemical pesticides. – When it rains the fertilizers run-off into the water causing an algal bloom. – When the algae dies off, decomposition depletes the oxygen from the water causing the aquatic animals to die. • Pesticides have caused a problem in nature, as well. • Some pest are resistant, so stronger pesticides are needed. • Some pesticides, like DDT, build up inside tissues. • This build up is called biological magnification. • EX: When a big fish eats a small fish it takes in the DDT. As the big fish eats more small fish it steadily accumulates. When an eagle eats the bird, it accumulates in the bird. DDT causes the eggs to become frail so when mama bird sits on the egg they crack. This almost caused the extinction of the bald eagle. The Use of Natural Resources • After the industrial revolution people started using more machines. • Machines need to be powered using natural resources, such as oil. • Non-renewable resources: take millions of years to form; coal, oil, natural gas. • Renewable resources: can be renewed quickly, but they are not available in renewable amounts; trees, fresh water • Both renewable and non-renewable resources are in limited supply, so conservation is necessary • Burning fossil fuels to power these machines often results in acid precipitation which damage many plants and other resources • Land pollution, or trash, is more common, and most of these products take a long time to decompose • Natural products, like banana peels, cotton clothing, or paper biodegrade quickly, since they are easily broken down by microorganisms. They are returned to the soil in a matter of days, week, or months. • man-made products, like rubber, plastics, chemicals, and metals take hundreds of years to biodegrade, since they are not broken down easily by microorganisms • Glass bottle 1 million years Monofilament fishing line: 600 years Plastic beverage bottles: 450 years Disposable diapers: 450 years Aluminum can: 80-200 years Boot sole: 50-80 years Styrofoam cup: 50 years Tin can: 50 years Leather: 50 years Nylon fabric: 30-40 years Plastic film canister: 20-30 years Plastic bag: 10-20 years (???) Cigarette filter: 1-5 years Wool sock: 1-5 years Plywood: 1-3 years Waxed milk carton: 3 months Apple core: 2 months Newspaper: 6 weeks Orange or banana peel : 2-5 weeks Paper towel: 2-4 weeks Effects of Urban Development • Humans needed places to live, so they took homes from many organisms • When large areas of land are used for humans, the biodiversity of organisms is decreased – Biodiversity: variety of life in an area • Fertilizing and chemicals on lawns and garden also cause problems – native plants “weeds” are often killed for grass to take their place – slugs, aphids, and grasshoppers are killed by the pesticides – chemicals seep into groundwater or local water supplies • Non-native (exotic) species are often introduced, which compete with the native species. – Non-native plants/animals are often bought as pets, & then are released into the wild because those “pets” often get too large or families no longer want to care (or do not know how to care) for them. – Non-native species have no natural predators. This causes them to take over the niches of native species Ecological Succession • Ecosystems are always changing. – These changes may result from natural causes, like weather, volcanoes, or even from human actions, like strip mining. • Ecological Succession: A series of predictable changes in an ecosystem. Primary Succession • Primary means first. • This succession starts where there is no soil or nutrients (bare of vegetation). • Occurs after disturbances, such as volcanic eruptions • Pioneer species are the first things to grow in this area ex: lichens – Lichens can form on bare rock and over time turn the rock into soil. • As soil accumulates, smaller animals, such as worms and grasses, can be found here. – These small animals give way to shrubs and birds which give way to trees and larger mammals. Secondary Succession • Occurs when something has existed there before, such as after a forest fire – Nutrients are already in the soil – it is known as the second community • The soil is not removed and usually seeds are present in the soil. – The community is not starting from scratch. Climax Community • The final community of organisms – Hardwoods, such as maples and oaks, are found here • Changes little but are still affected by non-native species • Secondary succession takes less time to reach a climax community than primary succession. Succession in a pond • Never reach climax communities 1. Water plants begin to grow 2. sediment falls into the pond and the plant’s roots anchor the soil 3. Sediment will continue to fall in until the pond is filled in with soil, which will eventually lead to grasses and trees