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Topic 1: What is Ecology? • Defined: Studying how life interacts within the biosphere is called Ecology • All life interacts within the biosphere – Area within the deepest ocean trenches to the highest mountains Populations Click on information box • Defined: Group of one species living in the same area • Population changes based on: – Births, Deaths, Immigration, Emigration, Available resources Limiting Factors • Defined: Factors that control population sizes – Disease, food, predators, climate, space, mates • Carrying Capacity: greatest number of individuals that a population can sustain • What stage is the human population in? Communities • Defined: Populations of many species living in the same area at the same time • Each organism has it own HABITAT – Habitat: Place where an organism lives • Each species has its own NICHE – Niche: The role/needs of a species – Ex: Termites return nutrients to the soil Ecosystems • Defined: Community of species interacting with the living & non-living • Desert Biotic Factors: – Animals: Mice, Reptiles, Insects – Plants: Cactus, Flowers, Shrubs • Desert Abiotic Factors: Sand, rocks, sunlight • Ecosystem changes affect biodiversity – Keystone species greatly alter ecosystems What is a Biome? • Defined: Large area with distinct climate, plant, and animal life • Climate factors: sun, rain, topography • Climate determines life Part 2: Ecosystem Components • Producers – Basis of an ecosystem’s energy – Autotrophs: perform photosynthesis to make sugars – Chemotrophs: Bacteria which use minerals from deep-sea vents to make energy • Consumers – Heterotrophs: Consumes others for energy – Omnivores, herbivores, carnivores, decomposers • Defined: Feeding level of an ecosystem • Trophic levels consist of producers, consumers, and decomposers • ~10% of energy is passed to the next level – Few trophic levels • Defined: Organisms that create their energy through photosynthesis – AKA: Autotrophs – Convert sunlight into glucose (sugar) • Bottom of food chain (1st trophic level) • Ex: Plants, Algae, Cyanobacteria • Primary Consumers – Feed directly on producers – Herbivores • Secondary Consumers – Feed on primary consumers – Carnivores & omnivores • Tertiary Consumers – Feed on secondary consumers – Carnivores & omnivores • Quaternary Consumers – Feed on tertiary consumers – Carnivores & omnivores • Decomposers: break down dead matter into simpler substances • Returns nutrients to the soil • Feed on any trophic level Name the tropic levels in this food pyramid • Defined: Group of interrelated food chains • Arrows show direction energy (nutrients) travel Tertiary consumer Secondary consumer Primary consumer producer Quaternary consumer Tertiary consumer Secondary consumer Primary consumer producer Topic 3: Succession Primary Succession • Defined: Establishment and development of an ecosystem in an uninhabited environment • Volcanic lava creates new land • Glaciers retreating exposing new land Bare Rock • Lava cools and hardens into rock Pioneer Species • Defined: First organisms to inhabit new land • Moss and lichen grow on bare rock • Dead matter accumulates with rock pieces – Thin soil layer begins to accumulate The Process Continues • Seeds enter the area and grow • Small flowers & shrubs accumulate more organic matter • With new plants, small animals inhabit the area The Process Continues • Small trees take root in the accumulated organic matter • More animals use the trees as a habitat Climax Community • Large trees take root – Overcrowd and out-compete original trees • New animals inhabit new forests Secondary Succession • Changes that take place after a disturbance occurs in an established ecosystem – Forest fires, floods, tree falls… • Faster scale (soil preexists) Topic 4: Biogeochemical Cycles Oxygen Cycle O2 O2 • Autotrophs: Release O2 into atmosphere via photosynthesis • All life: Absorbs O2 to be used during cellular respiration – Respiration: creates ATP energy for cells Carbon Cycle CO2 CO2 sugars • Carbon = (organic molecules) carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids • Plants & autotrophs: – Intake: Absorb CO2 from atmosphere – Output: Create carbohydrates by photosynthesis Carbon Cycle CO2 CO2 sugars • Consumers – Intake: Carbon moves up the food chain as 1 feeds on another – Output: Release CO2 during respiration Carbon Cycle sugars C C C • Decomposers – Input: Feed on dead organic matter – Output: Release CO2 during respiration – Output: Organic molecules returned to soil during decomposition Carbon Cycle CO2 • Human Industry – Output: Release CO2 into atmosphere when fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) are burned Nitrogen Cycle N2 Ammonia Nitrates • N = 78% atmosphere (most unusable) • Soil Bacteria – Nitrogen fixation: convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia – Nitrification: ammonia converted into nitrates Nitrogen Cycle Nitrates • Plants – Absorb nitrates through their roots Nitrogen Cycle Nitrates • Animals – Ingest nitrates through the food chain (plants eaten) Nitrogen Cycle Nitrates Nitrates Ammonia Ammonia Ammonia • Decomposers – Feed on dead organisms – Return ammonia to soil by feeding on dead matter Phosphorus (P) Cycle • No phosphorus in atmosphere • Rocks PP – Phosphorus released by weathering of rocks Phosphorus (P) Cycle • Plants – Absorb P into their roots P Phosphorus (P) Cycle • Animals P – Ingest P when plants eaten – P continues to move up food chain Phosphorus (P) Cycle • Decomposers – Breakdown dead matter and release P into soil P P Phosphorus (P) Cycle P P P P P P • Human Contribution – Adding excess P from fertilizers – P washes into lakes, etc… – Excess P causes extreme algae Topic 5: Community Interactions • when organisms live together in an ecological community they interact constantly. • Three types of interactions – Competition – Predation – Symbiosis Competition • occurs due to limited resources – water, nutrients, light, food. • Competitive exclusion principle - no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time Competition Predation • Predation- when an organism captures and feeds on another organism. • Predator- hunter • Prey- hunted Symbiosis • Symbiosis- any relationship where two species live closely together. (3 types) – Mutualism – Commensalism – Parasitism Symbiosis • Mutualism - both species benefit from a relationship – Flower: gets pollinated – Moth: gets nectar Mutualism example: Cleaner birds and Crocodiles Symbiosis • Commensalism – One member of a symbiotic relationship benefits and the other is neither helped or harmed – Anemone: gains nothing – Fish: protection Symbiosis • Parasitism- One creature benefits and one creature is harmed – Insect larvae will feed on the caterpillar Topic 6: Environmental Issues Ozone Layer Depletion • Ozone Function: Block UV radiation from sun • Problems: – CFCs thinning the ozone layer – More UV radiation reaches the surface • Effects: Crop damage, skin cancers, Eye damage • Solution: Reduce CFCs, regrow trees UV UV Ozone layer Ozone layer CFCs The Greenhouse Effect • G.H.E. is naturally good (it warms Earth) • Problem: Excess heat trapped near the earth’s surface • Fear: Climate patterns change, ice caps melt • Main Cause: CO2 from burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) • Solutions: Reduce use of fossil fuels, regrow trees, alternative energy sources What’s in a name? The purpose of a greenhouse is to trap heat year round Some heat escapes into space Some heat naturally trapped by Earth’s atmosphere heat Earth Earth Less heat escapes into space More heat trapped near Earth’s surface Excess CO2 in atmosphere Earth The Greenhouse Effect is naturally GOOD! Mars: No Greenhouse Effect Earth: Balanced Greenhouse Effect Little heat is trapped by the thin CO2 atmosphere. High temperatures can be around 20⁰F. Average global temperature is 57⁰F. Venus: The Extreme Greenhouse Effect Heat is trapped by the thick CO2 atmosphere. Temperatures reach 750⁰F. Deforestation • Defined: Clearing of forested areas • Reasons: – High demand for wood products – Create farmland • Problems: – Species lost – Excess CO2 released • Solutions: – Recycle – Improved farming techniques The Smog and Ground-Level Ozone • Reason: – Burning of fossil fuels & industry • Problems: – Respiratory illness – Ozone gas is poisonous • Causes: – Particulates rise into air and react with sunlight to make air pollution • Solutions: – Reduce use of fossil fuels – alternative energy sources – Plant trees Non-native Species Introduction • Defined: Foreign organisms are introduced to a new habitat • Reason: – Pet industry, “free ride” organisms, pest control • Effects: – Foreign species outcompete native species – Food webs unbalanced – Economic damage • Solutions: – Laws preventing foreign goods into new countries – Introduce predators • Defined: Precipitation with a below normal pH • Cause: – Fossil fuel pollution rises into the air & then falls as rain • Effect: – Waterways more acidic – Kills plant and animal life • Solutions: – Reduce fossil fuel usage – Add buffer (base) to waterways The Big Problem: Overpopulation • Over 6.7 billion people • Many natural resources are nonrenewable – Fossil fuels take millions of years to form • More people means: – 1) More forests removed – 2) More resources consumed – 3) More CO2 released