Download Unit 2: Ecology Content Outline: Ecology Introduction (2.1) – Part 1

Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecology Introduction (2.1) – Part 1
I.
Ecology- The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and their environment.
A. Environment- The abiotic and biotic factors that act upon organisms and ultimately determine its form
and survival.
B. Abiotic- Nonliving part of the environment including water, rocks, light, nutrients, soil, and temperature.
1. Climate- the average weather conditions for an environment (usually measured on a yearly or
monthly basis)
2. Weather – the daily environmental conditions. These can change from day to day or even hour to
hour.
C. Biotic- Living factors of an environment, such as bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals.
1. Organic- relating to an organism, a living entity.
II.
Levels of Ecology
A. Organism- A living thing; anything that can carry our life processes independently
B. Population- A group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area
1. Species- a group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring
C. Community- All of the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other
D. Ecosystem- A community of organisms and their abiotic environment
E. Biosphere- The part of earth where live exists.
III.
Biogeography- study of the geographic distribution on plants and animals
A. Native (Indigenous) species- species that evolved in the defined area
B. Invasive (transplant) species- species from another area living in a foreign environment
1. Accidental transplant- Zebra Mussels and Fire Ants
2. Purposeful transplant- Kudzu
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecology Introduction (2.1) - Part 2
I.
Biomes- a large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plant and animal
communities
A. Climate patterns (sun, wind, and rain patterns)
1. The sunlight, wind, and water availability all help to define a biome.
B. Local effects (oceans, mountains, ponds & lakes)
1. Oceans – These act as heat banks. (coastal/island areas generally warmer than interior areas) The
water absorbs the sunlight’s energy (so we don’t fry) during the day and releases the energy at night
to keep the dark side of the planet warm.
2. Mountains –These creates the rain shadow effect. This creates deserts on the
backside. As the winds come off the water, they are heavy with moisture. When those winds
run into mountains, the air is forced upward resulting in the moisture getting cooler and
condensing resulting in lots of rain on the front side of the mountain. With no moisture left as
the winds reach the backside or “shadow side” of the mountain, you get deserts typically.
(Look at California and Nevada.)
a. Wind increases with altitude. (Plants tend to be smaller and animals furrier.)
b. Temperatures on average drop 6⁰ C for each 1000 meters up in altitude.
3. Ponds and lakes –stratification of temperature creates layers of differing
temperature with in the body of water and this leads to thermoclines and turnover
of nutrients and O2. This is ultimately due to seasonal changes in temperature.
Warmer water rises and colder water sinks. Ice on the surfaces helps prevent this in
winter so that the whole body of water does not freeze and thereby kill all life forms
in the body of water.
4. Thermocline - These are temperature gradients (layers) that occur within a body of
water as water heats or cools.
II. Microclimates- small ecosystems/environments, such as under a log or your backyard.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecology Introduction (2.1) - Part 3
I.
Aquatic Biomes
A. Roughly 75% of the Earth’s surface is covered by aquatic biomes.
B. They are initially responsible for rainfall and global temperature regulation by absorbing solar energy.
C. They help with oxygen production and carbon dioxide consumption due to phytoplankton performing
photosynthesis.
II. Marine Systems
A. Photic Zone- This is the upper region with light penetration.
B. Aphotic Zone- This is the lower region with no light penetration.
C. Benthic Zone- This is the bottom on the ocean.
D. Abyss-the deepest part of the benthic zone; deep sea trenches mostly.
E. Intertidal Zone-harsh environment due to the constant waves; rich in biodiversity; light is present for
photosynthesis.
F. Coral Reef-very rich in biodiversity; endangered (now protected); found in warm water climates.
III. Regions in Fresh water, such as lakes, ponds, streams
A. Littoral Zone- shallow water; light is present for photosynthesis
B. Benthic Zone- bottom area; may or may not receive sunlight
IV. Streams and Rivers
A. Headwaters- These are generally located in the mountains.
B. Midstream- These are located between the mountains and the coast.
C. Estuary- This is where fresh water meets salt water; very rich in biodiversity.
D. Wetlands- These are lands possessing water and above water plants; they are very rich in biodiversity.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecology Introduction (2.1) Part 4
Biomes of Earth
This is a 5-minute report with a poster board size project.
Poster must include:
I. General Information on climate with graphs showing precipitation and temperature
II. 5 flora (plants) with common and scientific names (and pictures)
III. 5 fauna (animals) with common and scientific names (and pictures)
Biomes to choose from:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Tropical Rain Forest
Savannah
Desert—Hot
Desert—Cold
Taiga
Tundra
Temperate Rain Forest
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Grasslands
Chaparral
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Population Ecology (2.2) - Part 1
I.
Population Ecology
A. Population – This is the same species, at the same time, in the same place, and reproducing.
B. Density – This term refers to the number of organisms in a given area.
C. Dispersion – This term refers to the pattern of organisms within a given area.
1. Clumped – This pattern results from a need for nutrients, water, or some other important items.
2. Uniform – This pattern results from territoriality or favorable environment.
3. Random – There is no apparent reason or pattern.
II. Demography - the study of population sizes and distribution
A. Growth – Populations grow in number by birth or immigration (going into an area).
B Decline – Populations decrease in number by death or emigration (leaving an area).
C. Calculating percentage population change:
Percent change = change in population X 100 %
Total population size
III. Population Limiting Factors
A. Resources - food, water, space, jobs, etc.
1. As resources become scarce competition rises and population numbers decrease.
B. Health Conditions - crowding and disease
C. Predation by another species
1. Predator-prey relationships
a. Prey - organism killed and eaten by another organism
b. Predator - organism that eats all or part of another organism after killing it.
D. Carrying Capacity
1. This term refers to the largest population that an environment can support at any given time.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Population Ecology (2.2) - Part 2
I.
Symbiosis –
A. This is a close, long-term association between two or more species.
B. Types of symbiosis relationships:
1. Mutualism – This is a relationship between two or more species in which both species benefit (+, +)
For example, a butterfly and a Dandelion flower
2. Commensalism – This is a relationship between two species where one species benefit and the other is
unaffected. (+, 0)
For example: sharks and remoras
3. Parasitism – This is a relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits and the
other species, the host, is harmed. (+, -)
For example: deer and deer ticks
II. Coevolution
A. The evolution of two species that is due to mutual influence, often in a way that makes the relationship more
beneficial to both species.
For example, Flowers and their pollinators (bees, moths, and birds)
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Community Ecology (2.3) - Part 1
I.
Community - all the populations of species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other.
A. Competition (-, -)
1. This relationship exists because resources are in small supply.
2. Two species cannot occupy the same niche in an environment.
a. Niche - the place or function of a given organism within its environment, which affects its
survival.
B. Predation (+, -)
1. Normal – A predator kills and eats its prey. For example, a Lion killing and eating a Gazelle.
2. Parasitism - A parasite harms another organism. For example, a mosquito biting you.
3. Adaptations for predators to catch prey: claws, teeth, poisons, speed, and musculature
4. Adaptations against predators to avoid being caught: long legs, speed, flight, horns, coloration, and
sense of smell
a. Camouflage – coloration that helps an animal blend in with the surroundings.
b. Warning coloration - bright colors such as red, orange, yellow, or blue
c. Defensive chemicals - ex: skunk spray
d. Mimicry – this is when the coloration, makes a harmless animal look like a harmful animal.
C. Mutualism (+, +)
1. This relationship promotes coevolution. The relationship is has a positive effect for each organism.
D. Commensalism (+, 0)
1. This relationship is where one organism benefits while the other organism is unaffected (0).
For example: small fish that follow sharks
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Community Ecology (2.3) - Part 2
I.
Trophic Structure - ‘troph’ to feed or eat
A. Energy Flows but Matter is cycled
1. Sunlight
 Energy moves to producers
2. Producers
 Energy moves to Primary Consumers
3. Primary Consumers
 Energy moves to Secondary Consumers
4. Secondary Consumers
 Energy moves to Tertiary Consumers
5. Tertiary Consumers
 Energy moves to Decomposers
6. Decomposers
Matter is recycled back to producers.
B. Food Chains
1. A simplified model of energy passing from one trophic level to the next level.
C. Food Web
1. A model showing possible feeding relationships that could exist (multiple
interacting food chains)
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Community Ecology (2.3) - Part 3
I.
Stability
A. A community at ‘equilibrium’ showing little disturbance or change over time.
II. Ecological Succession - change in community due to time and disturbance
A. Primary Succession
1. This type of succession is basically starting from scratch with pioneer species, like lichens and mosses.
These species are the first to an area and have the ability to breakdown rock into dirt/soil.
a. After a volcanic event (for example) over time, pioneer species make dirt from
the existing rock. Birds feeding on the pioneer species then deposit seeds from other plants via their
feces
b. Pioneer species then transition(change) to grasses to bushes. Then overtime bushes transition to trees.
c. Climax community – This is when a hardwood forest exists all over the specific area.
i. Hardwoods are trees like Oak, Elm, and Maples.
B. Secondary Succession
1. This type of succession starts at the grasses area. Soil already exists.
a. For example: An abandoned farm turning into a forest over time.
b. Dirt already exists, so no pioneer species are needed.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecosystem Dynamics (2.4) - Part 1
I.
Ecosystems
A. This term refers to all the interacting communities within a given area plus the abiotic factors affecting it
B. Abiotic factors mainly deal with energy flow, nutrient cycling, temperature, and water.
II. Trophic levels - Feeding relationships
A. Producers or Autotrophs (self eater/feeder)
1. These organisms take the sunlight and inorganic matter and convert it into organic energy storing
molecules (food/sugars).
2. Producers ‘produce’ the start to all food chains
B. Consumers or Heterotrophs (other eater/feeder)
1. Different levels can occur such as 1’ (primary), 2’ (secondary), 3’ (tertiary), etc
2. 1’ feeds on producers, 2’ feeds on 1’, 3’ feeds on 2’ etc.
3. They must eat other organisms to obtain energy and matter.
C. Decomposers or Detritovores (feed on dead, organic matter - detritus)
1. The decomposers take detritus and convert it back to the inorganic state for recycling and use by
producers.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecosystem Dynamics (2.4) - Part 2
I.
Biogeochemical cycles (“bio” = “life”, “geo” = “earth”)
A. This refers to the constant cycling of matter on Earth.
B. This is supported by the Scientific Law: Law of Conservation of Matter.
1. The law states “Matter is neither created nor destroyed; just transferred and transformed.”
2. Water cycle
a. Water evaporates because of sunlight from bodies of water and is carried in clouds by wind to almost
while world. The water vapor condenses to rain of snow (precipitation) and returns to the surface of the
Earth.
b. Plants take in water and use it for photosynthesis.
3. Carbon Cycle
a. Carbon dioxide is removed from the air by photosynthesis (performed by plants, phytoplankton, and
bacteria).
b. Burning of organic material returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
4. Nitrogen Cycle
a. Nitrogen moves between plants, animals, bacteria, the atmosphere, and soil.
b. Approximately 78 % of the atmosphere is nitrogen and approximately 3% of human body weight is
nitrogen.
C. Temperature affects the cycling rates
1. High temperatures = faster cycling of nutrients
For example, cycling is extremely fast in the tropical rain forest.
2. Low temperatures = slower cycling of nutrients
For example, cycling is extremely slow in the tundra.
Unit 2: Ecology
Content Outline: Ecosystem Dynamics (2.4) - Part 3
I.
Human Impact on Ecosystems
A. Agriculture
1. Fertilizers (+) replace what is missing and (-) extra fertilizer damages the ecosystem.
B. Fossil Fuels
1. Burning fossil Fuels can cause acid precipitation.
C. Biological Magnification
1. Buildup of poisons and heavy metals in organisms.
D. Rising Carbon Dioxide levels in the atmosphere can cause the global temperature to increase.
E. Greenhouse Effect raising Earth’s average temperature and causing glaciers to melt making sea levels rise
each year.
F. Ozone Depletion due to certain “spray” canisters.
1. Ozone helps shield the Earth from the sun harmful Ultraviolet radiation.
2. Ultraviolet radiation causes your skin to burn and can even cause skin cancer.