Download Introduction to Ecology - Monroe Township School District

Introduction to
Ecology
Understanding the interdependence
of organisms…
Infer the relationship
between our planet and
ecology
 Brainstorm 3 examples of the interdependence of
organisms on earth…..
Ecology
 The study of the interactions between
organisms and the living (biotic) and
nonliving (abiotic) components of their
environment!!
BRAINSTORM…
 What are THREE human-caused
environmental problems??
Start your outline….
 I. Human Caused
Environmental Problems
 A. Exploding Human Population
 B. Thinning Ozone Layer
 C. Climate change
A. Exploding Human
Population
 requires incr. amts. Of energy, food,
space, area for disposal of waste
 Causes disease in many species 
become extinct (habitat destruction,
overhunting, introduced disease and
predators)
 Scientist estimate @ 1/5 of the species in
world may disappear in the next century!!
B. Thinning Ozone Layer
 Protects organisms by absorbing UV radiation
from sun
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) react with ozone
destroying it
 1985 British scientists discovered an “ozone
hole” over Antartica  treaty in 1992 to ban
CFC’s
 By 1996 @ 50% of maximum density of
Antartica’s ozone has been depleted!
 Result = 1% UV gets throughsunburns, skin
cancers!
C. Climate Change
 Greenhouse Effect: is influenced by the
burning of fossil fuels causing an
increase in CO2 in our atmosphere
trapping heat resulting in “global
warming”
Continue outline…
 II. Different Levels of
Organization
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A. biosphere
B. Ecosystem
C. Community
D. population
E. Organism
A. Biosphere
 Broadest 5-6 miles above Earth’s
surface (like skin on an apple)
 Thin volume of earth and it’s atmosphere
that supports life!
B. Ecosystem
 Living and non living within the biosphere
in a particular place ex: pond
C. Community
 ONLY organisms ALL the interacting
organisms living in an area
 Ex: ALL organisms living in a pond!
D. Population
 Includes all members of a single species
that live in one place at one time.
E. Organism
 Research focuses on the adaptations
that allow organisms to overcome the
challenges of their environment…
Water Bear!!!
 This organism has unbelievable survival
ability, can adapt to extreme conditions
 This potential life form could have come
from space!!
 MARS????
 Lives in the water
 Eats plants
 microscopic
III. Responses to a changing
environment…
 A. Tolerance Curve: performance of
organisms at different temp. (optimal
range = BEST)
Responses to a changing
environment…
 B. Acclimation: some organisms can
adjust their tolerance to abiotic factors
through acclimation ex: humans can
adjust to high elevations
IV. Control of Internal Conditions…
dealing w/fluctuation in temp., light,
salinity…
 1. Conformers = do not regulate their internal
conditions, they change as their external envir.
Changes ex: desert lizards
 2. Regulators = control some of their internal
conditions ex: humans
V. Escape from Unsuitable
Conditions
 1. Dormancy = state of reduced activity during
unfavorable environmental conditions
 2. Migration = move to a more favorable
habitat ex: birds
Resources
 Energy and material species needs
 Ex: food, energy, nesting sites, water,
sunlight
VI. Niche
 Way of life, role the species plays in it’s
environment
 Includes:





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Range of conditions it can tolerate
Method of obtaining resources
# of offspring
Time of reproduction
Time it eats
Time its active
Niche
(2 kinds)
 1. fundamental niche = range of conditions species
can potentially tolerate and range of resources it can
potentially use
 2. realized niche = range of resources a species
actually uses
VII. Niche Difference
species niche can change within a
single generation ex:
butterflies/caterpillars
 1. Generalists: species with broad
niches can tolerate a range of conditions
and use a variety of resources ex:
Virginia opossum (eats everything, eggs,
dead animals, fruits and plants
 2. Specialist: species with narrow niches
ex: koala!
Virginia Opossum
Koala!!