Biosphere
What is Ecology? copyright cmassengale 2
Organisms and Their Environment copyright cmassengale 3
What is Ecology?? The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment. It explains how living organisms affect each other and the world they live in. copyright cmassengale 4
ECOSYSTEM LEVEL Eucalyptus forest Biosphere Ecosystems POPULATION LEVEL Group of flying foxes ORGANISM LEVEL Flying fox COMMUNITY LEVEL All organisms in eucalyptus forest Community ORGAN SYSTEM LEVEL Nervous system Brain Spinal cord Population ORGAN LEVEL Brain Nerve TISSUE LEVEL Nervous tissue CELLULAR LEVEL Nerve cell MOLECULAR LEVEL Molecule of DNA Figure 1.1
SUMMARY OF KEY CONCEPTS A Hierarchy of Interactions Organism ecology (individual) Population ecology (group of individuals) Community ecology (all organisms in a particular area) Ecosystem ecology (all organisms and abiotic factors) Visual Summary 18.1 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
KEY PROPERTIES OF COMMUNITIES A community Is an assemblage of species living close enough together for potential interaction Figure 19.2 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Habitat & Niche Habitat is the place a plant or animal lives Niche is an organism s total way of life copyright cmassengale 8
The Nonliving Environment Abiotic factors- the nonliving parts of an organism s environment. Examples include air currents, temperature, moisture, light, and soil. Abiotic factors affect an organism s life. copyright cmassengale 9
The Living Environment Biotic factors- all the living organisms that inhabit an environment. All organisms depend on others directly or indirectly for food, shelter, reproduction, or protection. copyright cmassengale 10
Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale 11
Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale 12
Abiotic or Biotic? Abiotic copyright cmassengale 13
INTER-SPECIFIC INTERACTIONS IN COMMUNITIES Inter-specific interactions are interactions between different species. Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Behavioral defenses: Alarm calls Mobbing Figure 19.8 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Distraction displays: Direct the attention of the predator away from a vulnerable prey to another prey that is more likely to escape Figure 19.9 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Camouflage, or cryptic coloration: Is a passive defense that makes a potential prey difficult to spot against its background Figure 19.10 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Impala Photo by Art Wolfe, Audubon March-April 1999
Casque-headed Chameleon Photo by Art Wolfe, Audubon March-April 1999
White-tailed Ptarmigan Photo by Art Wolfe, Audubon March-April 1999
Pygmy Seahorse on octocoral (Indonesia) James D. Watt
Sea Dragon Photo by Jim Watt/Pacific Stock; Defenders, Summer 19
In Batesian mimicry: A palatable or harmless species mimics an unpalatable or harmful model Figure 19.12 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
In Müllerian mimicry: Two or more unpalatable species resemble each other Figure 19.13 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Abiotic or Biotic? Biotic copyright cmassengale 25
interactions with other organisms Negative: predation or competition Positive: facilitation (e.g., pollinators Biotic factors Fig. 50.9 urchin barrens
Biotic and abiotic factors: adaptations Predation - Aposematic coloration Predation Cryptic coloration Dry conditions - cacti Dry conditions spring annuals
Abiotic factors water availability - too little water (desiccation) - Deserts, saltwater - too much water (anaerobic) Mangroves Organ pipe cacti, desert shrubs
temperature high temperature cause cell membranes to leak and enzymes to stop working low temperature causes freezing - some animals have antifreezes that allow them to survive below freezing temperatures. Abiotic factors Thermophilic bacteria, Nevada Cool arctic fish (spp.?)
Sunlight Abiotic factors - Competition, shade tolerance for plants - Photic zone, different wavelengths for aquatic organisms
Abiotic factors Wind exacerbates the effects of temperature and water loss also exerts forces on organisms (waves act in the same manner)
rocks and soil substratum type nutrient availability ph Abiotic factors
Trophic Structure The trophic structure of a community concerns the feeding relationships among the various species making up the community
Examples of terrestrial and marine food chains
Quaternary, tertiary, and secondary consumers Tertiary and secondary consumers Secondary and primary consumers Primary consumers Producers (plants)
Biomes: Are named for major physical or climatic features and for their predominant vegetation Figure 19.33 Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Tropical forest Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34a
Savanna Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34b
Desert Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34c
Chaparral Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34d
Temperate grassland Figure 19.34e Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Temperate deciduous forest Figure 19.31f Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Coniferous forest Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34g
Tundra Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings Figure 19.34h
Biodiversity Variety of living things, number of kinds Ecological diversity different habitats, niches, species interactions Species diversity different kinds of organisms, relationships among species Genetic diversity different genes & combinations of genes within populations 16 June 2010 45
Benefits of Biodiversity Ecosystem functions Ecosystem services Cleaning water, Cleaning air, Habitat & breeding areas for wildlife, Aesthetic and cultural benefits 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 46
Natural Resources Vital economic natural resources Renewable Forests (plants, wildlife) Soils Fresh water (lakes, rivers) Wildlife and fisheries Rangeland Nonrenewable Minerals Fossil Fuels 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 47
Threats to Biodiversity Extinction and population reductions Hunting and overharvesting Tiger Dodo Whales Sharks Habitat loss 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 48
Threats to Biodiversity Extinction and population reductions Pollution Climate change Invasive species 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 49
Protecting Biodiversity How can we protect biodiversity Stop overharvesting Sustainable yield Hunting & fishing laws (every state?) in developing nations? Protect habitat Refuges, parks, preserves Endangered Species Act 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 50
Protecting Biodiversity Biodiversity hotspots Protection of habitat 16 June 2010 Biodiversity.ppt 51
Increases in the human population result in more people consuming resources and dumping pollutants into the biosphere Figure 18.28