ECOLOGY The study of the interactions between organisms & the environment.
Review basic Ecology vocabulary: organism = a living thing energy = ability to do work extinct = species that is no longer living endangered = species at risk of becoming extinct food = substance an organism needs for energy habitat = home for an organism predator = organism who hunts & eats another one bio- = prefix that means life biology = the study of life hierarchy = ranking in order prey = organism who is hunted & eaten by another photosynthesis = process when plants make their own food using sunlight for energy *Activity = for 60 seconds, review these terms with a partner *If you don t understand any of the basic terms on this slide, please come to Knight Time or tutoring!
Review basic Ecology vocabulary: Producers = (also called autotrophs) make their own food using sunlight; plants, algae, & some bacteria Consumers = (also called heterotrophs) eats other organisms for energy; animals & fungi carnivore = only eats animals (cat, dog, lions, crocodiles, T-rex) herbivore = only eats plants (cows, bees, pandas, deer, termites, lemurs) omnivore = eats both plants & animals (humans, bears, squirrels, turtles, fish) Decomposers = (process called rotting) breaks down dead organisms into soil; bacteria & fungi *optional activity = review these terms with a partner *optional activity = make a drawing of these 3 functional groups in your notes
Biotic = living components of an ecosystem Abiotic = nonliving components of an ecosystem Place the following terms on the Venn diagram in your notes: grass sunlight spiders climate flowers rotting tree air fish water dead frog U.V. light sun living temperature squirrel soil nonliving
Organization Biosphere - areas of planet earth that support life (air, land, water, volcanic thermal vents what?) Biome - an ecosystem that occupies a particular climate zone Ecosystem - all the living & nonliving things that interact in a particular area Community - different groups of populations in the same area Population - group of one type of organism Organism - individual living thing
biome Where would a biome fit into this hierarchy?
Climate Biome Long term temperature & weather conditions in a particular area. Plants, animals, & ecosystems adapted to a particular climatic condition. Essential question: What are some specific ways climate affects a biome? Cacti must conserve water in the desert because of dry conditions. Fish have gills to breathe the dissolved oxygen in the water they live in. Polar bears have large amounts of fat to store energy to survive arctic conditions.
Global region Biomes Abiotic Koppen Climate Zone Biotic Biome Polar (no summers) example: polar climate zone example: tundra biome Temperate example: humid subtropical climate zone example: temperate deciduous forest biome Tropical (no winters) example: tropical dry climate zone example: savanna biome *optional activity = biomes activity or worksheet
Food Webs A system of interdependent food chains Food Chain Hierarchical series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food
Levels of Consumption
Extinction
winter Invasive Species spring summer Organism that takes resources away from a native (natural) species. fall
Invasive Species
Which has more biodiversity? A B
Biodiversity Bio = life Diversity = variety Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth and the essential interdependence of all living things.
Biodiversity...Why is it important??? - At least 40 per cent of the world s economy and 80 percent of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. In addition, the richer the diversity of life, the greater the opportunity for medical discoveries, economic development, and adaptive responses to such new challenges as climate change. The Convention about Life on Earth, - Variation of genetic codes. - Resistance to disease - Medical Discoveries
Do we need balance in the biosphere? Is that important? Hold that thought...
Carrying Capacity The maximum number of organisms an ecosystem can hold. Think of an ecosystem as a bucket that can only hold so much.
How many fish can an aquarium hold? What does it depend on?
These things depend on limiting factors. What are limiting factors?
Population Size birth rate = how fast a population reproduces death rate = how fast a population dies Population = birth rate - death rate if birth rate > death rate then population grows or increases if birth rate < death rate then population shrinks or declines
Fun Fact: Demographers estimate that, in the decade of the Human Population Growth 1990 s, the Atlanta metro (driving distance) area grew in population faster than any other area in the history of human civilization.
How does population growth affect our resources?
Human Impacts Urban development (humans building stuff) has caused deforestation, logging, draining wetlands, habitat fragmentation & destruction. Various forms of Pollution like chemical spills Hunting & farming are both unnatural limiting factors. Harvesting, mining, & drilling take away natural resources. Invasive Species Global Warming
Human Impact Examples: Category What humans need What humans do What happens Impact on the environment Energy coal burning coal SO2 released into air creates acid rain Food cheap food concentrated animal farms excessive manure runoff eutrophication Space homes & malls draining wetlands reduces buffer zones increases flooding & pollution Beauty green yards too many water sprinklers excessive water use fresh water shortages
Habitat Fragmentation
Habitat Destruction
Mining
Invasive Species
Global Warming and Polar Ice Caps
The domestic cultivation (farming) of plants & animals for food or products. Agriculture Why Till? Tractor this is Tilling Pros: Control weeds, mix the soil, & make level. Cons: Dries soil, causes erosion, & CO2.
Traditional Farming Issues 1. Biodiversity - Monoculture vs. Polyculture, disease 2. Soil Quality - Erosion, Till vs. Nontill, 3. Fertilizers/Pesticides - Eutrophication
Conventional - Sustainable
Ways to Farm Friendly No Till planting Contour plowing Buy Local Natural Fertilizers
Sustainability To live in a way that natural resources (such as energy & materials) are not depleted or permanently damaged.
Energy Resources Anything used by humans as an energy source. Can be replenished or replaced in short amount of time. Once used up, they are gone for millions of years.
Carbon Footprint Amount of CO2 emitted (released) due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person or group.
Ecosphere