OGT Intervention Ecology and Cellular Processes
Ecology The study of relationships between living organisms and their environment Ecosystem- All of the organisms in an area and the nonliving factors (abiotic) Terrestrial-land (forest, grassland, desert, taiga, tundra) Aquatic-water (fresh water and marine/oceans)
Organization Biosphere-portion of Earth that supports life Ecosystem-Interaction of plants and animals and the biotic factors Community-All the populations of species living in the same place at the same time Population-All one species Organism-One living thing
II. Levels of organization Organism complete living thing Populations members of the same species living in the same environment.
Communities members of different species living in the same environment. Ecosystem studies the interactions of the communities and the abiotic factors
Biotic/Aboitic Biotic-Living things Abiotic-Non living Ex) Temperature Water Soil Minerals Sunlight Oxygen Many organisms have a range of tolerance. The amount of change they can withstand. No set requirements.
1. Density-dependent factors Disease Competition Parasites Food availability Larger and closer a group is the greater the effect.
Density-independent factors Most are abiotic Temperature Disasters: floods, storms, drought, pollution
Succession After a natural disaster how the species of plants and animals return to an area. Usually secondary succession Primary succession has to make soil
Interactions Predation-Predator captures and kills its prey Natural Selection has allowed both to develop adaptations Ex) Predator-Wolves with sharp teeth Ex) Prey-camouflage
Parasitism A parasite feeds on a host. Usually the parasite does not kill the host (not immediately) Ex) tics (endoparasites-inside the host)
Mutualism And Commensalism Mutualism - Cooperative relationship where two or more species mutually benefit. Ex) bees and flowers Commensalism - One-sided relationship. One species benefits with out harming the other species
Competition When 2 or more species share similar characteristics and require the same resources they compete. Alien species- non-native species, reproduce out of control because they have no natural predators
Carrying Capacity The population of a species that an area will generally support Usually there is equilibrium-a balance among species
Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Autotrophs - Automatically make their own food Producers Plants-that can make their own food by photosynthesis Heterotrophs - Cannot make their own food. Animals must obtain food Herbivores-plants Carnivores-meat Omnivores-Both
Decomposers Break down dead organisms and wastes into organic molecules Ex) worms Bacteria fungus
Food Chains Shows the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem Very simple Shows one organism eating another
Food Web More complex, show all possible feeding combinations Still shows the flow of energy and nutrients in an ecosystem Water, carbon and nitrogen also flow through an ecosystem in the same way as a food chain or food web.
Energy that is lost is lost as heat Trophic levels
Trophic levels Tertiary Consumer Energy that is lost is lost as heat Secondary Consumer Primary Consumer Producer
Environmental Problems Pollution-rise of industry has led to increased air and water pollution
Global Warming Burning of fossil fuels has increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and water form a blanket holding in heat Less heat can escape leading to the greenhouse effect
Ozone Layer Ozone absorbs the suns UV rays Without ozone, the UV rays would lead to genetic mutations in all living cells CFC s break down the ozone layer
Pesticides Poisonous chemicals to help control insects, but they become part of the water and soil harming other living things
Pesticides Bioaccumulation Taking in pollutants and accumulating them in the body Biomagnification Pollutants get more concentrated the further up the food chain it gets.
Bioaccumulation vs Biomagnification Bioaccumulation vs. Biomagnification - a poem by Lindsey For bioaccumulation let's look at the word accumulate, It is what would have happened to that fish upon your plate. As the fish consumed mercury it built up over time, And soon the fish's bloodstream was filled with silvery slime. Biomagnification sounds like magnifying glasses, And it is when the mercury through each organism passes. When a big fish eats a little fish to the big fish the mercury flows, And as you move up the food chain the mercury concentration grows.
Environmental Problems Loss of Natural Resources Renewable resources-forests and water Nonrenewable resources-oil and coal Destruction of Natural Habitats Humans destroy the habitat Biodiversity-the diversity of different species (not individuals)
Environmental Solutions Lifestyle Changes-Reduce, reuse and recycle Alternative Sources of Energy-wind power, solar power, hydogen-powered fuel cells Conservation-Protecting Endangered Species and conserve resources