Ecology!

The main components

What is Ecology?

Ecology: the science that studies how organisms relate to

each other and their environment QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO ANSWER BY THE END OF TODAY

What is an ecosystem?What is a community?What is a population? What is a habitat?What is a microhabitat?What is a niche? What are abiotic and biotic factors of ecosystems

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

What does biotic mean?

What does Abiotic mean?

What is one biotic factor of marine ecosystems we have already studied?

What would be some abiotic factors we’ve already studied?

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Abiotic: Non-living factors that affect an ecosystem

Temperature, wind, pH, currents, minerals, sunlight

Biotic: autotrophs, heterotrophs (prey and predators) decomposers

Habitat

FLASHCARD ALERT: HABITAT

A habitat includes the area and physical conditions in which you find an organism

FLASHCARD ALERT: MICROHABITAT

A very small habitat:

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Habitat

Microhabitat

NicheFLASHCARD ALERT: NICHE

Role an organism plays in its habitat

Cleaner Shrimp/Cleaner Fish

Fish that want a cleaning will display specific behaviors to show the cleaner fish that they will not eat the cleaner

NicheNicheEach species unique living arrangement in a community

“Role”Think about a specific position player on a team i.e. pitcher on a baseball team

Ex. Lizards in a rainforest

Includes:Habitat

Food sources

Time of day organism is most active

Habitat is an organism’s address

and a niche is its job!

Populations and Communities Population

Refers to a single species in a single space at a single time

Community Refers to all populations living in an ecosystem

QUICK REVIEWQUICK REVIEW

What is community?What is population?

Community InteractionsCommunity Interactions

Powerfully affect an ecosystem

Include:Competition

Predation

Symbiosis

CompetitionCompetitionWhen organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource at the same place and the same time

Resource any necessity to lifeB

rainstorm some resources

Would they be abiotic or biotic?

Plants and animals competeWinner and losers

Interspecific competitionCompetition between same two species

When 2 or more species rely on same limited resource in a community

PredationPredation

Interaction where an organism captures and feeds on another organism

PredatorOrganism that does the killing and eating

PreyOrganism that is being killed and eaten (victim)

Predator AdaptationsPredator Adaptations

Speed

Agility

Coloring/camouflage to ambush prey

Packs/teamsEx. Wolves

Acute sensesEx. Rattle snake heat sensor organs

Claws, teeth, fangs, stingers, poison

Vampire Squid

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Camouflage Assists PredatorsCamouflage Assists Predators

(a)

(b)

CheetahCheetah

FrogfishFrogfish

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Camouflage by Blending inCamouflage by Blending in

Sand dab (fish)Sand dab (fish)

Nightjar (bird)Nightjar (bird)

Prey adaptationsPrey adaptationsSafe locations

Flee

Coloring/camouflage to hide

Defensive coloration“warning coloration”

MimicryOrganisms imitate dangerous organisms by appearance and actions

PlantsThorns, spines, poisonous chemicals

Chapter 27Chapter 27 2121

Camouflage byCamouflage byResembling Specific ObjectsResembling Specific Objects

Leafy Sea Leafy Sea Dragon-sea Dragon-sea leaves/weedleaves/weed

Chapter 27Chapter 27 2222

Warning ColorationWarning Coloration

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Protection Through MimicryProtection Through Mimicry

Visual and Behavioral MimicryThe amazing Indonesian mimicry octopus

SymbiosisSymbiosis

Any relationship where two species live closely together Symbiosis literally means “living together”3 main types

ParasitismMutualismcommensalism

MutualismMutualism

Both species benefit from the relationshipA Happy coupleClownfish and anemone

Clownfish help clean the anemone and help with water circulation. The clownfish gains protection and food.

CommensalismCommensalism

One member of the relationship benefits while the other is neither harmed nor helpedOne-sidedRare in natureFood or shelterBarnacles on whaleSeaweed on back of crab

ParasitismParasitismOne organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it

Parasite obtains all or part of its nutrients from the other organism

HostOrganism that is harmed in relation ship; the one that provides the nutrients to the parasite

ParasiteOrganism that gets its nutrients from the host

Do they want to kill their host?No, because they need them…they will weaken or hurt the host in some way

Chapter 27Chapter 27 2929

SymbiosisSymbiosis

RecapRecap

What is the difference between a population and a community? What is the difference between a niche and a habitat? What are the three types of interactions in a community?

CompetitionPredationSymbiosis

What types do we have?MutualismCommensalismParasitism

Ecological SuccessionEcological Succession

Do all ecosystems stay the same all the time?

What are some things that cause changes to ecosystems?

Natural and unnatural

Quickly and slowly

Ecosystems are constantly changing in response to human and natural disturbances.

As an ecosystem changes, older habitants die out and new organisms move in, causing more change

Ecological SuccessionEcological Succession

Series of predictable changes that occur in a community over time

Physical environment

Natural disturbance

Human disturbance

Primary SuccessionPrimary SuccessionSuccession on land that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists

Volcanic eruptions

Glaciers melting

Stages of Primary SuccessionStages of Primary Succession

Start with no soil, just ash and rockFirst species to populate this area

“pioneer species”For example, pioneer species on volcanic rock are lichens (LY-kunz)

Lichens made up of fungus and algae that can grow on bare rockWhen lichens die, they for organic material that becomes soil…now plants can grow

Secondary SuccessionSecondary Succession

Succession following a disturbance that destroys a community without destroying the soil

Natural hurricane

fires

Human disturbancesFarming

Forest clearing

Succession in Marine Succession in Marine EcosystemsEcosystems

Deep and darkCan succession happen?1987 dead whale off of California

Unique community of organisms living in remainsRepresents stage in succession in an otherwise stable, deep-sea ecosystemWhale-fall community

Whale-Fall SuccessionWhale-Fall SuccessionBegins when large whale dies

Sinks to barren ocean floorScavengers and decomposers flock to carcass , our first community

AmphipodsHagfishsharks

After a year, most tissues have been eatenNow, second small community of organisms live hereBody is decomposing, releasing nutrients into the water

Small fishesCrabsSnailsworms

Only skeleton remains…Third community moves in

Heterotrophic bacteriaDecompose oil in bones release of chemical compoundsWho uses these chemical compounds?

Chemoosynthetic autotrophsIn come the crabs, clams, and worms that feed on this bacteria

Human Activity and Species Human Activity and Species DiversityDiversity

Land clearingFarmland

Diverse forest replaced with single crop

Decreases species diversity

Introduced speciesHumans move a species from its native land to a new location, intentionally or accidentally

Can you remember an example of this from the field trip?