BiologyEcologyBiomes and Relationships

Ecology

Topics

• Introduction to Introduction to EcologyEcology

• Abiotic & Biotic Abiotic & Biotic factors of an factors of an Ecosystem Ecosystem

• Predator/ Prey Predator/ Prey RelationshipsRelationships

• Symbiotic Symbiotic RelationshipsRelationships

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions1.1. What is ecology? What do ecologists study? What is ecology? What do ecologists study?

2.2. Compare and contrast biotic and abiotic Compare and contrast biotic and abiotic factors. What is their importance in an factors. What is their importance in an ecosystem? ecosystem?

3.3. Identify and describe the following symbiotic Identify and describe the following symbiotic relationships: mutualism, commensalisms, and relationships: mutualism, commensalisms, and parasitism. parasitism.

4.4. Describe the relationship of a predator to its Describe the relationship of a predator to its

prey.prey.

Ecology – Key TermsEcology – Key Terms

• Ecology Ecology • AbioticAbiotic• BioticBiotic• PopulationPopulation• Community Community • EcosystemEcosystem• Habitat Habitat • Niche Niche • Predator Predator • PreyPrey• SymbiosisSymbiosis• CommensalismCommensalism• ParasitismParasitism• MutualismMutualism• Organism Organism • Biosphere Biosphere

What is Ecology?Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy; study another and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy; study of the structure and functions of natureof the structure and functions of nature

What roles do insects What roles do insects play?play?

Insects751,000

Protists57,700

Plants248,400

Prokaryotes4,800

Fungi69,000

Other animals281,000

Known species1,412,000

What are the Characteristics of Life?What are the Characteristics of Life?

About 1.4 million species have been identified, but estimates of number of species range from 3.6 million to 100 million

Biotic – living components of an ecosystem

Abiotic – Nonliving component of an ecosystem

All things living have the following All things living have the following specific propertiesspecific properties::Cellular organizationCellular organization – – All living things are made All living things are made

up of cells up of cells Metabolism Metabolism - - Organisms obtain and use Organisms obtain and use

energy energy Homeostasis Homeostasis – – Maintain environmentMaintain environmentReproductionReproduction – – Organinisms have offspringOrganinisms have offspringHeredityHeredity – – Organisms pass traits to their Organisms pass traits to their offspringoffspring

Ecosystem Organization OverviewEcosystem Organization Overview

Organisms Any form of life (species)- group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemical makeup and processes, and genetic structure.

Organisms Any form of life (species)- group of organisms that resemble one another in appearance, behavior, chemical makeup and processes, and genetic structure.

Populations- Group of individual organisms of the same species living in a particular area

Populations- Group of individual organisms of the same species living in a particular area

Communities- Populations of all species living and interacting in an area at a particular time

Communities- Populations of all species living and interacting in an area at a particular time

Ecosystems- Community of different species interacting with one another and with the chemical and physical factors making up its nonliving environment

Ecosystems- Community of different species interacting with one another and with the chemical and physical factors making up its nonliving environment

Biosphere- Zone of earth where life is found. Sometimes called the ecosphere

Biosphere- Zone of earth where life is found. Sometimes called the ecosphere

Ecosystem ComponentsEcosystem ComponentsThe major components of The major components of

ecosystems are ecosystems are abioticabiotic (nonliving) water, air, (nonliving) water, air, nutrients, solar energy, nutrients, solar energy, and and bioticbiotic (living) plants, (living) plants, animals, and microbes.animals, and microbes.

Niche Niche – How organisms – How organisms interact with each other interact with each other within a community. An within a community. An organism role in the organism role in the ecosystemecosystem

HabitatHabitat is the place is the place where a population or an where a population or an individual organism individual organism usually livesusually lives

Major Biomes and the Role of Climate Major Biomes and the Role of ClimateThe amount of energy The amount of energy received and received and topography of a region topography of a region determines determines climateclimate. .

Terrestrial parts of the Terrestrial parts of the biosphere are classified biosphere are classified as as biomesbiomes, areas such , areas such as deserts, forests, and as deserts, forests, and grasslands. grasslands.

Aquatic life zonesAquatic life zones describe the many describe the many different areas found in different areas found in a water environment, a water environment, such as freshwater or such as freshwater or marine life zones (coral marine life zones (coral reefs, coastal estuaries, reefs, coastal estuaries, deep ocean).deep ocean).

Temperature, precipitation and topography Temperature, precipitation and topography (abiotic factors) determine the vegetation (plants) (abiotic factors) determine the vegetation (plants) and the animals they will supportand the animals they will support

Climate

Long-term average weather patterns 30-1 million years

It is determined by

Average Precipitation

Average Temperature

and

Influence by

Latitude Altitude Ocean Currents

Temperature Controls

Factors that influence ecosystem

Where organisms Live (Habitat)

How Organisms Live (Niche)

What organisms eat (energy flow)

That affects

Dry woodlands and shrublands (chaparral)

Temperate grassland

Temperate deciduous forest

Boreal forest (taiga), evergreen coniferousforest (e.g., montane coniferous forest)

Arctic tundra (polar grasslands)

Tropical savanna,thorn forest

Tropical scrub forest

Tropical deciduous forest

Tropical rain forest,tropical evergreen forest

Desert

Ice

Mountains(complex zonation)

Semidesert,arid grassland

Tropic ofCapricorn

Equator

Tropic ofCancer

Biomes of the WorldBiomes of the World

Tropics

Temperate

Polar

Tropical Rainforest Deciduous Forest Taiga

ForestsForests

TundraGrassland Desert

Ice Worlds

Caves

Unique EnvironmentsEnvironments

Mountains

High tideLow tide

Coastal Zone

EstuarineZone

Continentalshelf

Open SeaSea level

Sun

Euphotic Zone

Bathyal Zone

Abyssal Zone

Depth inmeters

0

50

100

200

Ph

oto

sy

nth

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is

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

10,000

Da

rkn

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Aquatic Life Zones-Aquatic Life Zones-Marine and freshwater portions of the biosphere. Examples include Marine and freshwater portions of the biosphere. Examples include freshwater life zones (such as lakes and streams) and ocean or marine life zonesfreshwater life zones (such as lakes and streams) and ocean or marine life zones

Marine Life Zones:

Shallow seas

Open Ocean

Freshwater Life ZonesFreshwater life zones contain less than 1% by volume of salt. These zones include standing (lentic) bodies such as lakes, ponds, and wetlands and flowing (lotic) systems such as streams and rivers.

Freshwater Life ZonesFreshwater life zones contain less than 1% by volume of salt. These zones include standing (lentic) bodies such as lakes, ponds, and wetlands and flowing (lotic) systems such as streams and rivers.

Lentic bodiesLentic bodiesStanding water Lakes Standing water Lakes

are large natural are large natural bodies of standing bodies of standing water found in water found in depressions.depressions.

Rainfall, melting snow, Rainfall, melting snow, and stream and stream drainage feed lakes.drainage feed lakes.

Lakes generally consist Lakes generally consist of four distinct of four distinct zones depending on zones depending on depth and distance depth and distance from shorefrom shore

Lentic bodiesLentic bodiesStanding water Lakes Standing water Lakes

are large natural are large natural bodies of standing bodies of standing water found in water found in depressions.depressions.

Rainfall, melting snow, Rainfall, melting snow, and stream and stream drainage feed lakes.drainage feed lakes.

Lakes generally consist Lakes generally consist of four distinct of four distinct zones depending on zones depending on depth and distance depth and distance from shorefrom shore

Major Characteristics of Freshwater Stream and RiversMajor Characteristics of Freshwater Stream and Rivers The The source zonesource zone is narrow is narrow

and fast moving. It dissolvesand fast moving. It dissolves

large amounts of oxygen from large amounts of oxygen from

air and most plants are air and most plants are

attached to rocks. Light isattached to rocks. Light is

available, but is not veryavailable, but is not very

productive.productive.

The The transition zonetransition zone forms forms

wider, deeper streams thatwider, deeper streams that

flow down gentler slopes. The flow down gentler slopes. The

water is warmer, with morewater is warmer, with more

nutrients and supports morenutrients and supports more

producers, but has slightlyproducers, but has slightly

lower dissolved oxygen.lower dissolved oxygen.

The The floodplain zonefloodplain zone has has

wider, deeper rivers. Waterwider, deeper rivers. Water

temperature is warmer, lesstemperature is warmer, less

dissolved oxygen is present, dissolved oxygen is present,

and flow is slower. and flow is slower.

Flowing Freshwater SystemsFlowing Freshwater Systems

Three aquatic life zones, each with different conditions can Three aquatic life zones, each with different conditions can be identified along stream flow.be identified along stream flow.

Freshwater Life Zones

WetlandsWetlandsTypes:Marshes: dominated by grasses and reeds few treesSwamps: dominated by trees and shrubsPrairie Potholes: depressions carved out by glaciersFloodplain: which receive excess water during heavy rains and floodsTundra: receive excess water during the artic summerSeasonal: Are wetland are only soggy for a short time of the year

Types:Marshes: dominated by grasses and reeds few treesSwamps: dominated by trees and shrubsPrairie Potholes: depressions carved out by glaciersFloodplain: which receive excess water during heavy rains and floodsTundra: receive excess water during the artic summerSeasonal: Are wetland are only soggy for a short time of the year

Importance of wetlandsInland wetlands cover the land for a part of all of Inland wetlands cover the land for a part of all of each year. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, each year. Wetlands include swamps, marshes, prairie potholes, floodplains, and arctic tundra in prairie potholes, floodplains, and arctic tundra in summer.summer.

Scientists also use soil composition and plant life Scientists also use soil composition and plant life to define whether a particular area is a wetland.to define whether a particular area is a wetland.

Wetlands provide a number of free ecological Wetlands provide a number of free ecological services such as filtering toxic wastes/pollutants, services such as filtering toxic wastes/pollutants, absorbing/storing excess water from storms, and absorbing/storing excess water from storms, and providing habitats for a variety of species.providing habitats for a variety of species.

RelationshipsRelationships

Symbiotic RelationshipsSymbiotic Relationships

A relationship in which two species live A relationship in which two species live closely togetherclosely together

MutualismMutualism

CommensalismCommensalism

ParasitismParasitism

Predator / Prey

Symbiotic Species Interactions:Symbiotic Species Interactions:

Mutualism (+/+)Mutualism (+/+)Pollination mutualismPollination mutualismInsectsInsectsNutritional mutualismNutritional mutualismHermit crabs and Hermit crabs and AnemonesAnemones

Gut inhabitant mutualismGut inhabitant mutualismCellulose digesting protozoaCellulose digesting protozoa

Commensalism (+/0)Commensalism (+/0)

Species interaction that benefits one and has little or no effect on the other.

Example: Small plants growing in shade of larger plants or Hermit crab and Rag worm

Parasitism (+/-)Parasitism (+/-)ParasiteParasite – organisms feeding on or in – organisms feeding on or in another speciesanother speciesHostHost –– organisms fed on by parasitesorganisms fed on by parasitesExternal parasitesInternal parasites

Lifecycle of a Parasite

The head of the The head of the tapeworm is called a tapeworm is called a scolexscolex, and is equipped , and is equipped with hooks and suckers with hooks and suckers which are used for which are used for attaching to the intestinal attaching to the intestinal wall of the host. Adult wall of the host. Adult tapeworms, some tapeworms, some reaching a length of 15 reaching a length of 15 feet, are parasites in the feet, are parasites in the guts of animals and guts of animals and absorb nutrients across absorb nutrients across their body surface. The their body surface. The structures behind the structures behind the head are called head are called proglottidsproglottids..

Prey AcquisitionPrey Acquisition

Example: Example: Killer Whales

Predator AvoidancePredator Avoidance

Span worm

Bombardier beetle Foul-tasting monarch Butterfly

Poison dart frog

When touched, the snake caterpillar changes shape to look like the head of a snake

Wandering leaf insect

Hind wings of Io mothresemble eyes of a much larger animal

Camouflage

Chemical Warfare

Viceroy butterfly mimics monarch butterfly

Deceptive Behavior

Deceptive Look

Mimicry

Species Interactions – Predation / preySpecies Interactions – Predation / prey

Predator / prey relationships – TundraSavannahOcean

Hunting and Escaping

Predator Avoidance -Predator Avoidance - Camouflage Camouflage

Flatfish on sand, showing ability to blend with background. Protective coloration and camouflage.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) camouflaged, Florida.

Crab Spider camouflaged on a Woodland Sunflower.

Predator Avoidance Predator Avoidance MimicsMimics

Viceroy (top) and Monarch (below) Butterflies. Mullerian mimicry.

Ant Mimic Spider (Castianeira variata) with ant.

Moth (Eupterotidae) mimicking a chewed leaf.

Predator Avoidance Predator Avoidance Chemical Warfare and Chemical Warfare and Warning ColorationWarning Coloration

Three-Striped Poison Frog (Epipedobates trivittatus), Tambopata River, Peru.

Monarch caterpillar (Danas plexippus) on Milkweed.

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius), Florida.

Ecology – Key TermsEcology – Key Terms

• Ecology Ecology • AbioticAbiotic• BioticBiotic• PopulationPopulation• Community Community • EcosystemEcosystem• Habitat Habitat • Niche Niche • Predator Predator • PreyPrey• SymbiosisSymbiosis• CommensalismCommensalism• ParasitismParasitism• MutualismMutualism• Organism Organism • Biosphere Biosphere

Organization

Biosphere

Ecosystem

Community

Population

Organism (species)

Relationships

Symbiosis: Mutualism (+/+) Commensalism (+/0) Parasitism (+/-)

Predator Prey

Habitat (location)

Niche (role / job)

Living v. nonliving

Biotic (living)

Abiotic (nonliving)

Organizing key terms: