Ecology

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Ecology
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I. Ecological Organization

1. Population All of the members of a species in
   an area
2. Community The different populations in an area
3. Ecosystem All living and non-living things that
   interact in an area
4. Biosphere All the Earths ecosystems together
   (inc. air, water and land)

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II. Ecosystem

• Requirements
• Constant flow of energy (Sun)
• Org that can turn energy into organic compounds
  (glucose), usually plants or algae

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II. Ecosystem

• Structure
• Biotic Factors ALL living things that interact
  w/ each other (bacteria, plants and animals)
• Abiotic Factors non-living influences
• Light All energy comes directly / indirectly
  from sunlight. Intensity and duration of light
  affects growth of plants. Cactus (more light),
  Corn (less light)
• Temperature altitude and latitude affect temp
• Water amt of precip is affected by location
  (30º N/S desert, Equator Rain)

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III. Nutritional Relationships

• Transfer of nutrients from one org to another
• Autotrophs orgs can make own food using H2O and
  CO2
• Carry on photosynthesis
• Directly / Indirectly provide food for
  heterotrophs

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III. Nutritional Relationships

• Heterotrophs cannot make own food
• Herbivores feed ONLY on plants (cows, deer)
• Carnivores feed ONLY on animals
• Predators attack and kill prey (lions, hawks,
  wolves)
• Scavengers feed on dead org (vultures, hyenas)

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III. Nutritional Relationships

1. Omnivores eat BOTH plants and animals (bears,
   humans)
2. Saprophytes (decomposers) get nutrients by
   breaking down remains of dead plants / animals
   (bacteria, fungi)

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IV. Symbiotic Relationships

• Different types of org live together
• May / may not be beneficial to both
• Types
• Commensalism
• One org benefits but DOES NOT help / harm the
  other
• Barnacle on whale
• Clown fish and anemone

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IV. Symbiotic Relationships

• Mutualism
• BOTH orgs benefit
• Wood eaten by termite is digested by protozoa
  inside digestive tract. Nutrients are released
  to feed BOTH orgs
• Nitrogen fixing bacteria on roots of legumes
  (beans, peanuts) provide N for plant and plant
  gives nutrients and shelter

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IV. Symbiotic Relationships

• Parasitism
• One org benefits but HARMS the other
• Athletes Foot Fungus
• Tapeworms, Fleas, Ticks

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V. Energy Flow

1. Energy goes in ONE direction (Sun to autotrophs
   to herbivores to carnivores)
2. Decomposers receive energy as they return
   minerals and nutrients back to env (DO NOT return
   ENERGY to env)

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V. Energy Flow

• As energy is passed, food chains and webs are
  created
• Food Chain Energy passing through orgs
• Grass ? Grasshopper ? Frog ? Snake
• Food Web Many interconnected food chains

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V. Energy Flow

1. Energy is LOST moving to each org. 90 of energy
   taken in is used to build body and maintain life
2. Consumer gets about 10 of available energy.
   Food chains are RARELY longer than 4 orgs (not
   enough energy)

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V. Energy Flow

1. Energy/Biomass Pyramid shows loss. Base has
   largest area representing most food, energy or
   material

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VI. Carrying Capacity

1. There are limited resources in ecosystem (food,
   water, shelter, materials)
2. Amount of resources limits of orgs of a species
   each ecosystem can support
3. Max org carrying capacity
4. If population inc past CC, ind will die (not
   enough resources)

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VII. Competition

• Different species in same env (habitat) may
  require same resources to survive
• Resources are limited, species MUST compete for
  them
• More similar the type of need more competition
• Lions vs. Leopards, try to eat antelope
• Lions vs. Lions, MORE competition

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VII. Competition

• Each species has a niche (role) in habitat
• Niche includes the type of food, where it lives,
  how it reproduces and its relationships with
  other species
• If 2 species compete for same niche, the more
  successful at using resources will win
• ONE species per niche in a community

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VIII. Cycles of Materials

• Recycling materials allows them to be used again
  by living things
• Carbon Cycle Carbon is recycled with
  Photosynthesis and Respiration
• O2 H2O ? Glucose CO2
• Respiration ? Photosynthesis

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VIII. Cycles of Materials

1. Water Cycle

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VIII. Cycles of Materials

1. Nitrogen Cycle

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IX. Ecosystem Formation

• Ecosystems change over time until a stable system
  is found
• Succession
• Replacement of 1 community by another
• Long term process, many generations of plants and
  animals
• Climate determines type of stable ecosystem

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IX. Ecosystem Formation

• Pioneer Organisms
• 1st plants to populate an area
• Can grow on bare rock
• Lichens, algae, moss

1. Each community modifies env making less favorable
   for itself and more favorable for others

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IX. Ecosystem Formation

1. NYS lichens ? grass ? shrubs ? pine trees ?
   deciduous trees (beech, maple, oak)

1. Types of plants (source of food) determine
   animals that live in area. When plants change,
   animals change.

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IX. Ecosystem Formation

• Climax Communities
• Last stage of succession
• Plants, animals and env exist in balance
• Remains stable until catastrophic change
  (volcano, hurricane, fire)
• After change, succession begins again, leading to
  NEW climax comm (could be different type, if
  climate changed)

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X. Biodiversity

1. Wide range of diff species interacting w/ each
   other and env
2. Each org plays a role (niche)
3. Removing a species may have (-) effects on
   ecosystem
4. More diversity, more chance for ecosystem to
   survive temporary change (storms, ice damage,
   drought)

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X. Biodiversity

• Stable ecosystems w/ great biodiversity (Tropical
  Rainforests) have A LOT of genetic material (used
  for medicine, agriculture, etc)
• Critical to preserve Biodiversity for
• Needs of humans
• Individual ecosystems
• Health and stability of planet

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XI. Biomes

• Climax ecosystems that form in large geographic
  areas that are separated by climate differences
• Tundra frozen ground, no plants
• Taiga partially frozen, grasses, pine trees
• Temperate Deciduous Maple and Oak trees, trees
  shed leaves
• Desert low rainfall, plants conserve water
• Rainforest abundant rainfall, can be tropical
  or temperate

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XII. Biomagnification

1. There is less energy at each level of a food
   chain
2. Higher consumers must eat more of the lower
   consumers, getting more of the pollution inside
   of them.
3. As pollutants travel through the food chain they
   get more concentrated.

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