Ecology

Chapters 3-5
Biology Miller Levine
What is Ecology?
The scientific study of:
Interactions among organisms
Interactions between organisms and their
environment
Biosphere portions of the Earth where
life exists (land, water, and air)
Levels of Organization
Species group of organisms that can breed
and produce fertile offspring
Population a group of individuals of the same
species that live in the same area
Community different populations that live in
the same area
Ecosystem all the organisms plus the
nonliving environment
Biome group of ecosystems with the same
climate and similar communities
Levels of Organization
Energy Flow
Sunlight is the main energy source for life
on Earth.
Autotrophs (producers) organisms that
make their own food
Photosynthesis use light energy to make
food
Chemosynthesis use chemical energy to
make food
Energy Flow
Heterotrophs (consumers) organisms
that must feed on other organisms for
energy
Herbivores eat only plants
Carnivores eat other animals
Omnivores eat both plants and animals
Detrivores feed on dead matter
Decomposers break down organic matter
Feeding Relationships
Energy flows through an ecosystem in one
direction (sun producers consumers)
Food chain a series of steps in which
organisms transfer energy by eating and being
eaten
Feeding Relationships
Food web a network
of complex feeding
interactions
Trophic levels each
step in a food chain or
food web
1
st
producers
2
nd
primary consumers
3
rd
secondary
consumers
4
th
tertiary consumers
Ecological Pyramids
Energy Pyramid shows the amount of
energy available at each trophic level
Only about 10% of the energy is transferred to
the next level
Biomass Pyramid shows the amount of
living tissue within each trophic level
Pyramid of numbers shows the number
of organisms at each trophic level
Ecological Pyramids
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Biotic factors the living things that
influence organisms
Abiotic factors the nonliving things that
influence organisms
Light
Soil
Wind
Water
Temperature
Habitat and Niche
Habitat the area
where an organism
lives
Niche the role an
organism plays in its
habitat
No two species can
share the same niche
in the same habitat
Community Interactions
Symbiosis any relationship in which two
species live closely together
Mutualism both species benefit (flowers &
insects)
Commensalism one species benefits while
the other is neither helped nor harmed
(orchids in a rainforest)
Parasitism one organism benefits while the
other is harmed (fleas on a dog)
Symbiosis
Ecological Succession
The series of changes that occurs in a
community over time
Primary succession occurs on surfaces
where no soil exists (no previous life)
Pioneer species the first species to
populate the area
Lichens mosses grasses shrubs
trees
Primary Succession
Ecological Succession
Secondary Succession when a
disturbance changes the existing
community without removing the soil
Tornadoes, fire, clear cutting
Occurs much quicker than primary succession
Climax community the relatively stable
final community
Populations
Population density the number of
individuals per unit area
Population growth increase in size of a
population
Population size can be affected by:
Number of births
Number of deaths
Immigration organisms moving into an area
Emigration organisms moving out of an area
Exponential Growth
Under ideal conditions
with unlimited
resources, a
population will grow
exponentially
J-shaped curve
Logistic Growth
As resources
become less
available, the
growth of a
population slows or
stops
S-shaped curve
Limiting Factors
A factor that causes population growth to
decrease
The population size will usually remain
constant
Creates the s-shaped curve
Two kinds of limiting factors:
Density-dependent
Density-independent
Density-Dependent Factors
A limiting factor that depends on
population size
Competition organisms compete for
resources
Between members of the same species
Between members of different species
Parasitism and disease
Density-Dependent Factors
Predation when one species feeds on
another
Predator the organism that feeds on the prey
Prey the organism being eaten
Density-Independent Factors
Affects all populations, regardless of the
population size
Unusual weather heavy storms
Natural disasters tornado, volcanic
eruption
Seasonal cycles insects die during winter
Human activities clear-cutting forests

Human Population Growth
At first the human population grew slowly
About 500 years ago it started increasing
rapidly
Resembles the J-shaped curve
US & World
Populations