Ecology

energy pyramid

a diagram that demonstrates the loss of energy in a food chain.

predation

a mode of life in which food is primarily obtained by killing and consuming prey

food web

a network of interconnecting food chains

commensalism

a relation between two kinds of organisms in which one obtains food or other benefits from the other organism without any affect.

Physiological response

a response that helps the organism to acclimate to the enviornment ex. goose bumps/ fur fluffing up on cold days, increase in red blood cells after moving to a higher altitude

food chain

a sequence of food transfers from producers through several levels of consumers in an ecosystem

How does competition affect a population?

Mortality rates increase, birth rates decrease and population growth is curtailed because every individual has more limited resources like food.

How does a predator-prey relationship affect organisms within a community?

*organisms must adapt or defend themselves *preserves diversity

Tundra

-Well above the 30 degree line -arctic climate -low precipitation -short vegetation because of permafrost

Temperate Grassland/ Praire

-around 30 degrees N/S lines -temperate climate -low rainfall -woody shrubs -large mammals

Tropical Rainforest

-around the equator, between the tropic of cancer and capricorn -tropical temperature -high precipitation -dense trees in the canopy

Chapparal/ scrubland

-either side of tropics of cancer/capricorn (Mediterranean) -dry, temperate climate -low precipitation -fires occur often -shrubs

Desert

-either sides of the tropics of cancer and capricorn -dry, tropical climate -low precipitation -cactus, shrubs, short grasses -mice, mammals, insects

Savana

-on the equator between the tropic of cancer and capricorn -tropical temperature -low precipitation -scattered trees, grasses/forbs

Temperate Deciduous Forests

-on/ above the 30 degrees N/S lines -temperate climate -medium- high rainfall -trees with leaves that fall -forest mammals, some birds, deer, squirrels, frogs

Coniferous Forests/ Taiga

-past the 30 degree lines around major waterways -temperate climate -medium temperature

What are the 3 main types of interspecific interactions?

1. predation 2. competition 3. symbiosis

How much visible light that reaches the Earth's producers is converted to chemical energy?

10^19 kcals

Trophic level

A level in a food chain (feeding relationships)

What is a niche and how does this allow similar species to coexist in a community?

A niche is the sum total of species' use of the biotic and abiotic resources in its environment. It allowes similar species to coexist in a community because if they utilize different resoures then they will not be competing for vital supplies.

Explain the difference between a population and community.

A population is a group of the same species living in an area, whereas a community is an assemblage of different species in an area.

Why are there few top level consumers in a food chain?

By the time top level consumers can take in food, there is not a very large amount of energy left because it is lost through the other levels. Also, the top level consumers require a lot of geographic territory since it takes a lot of vegetation for energy to be passed so far along.

Explain the difference between energy flow and chemical cycling

Energy flow occurs between plants and animals after sunlight is received, typically. Because this energy is used for work, it cannot be recycled. Chemical cycling occurs between an ecosystem's living conditions and the abiotic environment. Cycling is finished when decomposers restock the soil, air, and water with chemicals. The difference in other words, is that energy, unlike matter cannot be restored.

What are the differences between parasitism and mutualism? Provide an example of each.

In parasitism, one organism benefits while the other is harmed. The parasite obtains it's nutrients from the host organism (ex. tapeworms in humans). Mutualism on the other hand, is a symbiosis that benefits both partners. (birds and tortoises)

What basic understanding does the study of ecology provide?

It provides a basic understanding of how natural processes and organisms interact which helps to manage the plant's limited resources over the long term.

How did the dangers of DDT contribute to the environmental movement?

Rachel Corson saw that DDT was threatening the survival of predatory birds and was showing up in human milk. Her environmental movement was a result of this and it continues with students of today sustaining a tradition of activism based on the behalf of the biosphere's future health.

Primary productivity

The rate at which plants and other producers build biomass (organic material); sets the energy budget of the ecosystem. On average, only about 10% of energy at each trophic level is stored as biomass in the next level of the food chain.

How do humans place on an energy pyramid when they eat meat versus plants?

When we eat plants we are primary consumers, but when we eat meat, we are anywhere from secondary to quaternary consumers because we didn't receive energy directly from plants. This means that when we eat meat we are higher on the pyramid.

mutualism

a symbiosis that benefits both partner

parasitism

a symbiotic relationship where one organim benefits while the other is harmed.

The environment can be divided into two major components. Identify and explain both components.

a. Abiotic component- consists of nonliving chemical and physical factors such as temperature, light, heat, minerals, and air. b. Biotic component- living factors... all the other organisms that are part of an individual environment.

Ecology is divided into four comprehensive levels. Label each level in the picture and explain each.

a. organismal ecology- concerned with the evolutionary adaptions that enable individual organisms to meet the challenges posed by their abiotic environments b. population ecology- concentrates mainly on factors that affect population density and growth c. community ecology- focuses on interactions between species, such as predation, symbiosis, and competition affect community structure and organization. d.ecosystem ecology- energy flow and the cycling of chemicals among the various abiotic and biotic factors

List the six abiotic factors that effect the variation of the biosphere:

a. sunlight- powers nearly all ecosystems b. water- supply of water and balance of solute concentration/ dehydration and internal water levels c. temperature- effects metabolism d. wind- blows nutrients, disperses pollen/seeds, create openings in forest, contributes to water loss e. rocks and soil- limit distribution of plants and animals, patchiness in landscape, water chemistry f. periodic disturbances- fires, tornados, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions

competition

active demand by two or more organisms or kinds of organisms for some environmental resource that is in short supply

An ecosystem consists of:

all of the organisms in the area plus the physical environment

omnivore

an animal that eats both plants and animals

herbivore

an animal that eats mainly plants or algae

carnivore

an animal that eats other animals

Symbiosis

an interaction between two or more species that live together in direct contact.

heterotroph

an organism that cannot make its own organic food molecules, and must obtain them by consuming other organisms or their organic products; a consumer or decomposer in a food chain

detrivore (decomposer)

an organism that derives it's energy from organic wastes and dead organisms, also called a decomposer

primary consumer

an organism that eats only autotrophs; a herbivore

secondary consumer

an organism that eats primary consumers

tertiary consumer

an organism that eats secondary consumers

quaternary consumer

an organism that eats tertiary consumers

autotroph

an organism that makes its own food, thereby sustaining itself without eating other organisms or their molecules. Plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria are autotrophs

producer

an organism that makes organic food molecules from CO2, H20 and other inorganic raw materials; plants, algae, or autotrophic bacterium

Anatomical response

an organism's response to environmental challenge with some type of change in body shape or structure. ex. heavier coat in winter, wind "flags" trees, changes in camouflage

Behavioral response

change in the way an organism acts because of the environment ex. lizards maintaining body temperature by switching between sun and shade, birds migrating throught changing seasons, humans changing clothes depending on the weather

Two major processes sustain all ecosystems:

energy flow (passage of energy through components of an ecosystem) and chemical cycling (the use and reuse of chemical elements such as carbon or nitrogen in an ecosystem)

All organisms require energy for

growth, maintenance, reproduction, and locomotion

In a food web, the arrow

points to what is getting the energy

Energy reaches most ecosystems in the form of

sunlight

biosphere

the most complex level in ecology

ecology

the scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environments ex. one example of humans interacting with the environment is breathing, in which we exchange gases with the atmosphere. We take in (eat) other organisms and our body waste is added to water/ soil. We absorb and radiate heat

Lessons from the wolves

when wolves were depleted, the population of elk increased, and aspen trees decreased because the elk were eating them.