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Ecology:Ecology:an introduction

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Ecology: The study of the Ecology: The study of the interactions that take place interactions that take place among among organismsorganisms and their and their

environmentenvironment

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Biosphere Biosphere

The part of Earth that supports lifeThe part of Earth that supports life Top portion of Earth's crust Top portion of Earth's crust

(lithosphere)(lithosphere) All the waters that cover Earth's All the waters that cover Earth's

surface surface (hydrosphere)(hydrosphere) AtmosphereAtmosphere is all the gasses that is all the gasses that

surround Earthsurround Earth

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EcosystemEcosystem

All the organisms living in an All the organisms living in an area and the nonliving features area and the nonliving features of their environmentof their environment Biotic – Biotic – livingliving Abiotic – Abiotic – nonlivingnonliving

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BioticBiotic

Biotic – livingBiotic – living Plants Plants AnimalsAnimals Single celled organismsSingle celled organisms Fungi Fungi

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AbioticAbiotic

Abiotic – nonlivingAbiotic – nonliving WaterWater AirAir SoilSoil TemperatureTemperature Sunlight Sunlight

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Parts of an Parts of an EcosystemEcosystem

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PopulationPopulation

All the All the organismsorganisms in an in an ecosystem that belong to the ecosystem that belong to the same species (biotic)same species (biotic)

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CommunityCommunity

All the All the populationspopulations in an in an ecosystemecosystem (biotic) (biotic)

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http://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/black_tailed_prairie_dog/images/lg_black_tailed_prairie_dogs.jpg

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Habitat Habitat

The place in which an The place in which an organismorganism lives lives provides the kinds of food and provides the kinds of food and

shelter, the temperature, and the shelter, the temperature, and the amount of moisture the organism amount of moisture the organism needs to survive needs to survive

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NicheNiche

The specific role that an organism plays The specific role that an organism plays in its in its ecosystemecosystem

1717http://www.thinksimian.com/images/birds_2/nest.JPG

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CompetitionCompetition

The process of interaction between The process of interaction between organisms in an ecosystem, each organisms in an ecosystem, each seeking to gain access to a limited seeking to gain access to a limited supply of the necessities of life. supply of the necessities of life.

FoodFood Space Space

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CompetitionCompetition

Competition caused by Competition caused by population growth affects many population growth affects many organisms, including humans organisms, including humans

Limits population size Limits population size

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Limiting Factor Limiting Factor

Anything that restricts the Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a number of individuals in a population. population.

Includes living / biotic and Includes living / biotic and nonliving / abiotic features of the nonliving / abiotic features of the ecosystem ecosystem

i.e. water, food, light…i.e. water, food, light…

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Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of The maximum number of individuals of any species that can be supported by a any species that can be supported by a particular ecosystem on a long-term particular ecosystem on a long-term basisbasis

2424http://library.thinkquest.org/J002558F/carrying_capacity.JPG

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Energy TransferEnergy Transfer

Food chain - Food chain - chain of organisms along which energy, in chain of organisms along which energy, in

the form of food passes.the form of food passes. An organism feeds on the link before it and An organism feeds on the link before it and

is in turn prey for the link after it. is in turn prey for the link after it.

Organisms that cannot make their own energy are called

CONSUMERS.

Organisms that can make glucose during

photosynthesis are called PRODUCERS.

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Energy Transfer ContinuedEnergy Transfer Continued

Food web -Food web - a group of interconnecting food chainsa group of interconnecting food chains They show the feeding relationships in an They show the feeding relationships in an

ecosystem ecosystem

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Food WebFood Web

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Energy Transfer ContinuedEnergy Transfer Continued

Energy pyramids show Energy pyramids show That the amount of available energy That the amount of available energy

decreases down the food chaindecreases down the food chain It takes a large number of producers to It takes a large number of producers to

support a small number of primary support a small number of primary consumersconsumers

It takes a large number of primary It takes a large number of primary consumers to support a small number of consumers to support a small number of secondary consumerssecondary consumers

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Energy Transfer PyramidEnergy Transfer Pyramid

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SUCCESSIONSUCCESSION

Succession: The gradual change in an ecosystem in which one biological community is replaced by another.

Pioneer Species: The first living things to move into a barren area

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PRIMARY SUCCESSIONPRIMARY SUCCESSION

Primary Succession: Glaciers moving or lava flow over an area will leave it barren. Pioneer species such as moss or lichen will grow on rock with little to no soil, breaking the rock down over time. Soil forms, and larger plants begin to take root. As time continues larger animals begin to come in, as well as larger diversities of plant and tree life

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SECONDARY SUCCESSIONSECONDARY SUCCESSION

Secondary Succession: Soil remains after a disturbance such as a fire, flood or human activity. Grasses and small shrubs begin to grow over the remains of the older system. Larger trees begin to take root and support larger animal populations.

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