Ecolog

y

One

Biosphere

Biome

Ecosystem

Population

Community

Organism

Organization of the biosphere

• Biosphere- portion of the Earth that supports life

Large region with same plant life and climate

Biome

Levels of Organization in the Biosphere

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdKhQVHc3Ao&NR=1

Population growth curvesExponential (J curve)- ideal conditionsLogistic (S curve)- reaches carrying capacityCarrying capacity- population levels off

Limiting Factors

• environmental factors that affect an organism’s ability to survive

• Two types–Density-dependent–Density-independent

Limiting FactorsDensity-dependent factors• has increasing effect as the population increases • Depends on how large the population is• Examples:

Food & Water supply

PredatorsParasitism Disease

Shelter & Space

Limiting Factors• Density-independent factors- affects all populations

regardless of density• Most abiotic factors

earthquake

storm

temperature

flood

fire

Relationships in the community

Predator-Prey Relationships- As predator population goes up, prey population goes down.

Relationships in the community

Types of competition• Intraspecific competition- organisms of the

same species compete for resources • Interspecific competition- organisms of

different species compete for resources

Relationships in the community

• Intraspecific competition• Two Gemsbok antelope compete in a herd

Relationships in the community

• Interspecific competition

African animals of different species compete for water resources

Competition between lion and hyena

Relationships in the community

• Symbiosis- relationships between organisms where there is a close and permanent association among organisms

• Three types– Mutualism– Commensalism– Parasitism

Types of Symbiosis

• Mutualism- both organisms benefit

The clown fish live in the tentacles of the sea anemone, which have poisonous stinging cells. A slime layer covering the clownfish make them immune to the stinging cells. The stinging tentacles of the sea anemone protect the clown fish from predators. The clownfish in turn protect the sea anemone from other fish that would feed on the anemone. Clownfish lay eggs within the sea anemone, which offers protection during their incubation and development.

Types of Symbiosis

• Commensalism- one organism benefits, the other is unaffected

Barnacles attach to a whale’s tail. The barnacles get a home and transport, and the whale is not affected.

Types of Symbiosis

• Parasitism- one organism benefits, the other is harmed

A tapeworm lives inside another animal, attaching itself to the host's gut and absorbing its host's food. The host loses nutrition, and may develop weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting. Usually parasites do not kill the host before they move on, as this would cut off their food supply.

Symbiotic relationships

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRqEYroujqAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSmL2F1t81Q&feature=fvwrel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxVMeLWzB_o&feature=related