Transcript Ecology

Ecology
Study of interactions between
organisms and their
environments.
Biotic Factors
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Biosphere – life-supporting layer of Earth
Biotic factors – all living organisms in a
biosphere
Abiotic Factors
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Nonliving factors in an environment
Examples:
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Air currents
Temperature
Moisture
Light
Soil
Organization of Life
Biosphere
Ecosystems
Communities
Populations
Organisms
Feeding Relationships
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Autotrophs
Heterotrophs
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Carnivores
Omnivores
Herbivores
Decomposers
Trophic Relationships
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Autotrophs
1st level consumers (herbivores)
2nd level consumers
3rd level consumers
4th level consumers (top predators)
RULE OF 10
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Only 10% of energy is transferred from one
trophic level to the next.
Example:
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It takes 100 kgs of plant materials (producers)
to support 10 kgs of herbivores
It takes 10 kgs of herbivores to support 1 kg
of 1st level predator
Symbiosis – “living together”
Relationship
Type
Species A
Species B
Commensalism
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0
Mutualism
+
+
Parasitism
+
-
Water cycle
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Evaporation
Transpiration
Precipitation
Runoff
Groundwater
Carbon cycle
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Combustion
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Decomposition
Fossil fuels
Nitrogen cycle
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Atmospheric nitrogen
Runoff
Fertilizers
Decomposition
Nitrogen fixing
Synthesis of amino acids