Ecology
Ecology – the study of organisms and how they interact within their environment
Organism – a living thing
Environment – a physical place where organisms live
Abiotic – not living (rock)
Biotic – alive or once was alive (bird)
Ecosystem – a place where organisms interact with their environment
Ecosystems can be large (ocean) or small (fingertip)
Community – a group of different organisms interacting together in their environment
Deer, raccoons, squirrels, bears, mosquitoes, etc…in a forest ecosystem
Population – the number of a specific organism
Species – Different types of one organism
Bears: Brown bear, Grizzly, Black Bear, Panda bear, Honey Bear, Polar Bear, Spectacle bear, sun bear
What do organisms need in order to survive?
Shelter Water Oxygen
Food Sun Space
“Oh Deer” Game
As the population increases, the environment decreases
As the population decrease, the environment increases
What can cause a decrease in population?
Pollution, natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes, flash floods, forest fires), human hunting (poaching)
Biodiversity – different types of life
Biodiversity is important to continue life
Helps with the food chain
Helps heal, medicine
Is beautiful…creates a unique world
Loss of species
Threatened – almost endangered
Endangered – almost extinct
Extinct – gone….FOREVER
Symbiotic relationships – relationships between two organisms
1. Mutualism – both organisms benefit from each other
Ex: flower (is pollinated) and bee (gets nectar)
2. Commensalism – one organism benefits while the other is unaffected
Ex: White spider camouflaged in a white flower
3. Parasitic – parasite eats off of and lives on the host
Ex: tick (parasite) dog (host)
4. Predator / prey relationship
Ex: sea gull (predator) eats a crab (prey)
Eaters
How organisms eat or obtain their food source
1. Producers – are organisms that make their own food. Ex: flowers make their own food through photosynthesis
2. Decomposers – decompose (break down) waste left in the environment. Ex: worm / mushroom
3. Scavenger – eats dead or dying organisms. Ex: turkey vulture / hyenas / crow / maggots
4. Consumers – obtains its food within the environment
Herbivore – plant eater
Omnivore – plant and meat eater
Carnivore – meat eater
Sharp claws, teeth
Food chain – shows the energy flow of 4 or 5 different organisms
Bottom of the food chain – producers
Top of the food chain - carnivores
Food web- Shows the energy flow of many food chains intertwined within each other
All energy starts with the sun
Different land biomes – a landscape that covers a HUGE area
1. Desert – hot days, cold nights, many nocturnal animals
2. Taiga – snowy weather, spruce trees
3. Tundra – freezing temperatures, scarce biodiversity
4. Deciduous forest – where we live! Cold winters, warm summers
5. Rain Forest – lots of rain, hot and humid temperatures, lots of biodiversity
6. Grasslands – lots of grass, different temperatures