Ecology Concepts

Ecology -- the study of habitats

Levels of Organization
individual -- one organism
species -- a group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
population -- a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area
community -- a group of different populations living in the same area
ecosystem -- a collection of all the organisms that live in a particular area, along
with their nonliving or physical environment
biome -- a group of ecosystems with the same climate and dominant communi-
ties
biosphere -- the part of the Earth that is inhabited by organisms

Energy Flow -- Energy flows through an ecosystem in one direction, from the sun or
inorganic compounds to autotrophs (producers) and then to various heterotrophs (con-
sumers)
Producers (autotrophs)
Energy from Sun (photosynthesis)
Energy without light (chemosynthesis)
Consumers (heterotrophs)
Carnivore -- organism that eats animals
Herbivore -- organism that eats plants
Omnivore -- organism that eats either plants or animals

Feeding Relationships
Food chain -- a series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and
being eaten.

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Food web -- a network of complex interactions between various organisms in an

ecosystem

Trophic levels -- each step in the food chain (producers, primary consumers,
secondary consumers, etc.)

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Ecological Pyramids -- a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter
contained with each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
Energy Pyramid -- only about 10% of of the energy available within one trophic
level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level.
(Ex. 10% of solar energy stored by plants ends up in cows; and only 10% of that
ends up in humans who eats cows, or 1% of the original energy)

Biomass Pyramid -- Biomass is the total amount of living tissue within a trophic
level
This pyramid represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic
level in an ecosystem (Ex. 1500 grams of grain > 500 grams of chicken > 50
grams of human tissue).

Pyramid of numbers-- since each trophic level harvests only about 1/10th of
energy from the level below, it can support only about 1/10th that amount of living
tissue.

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Nutrients and Biogeochemical Cycles

Nutrient Limitation --- One factor that controls the primary productivity of an
ecosystem is the amount of available nutrients.
(Ex. with too much phosphorous, immediate increase in algae, resulting in algal
bloom. Too much of one component can negatively impact ecosystem)
Biogeochemical Cycles /Nutrients and Materials Cycles
The Carbon Cycle
Carbon is the key component of living things.

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Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen is used in the production of amino acids, which combine to form
proteins.
Many sources of nitrogen -- atmospheric gas; results of decomposition:
ammonia, nitrate (NO3), nitrites (NO2); bodies of water.
Bacteria are essential to this cycle.
Nitrogen fixation -- certain bacteria (nitrogen fixing bacteria) can convert
atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia in soil. Other bacteria convert ammo-
nia into nitrates and nitrites, which can be used by producers.
Denitrification -- Soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas.

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Phosphorous Cycle
Phosphorous is key component of DNA and RNA, as well as fats in cell
membranes and bones.

Water Cycle
Water is essential for just about every process that takes place in the biosphere.

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Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic -- biological factors that influence an ecosystem
Abitoic -- nonliving factors that influence an ecosystem

Common Food Relationships

Saprophytes (Decomposers -- include heterotrophic plants, bacteria, and fungi)
Herbivores -- animals that feed on plants and plant materials
Carnivores -- animals that feed on other animals
Predators -- carnivores that kill and consume their prey (Owls, wolves)
Scavengers -- carnivores that feed on dead animals that they find (Vul-
tures, buzzards)

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Community Interactions -- these interactions can powerfully affect an ecosystem

Biodiversity -- Reflects the overall number of active populations within an eco-

system (Example: the non-diverse potato population)

Competition -- this occurs when organisms of the same or different species at-
tempt to use and ecological resource in the same place and the same time.

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Resource -- any necessity of life, such as water, nutrients, light, food

Competitive exclusion principle -- no two species can occupy the same niche
in the same habitat at the same time.

Predation -- an interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on

another organism
Symbiosis -- any relationship where two species live closely together
Mutualism -- both species benefit from the relationship (Ex. flowers
and insects)

Comensalism -- one member benefits, the other is neither helped-

nor harmed (Ex. remora and sharks)

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Parasitism -- one organism benefits, the other is harmed (Ex. tape

orms and people)

Saprophytism -- fungi that live on dead organic matter and obtain

their nutritional supplements by participating in the decay process.

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Ecosystem-wide Factors

Habitats and Niches

Habitats -- The place where an organism lives.
Niche -- The role an organism plays in an ecosystem

Carrying Capacity -- The number of organisms that a habitat can support.

Ecological Succession -- The change over time of land or water communities

Trend toward balance
Climax community -- The stable community which features the gradual replace-
ment of one community by another. Can occur in steps or stages. The end result
is a long period of stability for the ecosystem. Can be interrupted by catastrophic
changes (examples: fire, hurricanes, earthquakes).
Pioneer organisms -- The first organisms to populate a given location.

Human Impact on Ecology

Negative Impact:
Population growth -- impacts demands on an ecosystem’s resources
Global warming -- due to a surplus of CO2
Ozone shield alteration -- the loss of protection provided by the ozone layer.
Extinction of species
Disrupted ecosystems
Pesticide Use
Waste Disposal
Positive Impacts:
Waste Disposal
Environment Law
Technology

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