Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment. There are several levels of ecological organization from individual species to ecosystems. Species interact through relationships like competition, predation, and various types of symbiosis such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Organisms exhibit adaptations like mimicry and camouflage that allow them to survive within their ecological niches. North Carolina contains various ecosystems including coastal, estuary, forest, and urban environments.

1. ECOLOGY 1
Organization
ppt. by Robin D. Seamon

2. ORGANIZATION
VOCABULARY:
ecology hydrosphere
biotic lithosphere
abiotic atmosphere
biosphere cryosphere
ecosystem
habitat
niche
species
population
community
generalist
specialist

3. It’s all connected! Changes in one affects the other:

5. Ecology-
the branch of biology dealing with the relations
and interactions between organisms and the biotic
& abiotic factors of their environment
• biotic: components of an ecosystem that are (or
were part of) living organisms
other animals, plants, bacteria, dead leaves,
rotting log
• abiotic: non-living parts of an ecosystem that
affect it
sunlight, temperature, water, weather, rocks
VIDEO: Intro to Ecology (5 min)

6. O R G A N I Z A T I O N: P L A C E
1. Biosphere- zone on Earth where all organisms
are found
2. Ecosystem- areas where living & nonliving things
interact
3. Habitat- parts of ecosystems; place where
organism lives
• Supplies all biotic & abiotic factors organism
needs: air, water, warmth, food
• Different organisms need different habitats
EXAMPLES:
canopy of forest, rotting log, intertidal pool
6

7. 4. Niche- how an organism acts within its
ecosystem to survive (its role)
EXAMPLES:
*Some plants grow on sunny rock
*Some plants grow in shade
*Worms and bacteria break down dead organisms
for energy & recycle nutrients into ecosystem
*generalist vs. specialist

8. generalist- an organism that is
able to thrive in a wide variety
of environmental conditions &
use a variety of resources
EXAMPLE: opossums eat
almost anything
specialist- organisms that
with very specific
requirements to live
EXAMPLE: kaolas eat only
eucalyptus leaves
8
VIDEO Ecology: Generalists vs Specialists (2 min)

9. L E V E L S :
LEVEL 1: Species- group of organisms that can breed
to produce fertile offspring
EXAMPLES:
Taraxacum officinale Terrapene carolina Carolina
(Common dandelion) (Eastern Box Turtle) 9

10. LEVEL 2: Population- all organisms of a species
that live in same place at the same time
• Members compete for resources
EXAMPLE:
White-tailed deer living in a wooded area; eat
twigs, leaves, grasses;
-when vegetation is low, population may gets
smaller;
-when vegetation is high,
population may grow
10

11. LEVEL 3: Community- made up of all populations
that live in an area at the same time
EXAMPLE: wetland community in NC may include
white-tailed deer, raccoons, muskrat, black bears,
turtles, snakes, fish, insects, grasses, shrubs, trees
11

12. LEVEL 4: Ecosystem- made up of one or more
communities and their nonliving environment;
biotic factors, abiotic factors
• Terrestrial- on land (forests, deserts,
grasslands)
• Freshwater- river, streams, lakes, wetlands
• Marine- oceans, salt-water
12

13. 13
VIDEO Ecosystem Ecology: Links in a
Chain Crash Course: 10 min

14. N C ‘ s E C O S Y S T E M S
-coast - mountain -urban
-estuary -freshwater
-temperate deciduous forest

15. NC Coastal Ecosystem

16. NC Estuary Ecosystems
VIDEO: Cafeteria
Line (25 min)

17. NC Freshwater Ecosystems
NC Mountains
NC Piedmont
Eastern NC

18. NC Temperate Deciduous Ecosystem
Temperate: hot/cold seasons
Deciduous: leaves shed in the
Autumn

19. NC Grassland/Savanna Ecosystem

20. NC Urban Ecosystem

21. ECOLOGY BASICS
VOCABULARY:
coexistence terrestrial
competition aquatic
cooperation mimicry
intraspecific camouflage
interspecific regulator
predation conformer
predator
prey
symbiosis
mutualism
commensalism
parasitism

22. conformer- an organism whose internal
environment is influenced by external influences
• require a constant environment: temperature,
oxygen tension, and nutrients
EXAMPLE:
many marine organisms
regulators- an organism with control of its internal
environment despite external influences
• use metabolic means to regulate their internal
environments in response to change.
EXAMPLE:
birds, mammals
22

23. R E L A T I O N S H I P S
• Coexistence- organisms that live in the same
habitat but rely on different resources and so
do not compete
dolphins and porpoises
all get along and share
their Atlantic Ocean
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/dolphins
_and_porpoises/index.html
23

24. • Competition- occurs when organisms in an
ecosystem try to get the same resources
Intraspecific- between
members of same
species
Male deer compete
for females and
territory
24

25. Interspecific- between
members of different
species
Squirrels and birds
compete for the same
resources
25
• Competition- occurs when organisms in an
ecosystem try to get the same resources

26. • Cooperation- a helpful interaction among
organisms living in a limited area; work
together
Intraspecific- between
members of same
species
Ants work together in
colonies
26
VIDEO: Symbiosis: a surprising tale of species cooperation (2 min)

27. Mutualism: cleaner fish
consume parasites on
client fish
Interspecific- between
members of different
species
https://whalesandmarinefauna.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/whale-sharks-killed-displaced-by-gulf-oil-usa/ 27
• Cooperation- a helpful interaction among
organisms living in a limited area; work
together

28. • Predation- relationship in which one animal
hunts, kills, and eats another
Coyote: predator
Duck: prey
28VIDEO: Community Ecology 2: Predators (10 min)

29. Symbiosis- a close relationship between two
different species of organisms living together
mutualism
commensalism
parasitism
VIDEO: Mutualism, Commensalism, Parasitism (5 min)

30. MUTUALISM- a symbiotic relationship in which
both species benefit (cooperation)
some fish are cleaned by
another organism living on
its body.
AND the parasites on the fish
are food for the organism
cleaning the fish 30
Aquatic Example
S Y M B I O S I S

31. MUTUALISM: Terrestrial example
• Bees & Angiosperms
Bee
Benefits: gets food (nectar)
flower
Benefits: gets pollinated
BACK
31
S Y M B I O S I S

32. COMMENSALISM- a symbiotic relationship in
which one species benefits without hurting or
helping the other organism
Clownfish live in the
stinging tentacles of sea
anemones. They are
coated in mucous, which
protects them from the
anemone's sting 32
Aquatic Example
S Y M B I O S I S

33. COMMENSALISM: Terrestrial example
• Squirrel and Oak Tree:
The squirrel lives on/in the tree, eating the acorns
squirrel
Benefits: shelter & food
Oak tree
Not affected
BACK
33
S Y M B I O S I S

34. PARASITISM- a symbiotic relationship in which
one organism benefits and the other organism is
harmed
Fish has parasites
34
Aquatic Example
S Y M B I O S I S

35. PARASITISM: Terrestrial example
• Cowbird & other grassland birds
brown-headed cowbird is a notorious brood parasite. It will
lay its eggs in another bird’s nest so that the other bird will
hatch & raise its chicks.
cowbird
Benefits: its eggs get
hatched & raised
Other bird
Hurts: its eggs get ruined &
young out-compete BACK
35
S Y M B I O S I S

36. • Mimicry- one species mimics another for its
own protection
the harmless
banded snake eel
may imitate a more
dangerous banded
sea snake
Banded snake eel
Banded sea snake
36

37. • camouflage- having color or shape that blends
into the surroundings
-The Mimic octopus
changes shape to
resemble a Lionfish,
sea snake or a
stingray.
37

38. ADAPTATIONS
Structural adaptation- physical features that
improve a species’ success
Behavioral adaptation- actions that improve the
species’ success
• learned behavior- something an organism learns
in its lifetime to do (raccoon learning how to tip
your garbage for food)
• instinct- things an organism is born knowing how
to do (birds migrate)

39. VIDEO: Why isn’t the world covered in poop? (5 min)
VIDEO Crash Course: Community Ecology: Feel the Love (10 min)