3. ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATIONECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
INDIVIDUALINDIVIDUAL – individual organisms
POPULATIONPOPULATION – organisms of same species in
same area (biotic factors)
COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY – several populations in same
area (biotic factors)
ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM – community plus abiotic factors
BIOSPHEREBIOSPHERE – all ecosystems on earth
4. ECOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALSECOLOGY OF INDIVIDUALS
HomeostasisHomeostasis – delicate balance– delicate balance
ComponentsComponents
Physiological EcologyPhysiological Ecology
Temperature and Water BalanceTemperature and Water Balance
Light and Biological CyclesLight and Biological Cycles
Physiological Ecology and ConservationPhysiological Ecology and Conservation
5. ECOLOGY OF POPULATIONSECOLOGY OF POPULATIONS
Properties of populationsProperties of populations
Patterns of distribution and densityPatterns of distribution and density
Intraspecific competitionIntraspecific competition
Population dynamicsPopulation dynamics
Growth and regulationGrowth and regulation
Altering population growthAltering population growth
Human impactHuman impact
7. Survival CurvesSurvival Curves
SurvivorshipSurvivorship is the percentage ofis the percentage of
remaining survivors of aremaining survivors of a
population over time; usuallypopulation over time; usually
shown graphicallyshown graphically..
Type I survivorship curveType I survivorship curve:: mostmost
individuals live out their life spanindividuals live out their life span
and die of old age (e.g., humans).and die of old age (e.g., humans).
Type II survivorship curveType II survivorship curve::
individuals die at a constant rateindividuals die at a constant rate
(e.g., birds, rodents, and(e.g., birds, rodents, and
perennial plants).perennial plants).
Type III survivorship curveType III survivorship curve::
most individuals die early inmost individuals die early in
life (e.g., fishes, invertebrates,life (e.g., fishes, invertebrates,
and plants).and plants).
8. ECOLOGY OF COMMUNITIESECOLOGY OF COMMUNITIES
Closed vs. Open communitiesClosed vs. Open communities
Closed –Closed – sharp boundariessharp boundaries
Open –Open – Lack boundariesLack boundaries
Species abundance and diversitySpecies abundance and diversity
Trophic Structure of CommunitiesTrophic Structure of Communities
Food chainsFood chains
Food webFood web
Trophic pyramidTrophic pyramid
9. INTERACTIONS AMONG SPECIESINTERACTIONS AMONG SPECIES
• InteractionsInteractions
• Interspecific competitionInterspecific competition
• PredationPredation
• ExploitationExploitation
• SymbiosisSymbiosis
10. Types of Species InteractionsTypes of Species Interactions
NeutralNeutral – two species do not interact– two species do not interact
MutualismMutualism – both benefit– both benefit
CommensalismCommensalism – one benefits, other neutral– one benefits, other neutral
ParasitismParasitism – one benefits, one harmed– one benefits, one harmed
but not killedbut not killed
PredationPredation – one benefits, other killed– one benefits, other killed
12. Food ChainFood Chain
rose plantrose plant aphidsaphids beetlebeetle chameleonchameleon hawkhawk
Producer
1st
order Consumer or Herbivore
2nd
order Consumer or 1st
order Carnivore
3rd
order Consumer or 2nd
order Carnivore
4th
order Consumer or 3rd
order Carnivore
Decomposers – consume dead and decaying
matter
14. ECOLOGY OF ECOSYSTEMSECOLOGY OF ECOSYSTEMS
Energy FlowEnergy Flow
Energy Flow PyramidsEnergy Flow Pyramids
Bio-mass PyramidsBio-mass Pyramids
Community Succession and StabilityCommunity Succession and Stability
Nutrient RecyclingNutrient Recycling – nutrient cycles– nutrient cycles
15. Energy vs NutrientEnergy vs Nutrient
• Nutrients – cyclic
(Biogeochemical
Cycles)
• Energy flow – one
way
16. Ecologic PyramidsEcologic Pyramids
Ecological pyramid - a graph representing trophic
level numbers within an ecosystem. The primary
producer level is at the base of the pyramid with
the consumer levels above.
Numbers pyramid - compares the number of
individuals in each trophic level.
Biomass pyramid - compares the total dry weight
of the organisms in each trophic level.
Energy pyramid - compares the total amount of
energy available in each trophic level. This energy
is usually measured in kilocalories.