This document discusses key concepts in ecology including the organization of ecological systems from individual organisms to the biosphere. It covers ecology at the individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels. Some topics discussed include homeostasis in individuals, population dynamics, survivorship curves, interactions among species like competition and predation, food chains and webs, energy and nutrient flows, and biogeochemical cycles. Diagrams are provided to illustrate ecological pyramids, hydrologic cycle, and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles.

1. Dr.NGP INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
COMIBATORE
Department of Management Studies
By
Karuppasamy.M
710714631025

2. GREEN GENERATIONS (B&C)GREEN GENERATIONS (B&C)

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

6. Growth CurvesGrowth Curves

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

11. Predator - Prey RelationshipPredator - Prey Relationship

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

13. Food WebFood Web

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.

17. Numbers PyramidNumbers Pyramid

18. Biomass & Energy Flow PyramidsBiomass & Energy Flow Pyramids

19. Hydrologic (Water) CycleHydrologic (Water) Cycle

20. Phosphorus CyclePhosphorus Cycle

21. Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

22. Carbon CycleCarbon Cycle

23. THANK YOU