2. What is Ecology?What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of organisms and the livingEcology is the study of organisms and the living
and non-living parts of their environment.and non-living parts of their environment.
There are many levels of organization in ecology.There are many levels of organization in ecology.
They are:They are:
TheThe BiosphereBiosphere – All the area on the surface of earth and in– All the area on the surface of earth and in
the atmosphere that supports life.the atmosphere that supports life.
Ecosystem – A group of organisms living together and theEcosystem – A group of organisms living together and the
environment around them.environment around them.
Community – All of the interactingCommunity – All of the interacting populationspopulations in an areain an area
Population – All of the organisms of the samePopulation – All of the organisms of the same speciesspecies livingliving
in an areain an area
OrganismOrganism – A single living thing– A single living thing
3. Abiotic vs. Biotic FactorsAbiotic vs. Biotic Factors
AbioticAbiotic Factors areFactors are
all of theall of the non-livingnon-living
components of thecomponents of the
ecosystem.ecosystem.
Examples would be:Examples would be:
1.1. WaterWater
2.2. ClimateClimate
3.3. SoilSoil
Biotic Factors are allBiotic Factors are all
of theof the livingliving
components of thecomponents of the
ecosystem.ecosystem.
Examples would be:Examples would be:
1.1. PlantsPlants
2.2. InsectsInsects
3.3. Larger animalsLarger animals
4. Which level is it?Which level is it?
Identify the level ofIdentify the level of
ecologicalecological
organizationorganization
represented by eachrepresented by each
picture.picture.
A herd of buffalo.A herd of buffalo.
5. Which level is it?Which level is it?
All of the living andAll of the living and
non-living items in anon-living items in a
pondpond
6. Which level is it?Which level is it?
All of the animalAll of the animal
populations living onpopulations living on
the African savannah.the African savannah.
7. HabitatHabitat
The habitat is the placeThe habitat is the place
where an organism liveswhere an organism lives
out its life.out its life.
It is where the organismIt is where the organism
findsfinds foodfood,, sheltershelter andand
mates.mates.
Several species can live inSeveral species can live in
the samethe same habitathabitat but willbut will
use the resources inuse the resources in
different ways.different ways.
8. NicheNiche
A niche is all strategiesA niche is all strategies
andand adaptationsadaptations aa
species uses in itsspecies uses in its
environment.environment.
This is how organismsThis is how organisms
obtain food, mates andobtain food, mates and
protectionprotection fromfrom
predators.predators.
No two species can occupyNo two species can occupy
the samethe same nicheniche long (onelong (one
species will go extinct).species will go extinct).
http://www.tycho.dk/ezimagecatalogue/catalogue/variations/1150-250x250.jpg
9. Ecological RelationshipsEcological Relationships
Ecological Relationships can beEcological Relationships can be
classified as eitherclassified as either symbiosissymbiosis oror
predationpredation..
A symbiosis is a close,A symbiosis is a close, permanentpermanent
relationship between tworelationship between two differentdifferent types oftypes of
organisms.organisms.
There are three types of symbiosis:There are three types of symbiosis:
1.1. MutualismMutualism
2.2. CommensalismCommensalism
3.3. ParasitismParasitism
10. MutualismMutualism
In mutualism, bothIn mutualism, both
organismsorganisms benefitbenefit fromfrom
one another.one another.
For example: A clownfishFor example: A clownfish
and a sea anemone have aand a sea anemone have a
mutualisticmutualistic relationship.relationship.
The fish is protected by theThe fish is protected by the
anemone and the anemoneanemone and the anemone
receivesreceives scraps of foodscraps of food
from the clownfish.from the clownfish.
11. CommensalismCommensalism
In commensalism, one organismIn commensalism, one organism benefitsbenefits
from the other. The other organism isfrom the other. The other organism is
neitherneither helpedhelped nornor harmedharmed..
This is usually a relationship between aThis is usually a relationship between a
small organism and a larger organismsmall organism and a larger organism
where the smaller organism benefits.where the smaller organism benefits.
The benefit is usuallyThe benefit is usually sheltershelter,,
transportationtransportation , defense, or, defense, or foodfood..
12. CommensalismCommensalism
An example is theAn example is the
relationship of therelationship of the
remora and the shark.remora and the shark.
The remora receivesThe remora receives
foodfood in the form ofin the form of
scraps that comescraps that come
from the shark, butfrom the shark, but
the shark isthe shark is
unaffectedunaffected..
13. ParasitismParasitism
In parasitism, oneIn parasitism, one
organism benefits andorganism benefits and
the other isthe other is harmedharmed..
The organism thatThe organism that
benefitsbenefits is called theis called the
parasiteparasite
The organism that isThe organism that is
harmedharmed is called theis called the
hosthost
14. ParasitismParasitism
TapewormsTapeworms andand
liver flukes areliver flukes are
examples of parasitesexamples of parasites
that live in the bodiesthat live in the bodies
of other organismsof other organisms
((endoparasitesendoparasites).).
They feed off the hostThey feed off the host
and cause disease.and cause disease.
16. PredationPredation
In predation, oneIn predation, one
organism, theorganism, the
predatorpredator, kills and, kills and
eats another, theeats another, the
preyprey..
The relationship ofThe relationship of
predator and prey ispredator and prey is
essential to keepingessential to keeping
populations of bothpopulations of both
animals at normalanimals at normal
levels.levels.
17. Which relationship is it?Which relationship is it?
An American RobinAn American Robin
builds a nest in a Redbuilds a nest in a Red
Maple treeMaple tree
18. Which relationship is it?Which relationship is it?
A tick makes its homeA tick makes its home
on a White-tailedon a White-tailed
DeerDeer
19. Which relationship is it?Which relationship is it?
A Nile crocodile willA Nile crocodile will
open its mouth andopen its mouth and
allow the Egyptianallow the Egyptian
plover to feed on anyplover to feed on any
leeches that areleeches that are
attached to its gumsattached to its gums
20. Which relationship is it?Which relationship is it?
A Red Fox hunts andA Red Fox hunts and
consumes a Blackconsumes a Black
Rat SnakeRat Snake
21. Which relationship is it?Which relationship is it?
A certain type ofA certain type of
paramecium engulfsparamecium engulfs
unicellular green algaeunicellular green algae
into vacuoles within itsinto vacuoles within its
cell. The algae arecell. The algae are
allowed to utilize carbonallowed to utilize carbon
dioxide produced by thedioxide produced by the
paramecium and theparamecium and the
paramecium is able toparamecium is able to
utilize food produced byutilize food produced by
the algaethe algae
