U14: Ecology

Levels of Organization

• Individual (An organism)

• Population (Organisms that are the same)

• Community (All Biotic Factors)

• Ecosystem (Biotic and Abiotic Factors)

• Biome (Biomes consist of multiple ecosystems with similar climatic conditions and types of organisms.)

• Biosphere (The highest level of organization that consists of multiple biomes. The Earth is the largest Biosphere we currently know of is the Earth)

Succession

2 Types of Succession:

• Primary Succession: Starts from bare rock, no arable land. Lichens and moss start taking over, bringing life. Lichens and moss take a LONG TIME to break down rock into soil.

• Secondary Succession: A disaster happens and destroys life, but soil is still present. Plants and life will eventually come back in a faster time.

Ecological Relationships

5 Types of Relationships:

1. Mutualism: Both organisms benefit from the relationship—example: Humans and Gut Bacteria. Gut bacteria help digest food for humans. Humans will benefit, as less energy is spent.

2. Commensalism: One organism benefits, the other doesn’t care—example: Cattle and cattle egrets. Cattle steps on the ground, releasing insects, and the egret feeds on the insects. The cattle don’t benefit, but the egret benefits.

3. Parasitism: One organism benefits, the other is harmed—example: Humans and ticks. Ticks take your blood, they benefit from such, while you suffer from inflammation and illness.

   

4. Predation: One organism preys on the other—example: A wolf will prey on an elk.

5. Competition: Organisms compete for limited resources (food, water, shelter, etc.) for a mate—example: Hippos and giraffes drinking from the same pond.

Symbiosis (Symbiotic Relationship)

Symbiosis (Symbiotic Relationship): Symbiosis is a close, LONG-TERM relationship between 2 organisms.

Competition and Predation are not symbiotic because predation does NOT occur over a long period of time, and competition may NOT be a direct, close interaction.

Invasive Species

• A non-native species that is introduced into an ecosystem, that adversely affects an ecosystem

• No natural predators = spread like “biological wildfire”

• Example: Zebra Mussels in Lake Lavon, annihilate other animal life and promotes Toxic Algae Blooms