Ecology Notes
“Principles of Ecology”
Chapter 2, Section 1
Organisms and Their Relationships
Objectives:
1. Explain the difference between abiotic and biotic factors.
2. Describe the levels of biological organization.
2. Differentiate between an organism’s habitat and its niche.
A.
Interactions and Interdependence
a. ______________________________—the study of interactions between organisms and their
environment
b. Coined in 1866 by German biologist Ernst Haeckel
c. _______________—contains the combined portions of the planet in which all life exists, including
_______________________________________________________________
B.
Levels of Organization
a. _________________—group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and
produce fertile offspring
b. ______________________—groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the
same area
c. ______________________—assemblages or different populations that live together in a defined
area
d. _________________________—collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place,
together with their nonliving, or physical environment
e. _____________________—group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant
communities
f. __________________________—the highest level of organization that ecologists can study
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g. Diagram:
C.
Biotic and Abiotic Factors
a. ______________________ factors—________________________influences on organisms within
an ecosystem
i. Example: _______________________
ii. What BIOTIC factors might influence, or affect, the bullfrog?
1. ______________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________
b. ______________________________—physical, or nonliving, factors that shape ecosystems
i. Example:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
ii. Example: Bullfrog
iii. What ABIOTIC factors might influence, or affect, the bullfrog?
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
c. ______________________________
i. Area where an organism __________________________
ii. Includes _____________________________________________________ factors
iii. Determines the ________________________________________ of an organism
D.
The __________________________
a. If the organism’s habitat is its “____________________”, its niche is its “_____________________”
b. _____________________—full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism
lives and the way in which the organism uses those condition
c. Includes the ________________________________ the organisms eats, how it
____________________this food, and ________________________________________________
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E.
Community Interactions
a. ________________________________
i. Occurs when organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological
resource in the ___________________________________________
ii. _______________________—refers to any necessity of life,
_________________________________________________________________________
iii. __________________________________________ in nature often results in a winner and
a loser—with the losing organism failing to survive
iv. ______________________________________________________________—states that
no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time
b. _______________________________
i. Interaction in which ___________________________________________ and ________on
another organism
ii. __________________________________ —the organism that does the killing and eating
Ex: _____________________
iii. Prey —food organism Ex: _____________________
c. ___________________________________
i. Any __________________________ in which two species
__________________________________________________________________________
ii. Symbiosis means “___________________________________________”
iii. There are three main classes of symbiotic relationships in nature:
1. ________________________________
a. Both species ________________________ from the relationship
b. Ex: ________________________________________
i. _______________________ need
___________________________(bees, butterflies) to reproduce
ii. ___________________________ obtain _________________
from the _________________________________
iii. Both are ____________________________________ —MUTUAL
2. _________________________________________
a. One member _______________________ and the other is
___________________________________________________________
b. Ex: __________________________________________________
i. _____________________________, small marine animals, attach
themselves to _________________________
ii. __________________________ perform
______________________ to the __________________, but
_______________________________________________
iii. As the ____________________________, the
____________________________ are able to eat the food
particles that pass by—
_______________________________________________________
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3. ___________________________________
a. One organism lives _____________________________________ and
_______________________
b. The _______________________ obtains _____________________
nutritional needs from the other organism, called the host
c. Ex: __________________________________
i. Live inside the _______________________________ of their host
ii. _____________________________ most of the food’s nutrients
d. Ex: ______________________________________________
i. Live on the ___________________________ of mammals
ii. Feed on ______________________________________ of host
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Chapter 2, Section 2
Energy Flow
Objectives:
1. Describe the flow of energy through an ecosystem.
2. Identify the ultimate energy source for photosynthetic producers.
2. Describe food chains, food webs, and pyramid models.
A. Producers
1. ____________________________________ is the main energy source for life on Earth
2. In few ecosystems, some organisms obtain energy from other sources than the sun
a. inorganic compounds ______________________________________________
b. example: mineral water that flows underground or boils out of hot springs and undersea
vents is loaded with chemical energy
3. ______________________________________
a. use energy from the sunlight to _____________________________________________
b. Example: ________________________________
4. ____________________________________—capture energy from sunlight
5. Energy From the Sun
a. __________________________________________—uses light energy to convert carbon
dioxide and water into oxygen and sugars/starches
b. On land, ________________________ are the main autotrophs
c. In water, __________________________ are the main autotrophs
6. Life Without Light
a. _________________________________—using chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
b. Occurs in very remote places:
_________________________________________________________________
B. Consumers
1. _______________________________—__________________________________________ for
their energy and food supply; also called “______________________________”
2. There are many different types of heterotrophs/consumers:
a. Herbivores—eats _____________________________ Ex: __________________________
b. Carnivores—eats ____________________________ Ex: _________________________
c. Omnivores—eat __________________________________________ Ex: _______________
d. Detritivores—eat ______________________________________________________,
otherwise known as “________________________” Ex: ____________________________
e. Decomposers—_________________________________________ Ex:
_______________________________________
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C. Feeding Relationships
1. _____________________________________
a. Energy stored by producers can be passed through a food chain
b. Series of steps in which organisms
__________________________________________________________________________
c. Show a ___________________________________ flow of energy in an ecosystem
d. Example: ________________________________ ______________________________
_____________________________________________________
e. Diagram:
2. _______________________________
a. Feeding relationships among various organisms in an ecosystem form a
_________________________________________________________________________
b. Links all the _________________________________________ in an ecosystem together
c. Shows ______________________________ ways of energy in an ecosystem
d. Diagram:
3. ____________________________________________________
a. ________________________________________—each step in a food chain or food web
b. _____________________________ make the _____________________ trophic level
c. _____________________________ make up the ________________________ trophic
levels
d. Each consumer depends on the trophic level _____________________________ for energy
e. Diagram:
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D. Ecological Pyramids
1. ______________________________________ in an ecosystem can be represented by an ecological
pyramid
2. ________________________________________—diagram that shows the relative amounts of
energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web
3. Ecologists have three types of pyramids:
a. ______________________________ Pyramid
i.
Only _________________________________________ that is stored in one
trophic level is passed on to the next level
ii.
Only about __________________ of the energy available within one trophic level is
________________________________ to organisms at the next trophic level.
iii.
The ____________________________that exist between a producer and a toplevel consumer, the _________________________ that remains from the
________________________________________
b. ________________________ Pyramid
i.
______________________—the total amount of
___________________________________ within a given trophic level
ii.
Represents the amount of __________________________________________ for
each trophic level in an ecosystem
iii.
Typically, the _____________________________ is at the _______________ of
the pyramid
iv.
Diagram:
c. ____________________________—shows the relative ______________________ at
______________________________________________________
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Chapter 2, Section 3
Cycles of Matter
Objectives:
1. Describe how the cycling of nutrients contributes to the success of an ecosystem
A. Recycling in the Biosphere
1. _____________________________________ to an ecosystem, but organisms
_______________________________________________ to survive
2. More than ____________________ of the body is made up of just four elements:
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. Unlike the one-way flow of energy, matter is recycled ___________________________________
4. _________________________________________________—the passing of elements, chemical
compounds, and other forms of matter from one organism to another and from one part of the
biosphere to another
B. The ________________________________
1. All living things __________________________________________ to survive
2. _____________________________—process in which water changes from
____________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________—water evaporating from ________________ into the
atmosphere
4. _________________________________—tiny droplets that __________________________
5. _____________________________________—when droplets become large enough, water returns
to Earth’s surface in the form of ______________________________________________________
6. Diagram:
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C. Nutrient Cycles
1. The __________________________________
a. Carbon plays many roles and is a key ingredient of _________________________________
b. Four main types of processes move carbon through its cycle:
i.
___________________________________________ (photosynthesis, respiration)
ii.
______________________________________________ (erosion, volcanic activity)
iii.
______________________________________________(burial/decomposition of
dead organism)
iv.
______________________________ (mining, cutting & burning forests, burning
fossil fuels)
v.
Diagram:
2. The ______________________________________
a. All organisms require nitrogen to _______________________________, which
_______________________________________
b. Nitrogen gas makes up __________________ of the Earth’s atmosphere
c. _______________________________________________—some bacteria convert nitrogen
gas into ammonia while others convert ammonia into nitrates and nitrites.
d. When organisms die, __________________________________ return nitrogen to the soil
as _________________________________.
e. _________________________________—other soil bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen
gas; process releases nitrogen back into the atmosphere again
f. Diagram:
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3. The __________________________________________________
a. Phosphorus is essential because it forms part of important life-sustaining molecules such as
________________________________________
b. Phosphorus __________________________________________________ the atmosphere
c. Instead it remains mostly on _________________________________________, and in
___________________________________________.
d. Diagram:
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Chapter 3, Section 1
Succession
Objectives:
1. Identify what happens when an ecosystem is destroyed
2. Differentiate between primary succession and secondary succession
A. Ecological Succession
1. Ecosystems are ____________________________________________ in response to natural and
human disturbances
a. As an ecosystem changes, _________________________________ gradually die out and
___________________________________________ move in
b. __________________________________________—series of predictable changes that
occurs in a community over time
c. Sometimes succession results from ___________________________________________ in
the physical environment
d. Sometimes succession results from ___________________________________ from
human activity, such as _______________________________________________________
2. Primary Succession
a. _______________________________________ —occurs on surfaces where
__________________________________
b. Occurs on the surfaces formed as ___________________________________ build new
islands or cover the land with __________________________________________________
c. Occurs on ____________________________________ exposed when glaciers melt
d. __________________________________________ —the first species to populate the area
1. Pioneer species on volcanic rock is typically _______________________________
2. Lichen is made up of ________________________________ and can grow on bare
rock
3. As lichens grow, they help ___________________________________the rocks.
4. When they die, lichens add ____________________________ to help form soil in
which ________________________________________________
3. Secondary Succession
a. ________________________________________ —succession following a disturbance that
destroys a community _____________________________________________________
b. Caused by ______________________, such as ________________, or human activity, such
as ________________________
4. Venn Diagram:
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Chapter 3
Biomes
*You will not be tested on any specific characteristics of each of the individual biomes!
Your focus should be on the standard below!
Objectives:
1. Investigate the relationships among organisms, populations, communities, ecosystems, and biomes
A.
Biomes and Climate
1. Biomes—complex terrestrial communities that cover a large area and are characterized by certain
soil and climate conditions and particular assemblages of plants and animals
2. _____________________________________—ability to survive and reproduce under certain
conditions that differ from their optimal conditions
3. _______________________________________—climate in a small area that differs from the
climate around it
B.
____________________________________________
1. Home to ______________________________________ than all other biomes combined
2. ___________________________ —tops of the tall trees (extending 50-80 m above the forest floor)
3. ___________________________—second layer of shorter trees and vines
4. Abiotic factors: hot and wet year-round, thin, nutrient-poor soil
5. Dominant plants: broad-leaved evergreen trees, _________________________________________
6. Dominant wildlife: sloths, jaguars______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
1. _____________________________________ —tree that sheds its leaves
2. Abiotic factors: generally warm year-round, alternating wet and dry seasons
3. Dominant plants: tall, deciduous trees
_________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. Dominant wildlife: _________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
1. Also called “_______________________________________”
2. Abiotic factors: warm temperatures, seasonal rainfall, compact soil,
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Dominant plants: tall, perennial grasses, __________________________________
4. Dominant wildlife: lions, leopards, cheetahs,
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
1. All deserts are dry—receive _______________________________________ of annual precipitation
2. Can be _____________________ deserts AND _______________________ deserts!
3. Abiotic factors: low precipitation, variable temperatures,
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. Dominant plants: cacti, __________________________________________________________
C.
D.
E.
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5. Dominant wildlife: mountain lions, bobcats,
________________________________________________________________________________
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
__________________________________________________
1. Dense evergreen forests of ____________________________________________trees
2. Also called the “____________________________”
3. Winters are _______________________________________, but summers are mild and long
enough to allow the ground to ____________________________
4. Abiotic factors: long, cold winters, short, mild summers, moderate precipitation,
________________________________________________________________________________
5. Dominant plants: needle leaf coniferous trees such as spruce and fir, some broadleaf deciduous
trees, ____________________________________________________________________________
6. Dominant wildlife: lynxes, timber wolves, _______________________________________________
____________________________________________
1. ________________________________________—layer of permanently frozen subsoil
2. During short, cool summers, the _____________________________________ to a depth of
a few centimeters and becomes soggy and wet
3. In winter, the ______________________________________________________________
4. Abiotic factors: strong winds, low precipitation, short and soggy summers, long, cold, and
dark winters, ______________________________________________________________
5. Dominant plants: ground-hugging plants such as
mosses___________________________________________________________________
6. Dominant wildlife: few mammals that can withstand the harsh conditions, musk ox, Arctic
foxes, _____________________________________________________________________
Aquatic Biomes
1. Divided into _____________________________________________
2. Freshwater includes ______________________________________________________________
3. Marine includes ___________________________________________________________________
Freshwater
1. Abiotic factors: ____________________________________________________________________
2. Biotic factors: _____________________________________________________________________
Open Ocean
1. Abiotic factors:
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Biotic factors: _____________________________________________________________________
Rocky Intertidal
1. Abiotic factors: ____________________________________________________________________
2. Biotic factors: _____________________________________________________________________
Estuaries
1. Estuaries—____________________________________________________________________
2. Contain a _____________________________________________________________________
3. Abiotic factors: ____________________________________________________________________
4. Biotic factors: _____________________________________________________________________
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