ECOLOGY
Distribution Limits
Define and give examples
Abiotic factors
ex. wind, rocks, temperature, climate,
water, elevation, light ----- NON-LIVING
Biotic factors
LIVING - ex. pathogens, predators,
parasites, decomposers, symbiotic
relationships
http://biology.mhc.edu/forests/biomes.htg/biomes.jpg
Distribution Limits: Biomes
Provide brief description of each biome
Tundra
< 13 cm; animals adapted to cold; mosses
& low-lying plants.
Taiga
animals adapted to cold; shows more
diversity than tundra; rainfall 30-85 cm
Grasslands
herbivore; different ranges but generally
low (10-90 cm)
Distribution Limits: Biomes
Temperate deciduous forest
deciduous trees; good animal diversity;
75-150 cm; seasons
Tropical rainforest
wet (over 150 cm) ; various layers to plant
life; most biodiversity of organisms
Desert
less than 25 cm; not all are hot; nocturnal
predominate; water-storing plants
Aquatic – intertidal, ocean, freshwater…
Check Your Understanding
Match the following pictures to the
biome.
TAIGA
DESERT
A
D
TDF
TUNDRA
F
B
E
GRASSLANDS
TRF
C
www.teachersfirst.com/ lessons/biomes/biomes.html
Population Growth
r(reproductive rate) = births-deaths
N
N = size of population
Density
# of individuals per unit of area; space
Dispersion
Spacing patterns among populations: clumped,
uniform, random
Define and provide examples
Population Growth
Biotic potential
Under ideal conditions - the amount of individuals an
area can support.
Carrying capacity
Maximum population of an area w/o habitat
degradation.
Limiting factors
Density-dependent
Density-independent
Define and provide examples
Population Growth
Age structure
Which diagram represents ZPG/decline?
Rapid growth vs. slow growth?
Population Growth & Regulation
Life History
Semelparity
Iteroparity
Survivorship curves
Type I = k-strategist (selection)
Type II = random
Type III = r-strategist (selection)
Define and provide examples
Survivorship Curves
Number of survivors
C.
B.
A.
Relative Age
Species Interactions
Interspecific competition
Competitive exclusion principle (Gause)
Resource partitioning
Character displacement
Realized niche vs. fundamental niche
Define and provide examples
Interspecific Competition
Predation
True predation
Parasitism
Parasitoid
Herbivory
Define and provide examples
Interspecific Competition
Symbiosis – sym = together, bio=life
Mutualism
Commensalism
(Parasitism
Define and provide examples
Interspecific Competition
Coevolution
Morphological defenses
Secondary compounds
Camouflage
Aposematic coloration
Mimicry
Műllerian
Batesian
Define and provide examples
Community Structure & Growth
Ecological Succession
Primary
Secondary
Describe the changes
that occur from left to
right in the picture?
If the original plot was
plowed, is this
primary or secondary
succession?
http://www.geo.arizona.edu/Antevs/nats104/00lect20sucn2.gif
Biogeochemical Cycles
Consist of same basic structure/parts:
Major chemicals
Reservoir/storage
Assimilation (into organisms)
Release (from organisms)
For each cycle that follows provide an
example of the information above.
Water cycle
Major chemicals ….water (duh!)
Reservoir/storage
Assimilation (into organisms)
Release (from organisms)
Water Cycle
http://www.marietta.edu/~biol/102/ecosystem.htm
l
Carbon Cycle
Major chemicals
Reservoir/storage
Assimilation (into organisms)
Release (from organisms)
Carbon cycle
http://www.safeclimate.net/business/images/understanding_carboncycle.jp
Nitrogen Cycle
Major chemicals
Reservoir/storage
Assimilation (into organisms)
Release (from organisms)
http://msucares.com/crops/soils/images/nitrogen.gif
Phosphorus Cycle
Similar to others but does not have an
atmospheric component.
See pg. 1212 for details.
Energy Flow
Trophic levels –define and provide
examples.
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary/quaternary
Ecological Pyramids
Energy-Why is a percentage of energy
lost as you ascend the pyramid?
http://www.mesa.edu.au/friends/seashores/images/energy_pyramid.gif
Ecological Pyramids
Biomass – Why does the biomass
pyramid reflect the same trend as the
energy pyramid?
http://www.niles-hs.k12.il.us/jacnau/chpt545.jpg
Following the Flow
Food chains – Create a simple, but
specific example.
Food webs - Create a simple example
using at least 10 organisms.