Ecolog

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Classification = The science of grouping organisms based on

similarities.
Why classify?
To help identify organisms.
To identify similarities between organisms.
To identify evolutionary patterns and relationships.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Whats the basis for

classification?

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Genetics

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

3 Domains

5 Kingdoms
Animalia

Eukaryota
Eubacteria

Plantae
Protista
Fungi
Monera

Archaebacteria

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Hierarchy of Classification
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Scientists use a 2 word system of naming different organisms called

Binomial Nomenclature
The 2 word name is called a Scientific Name and it is made up of
the genus and specific epithet.
A scientific name is either written in italics or it is underlined.
The genus must be capitalized and the specific epithet is lowercase.
Dandelion = Taraxacum officianalis
Domestic Cat = Felis catus
Mosquito = Culex pipiens
Human = Homo sapiens

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

In order to identify new organisms and to figure out what species

they are, scientists use a Dichotomous Key.
Dichotomous Keys use yes or no questions about the organisms
anatomy to determine its identity.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Niche = are the exact conditions that the species needs or is adapted to.

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Habitat = provides living space to a number of different species and

therefore is made up of a number of niches.

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Spatial habitat = the space that an organism takes up.

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Feeding activities = affect other species in the habitat ex. predator prey
relationships.

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Fundamental niche = all of the potential niches for an organism

Realized niches = due to competition with other species the realized
niche is the actual niche that the organism lives within.
It will not include all of the potential niches.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Population interactions occur in 6 main ways.

1) Competition
Interspecific competition = When members of two or more species
interact to gain access to the same limited resources.
Intraspecific competition = When members of the same species
interact to gain access to the same limited resources.
Ex. Food, light, or space.

https://www.y
outube.com/w
atch?
v=B7ivSI9tm
RI

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

2) Predation = occurs when a member of one species feeds directly on

all or part of a member of another species.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDi6LX5WQ84

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

3) Parasitism = occurs when one organism feeds on the body of, or the
energy is used by, another organism, usually by living
on or in the host.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=rD8SmacBUcU

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

4) Mutualism = is an interaction that benefits both species by providing

each with food, shelter, or some other resource.

The anemonefish lives among the forest of tentacles of an anemone and is protected from potential predators not immune to the sting of
the anemone. The anemonefish is protected from the sting of the anomone tentacles by a substance contained in the mucous on its skin.
The exact nature of this protective substance is not known, but is believed to be a combination of a partial natural secretion and chemicals
the fish harvests by rubbing up against the anemone's tentacles. What ever the case may be, the anemone treats the fish as part of itself and
does not sting it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=eWXOurnVTYg

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

5) Commensalism = an interaction that benefits one species but has little,

or no, effect on the other.
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
forages in pastures and fields
among livestock such as cattle
and horses, feeding on the insects
stirred up by the movement of the
grazing animals. The egrets
benefit from the arrangement, but
the livestock, generally, do not.
However as in most cases of
commensalism, there is a "but".
Cattle Egrets have been observed
perching on the top of cattle
picking off ticks, lending a slight
tinge of mutualism to the
arrangement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IrE05fvMx_o

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

6) Herbivory organisms feed on the leaves, fruits, seeds, or

roots of plants.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-define limiting factors and name specific limiting factors as well as their affects
-use a dichotomous key to classify species
-define the term diversity and apply Simpsons diversity index and outline its significance
-define the term biome and outline the distribution and relative productivity of the different biomes

Limiting factors = abiotic factors can affect the number of organisms

in a population.
Too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth
of a population, even if all other factors are at or near the optimal
range of tolerance.
Examples of limiting factors include: water
nitrogen
potassium
phosphorus
temperature
sunlight
oxygen

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

Carrying Capacity
Species vary in their Biotic Potential
= the capacity for population growth
with unlimited resources and ideal
conditions.
Resources can include: food
nutrients
Ideal conditions: shelter

oxygen

weather

water

light

no predation

space

mates

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

No population can grow indefinitely!

Number of sheep (millions)

Every environment has Environmental

Resistance = the combination of all
factors that act to limit the growth of a
population (Limiting2.0
1.5
factors)(lack of
resources and or 1.0
environmental
.5
conditions)
1800 1825 1850
1875 1900 1925
Year

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

The Biotic Potential + Environmental Resistance = Carrying Capacity

Number of sheep (millions)

Every habitat has a CARRYING CAPACITY =

the maximum
2.0
number of individuals
1.5
of a given species
1.0
that can be sustained
.5
indefinitely in a given
space.
1800
1825
1850
1875 1900
1925
Year

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

Factors that can change carrying

capacity:
1. Competition within and between
species.
2. Natural and human caused
catastrophes.
3. Immigration and emigration.
4. Seasonal fluctuations in food, water,
shelter, and nesting sites.

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

r and K Selected Species (r+K

strategists)
r-selected species = species with a high
biotic potential.
These species have many, small, offspring and give them
little or
no care.
Examples are algae, bacteria, rodents, frogs, turtles,
annual
plants, and most insects.
These species tend to be opportunists, reproducing

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

J population
growth curve

Population size (N)

r-strategists that have few if any resource

limitations grow exponentially.
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH starts out slowly
and then proceeds faster
and faster as the
population increases.

Time (t)

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

K-selected species (K-strategists)= species

with a
low biotic
potential.
These species reproduce later in life, have small number
of
offspring, and have long life spans.
Examples are mammals, birds of prey, and large and
long-lived
plants.
These species tend to be competitors.

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

S or sigmoid
population
growth curve

Population size (N)

K-strategists undergo LOGISTIC GROWTH

-involves initial exponential growth and
then there is a steady decrease in
growth as the population encounters
environmental resistance
and approaches carrying
capacity and levels off. K

Topic 2
Population
Dynamics

Population size (N)

Carrying K
capacity

Students will be able to:

-describe the ways in which populations can change
-define carrying capacity and describe factors that affect it.
-describe the principles associated with survivorship curves including k- and r- strategists.
-describe and explain S and J population growth curves.

Plateau phase
Transitional phase

Exponential phase

Time (t)

Species and
Populations

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Ecology = the study of

relationships between living
organisms (biotic factors),
their environment (abiotic
factors),
and energy components of
their environment.

E
c
o
l
o
g
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and
identify and explain trophic levels in
food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or
numbers, pyramids of biomass and
pyramids of productivity, and
construct such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure
affects the functioning of an
ecosystem.
-Define the following population
interactions and relate them to real
world examples: neutralism,
ammensalism, mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

In other words in ecology

we study the ecosystem,
which can be defined as a
community and its
nonliving surroundings
(its environment).

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Food Chain = used to show

one way matter and energy
can move through an ecosystem.

These movements are the results of

eating or decomposing.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Food Web = shows all the

possible food chains in an
ecosystem.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Each organism in a food chain

represents a Trophic Level.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Ecological Pyramids = Graphical models of the quantitative

differences that exist between trophic levels of a single ecosystem.
They can be pyramids of numbers, biomass, or productivity (energy).

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

of
Shows how many individuals are at each trophic level
Tertiary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Pyramid of biomass = Shows the total mass is at each trophic level

Quaternary Consumer

Tertiary Consumer
Secondary Consumer
Primary Consumer

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Pyramid of Energy = Shows the amount of energy at each trophic level

Each trophic level represents

a 90% loss in energy.
This is because most of the
energy used is lost as
heat.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Each trophic level represents

a 90% loss in energy.
This is because most of the
energy used is lost as
heat.

Ecolog
y

Students will be able to:

-Define the term trophic level and identify and explain trophic levels in food chains and food webs.
-Explain the principles of pyramids or numbers, pyramids of biomass and pyramids of productivity, and construct
such
pyramids from given data.
-Discuss how the pyramid structure affects the functioning of an ecosystem.
-Define the following population interactions and relate them to real world examples: neutralism, ammensalism,
mutualism,
commensalism, and parasitism.

Bioaccumulation = the accumulation

of substances, such as pesticides,
or other organic chemicals in an
organism.
Biomagnification = the increase in of
substances as you move up in
trophic level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UiCSvQvVys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF2iS5vIamg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iI6Ob4mS06I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=mF2iS5vIamg