Ecology Intro (Levels, Relationships & Population Data)

Introduction to Ecology:

• ​Ecological Organization

• Ecological Relationships

• Population Data

​Ecological Levels of Organization
(Smallest to Largest)

• ​Organism- A single living thing that obtains food, water, and shelter to live, grow, and reproduce in its habitat (environment).

• ​Population- A group of interbreeding organisms (species) living in the same area.

• Community- All the population in the ecosystem

• Ecosystem- A community of living organisms plus their nonliving environment.

• ​Biome- Includes all the biotic and abiotic features of an environment.

• ​Biosphere- Everywhere on Earth that can support life.

​Ecological Niche

​

Ecological Niche refers to the role of an organism in its environment.

-Two species with identical

 niches cannot coexist

 in the same habitat.

Multiple Choice

In ecology, what is interdependence?

• Living things do not need the help of other things to survive

• Living things rely on other living and non-living things to survive.

• Biomes depend on other biomes to survive.

• What is celebrated every 4th of July

Multiple Choice

The study of the relationships between living and non-living things is called

• Taxonomy

• Evolution

• Ecology

• Biology

Multiple Choice

All the organisms of a species in an area make up a(n)

• Ecosystem

• Population

• Biome

• Community

Multiple Choice

All the living things in an area makes up a(n):

• Ecosystem

• Population

• Biome

• Community

Multiple Choice

All the living things in an area plus their surrounding is called a(n):

• Ecosystem

• Population

• Biome

• Community

Multiple Choice

A bunch of ecosystems with similar climates is a(n):

• Ecosystem

• Population

• Biome

• Community

Multiple Choice

Everywhere that living things are found is called the:

• Biosphere

• Population

• Biome

• Community

Ecological Relationships

​

​

• ​Competition

• ​Predation

• ​Symbiosis

​1. Competition

​

​

Example: In a dense forest, plants compete with each other for living space that provides  sunlight.

​

​

​

When two species in an ecosystem need to share a valuable and often limited resource such as food, shelter, sunlight, living space, or water

​Three Types of Relationships Found in Ecosystems!

​

​

​1. Competition

​2. Predation

​3. Symbiosis

​Competition Example 2

​

As lion populations grow, they compete for resources such as food and water.  If there is too little food or water for the growing population some will die.  

​Competition happens in two types:
1. Intraspecific
2. Interspecific

​Intraspecific Competition

​

IntrAspecific Competition: 

Occurs when animals of the SAME species compete for the same resources.

​

​Interspecific Competition

​

​

IntERspecific Competition:

• Occurs when organisms of DIFFERENT species compete for the same resources.

Multiple Choice

______________ occurs when more than one individual or population tries to use the same limited resource.

• Niche

• Predator-prey

• Availability

• Competition

Multiple Choice

Individuals of the same species compete for the same resources is_________ competition.

• Intraspecific

• Interspecific

Multiple Choice

Individuals of the different species compete for the same resources is_________ competition.

• Inraspecific

• Interspecific

Multiple Choice

When a pine tree grows real tall and blocks sunlight to another pine tree it is _______ competition.

• Interference

• Intraspecific

• Interspecific

• Exploitative

​2. Predation

​

- Different species in an ecosystem interact where one species (predator) will hunt another species (prey) as a food source.

​Example: Lions and Zebra have a predator-prey relationship

-

​

​

• Too much prey ​will result in overpopulation . More competition, resulting in death of preys

• Too much predator will lead to death of prey and ultimately predators​

​

​

​

• Predator- prey relationships maintain balance in an ecosystem

• ​When the number of predators decreases allows a prey population to make a comeback. 

• ​ As the predator population   is increasing, the prey population is decreasing

​

​

​Explain the predator-prey cycle shown in the diagram

Multiple Choice

One organism hunts and eats another organism.

• predation

• mutualism

• carnivore

• parasitism

Multiple Choice

Wild Pig

• Predator

• Prey

Multiple Choice

Alligator

• Predator

• Prey

Multiple Choice

When predator numbers decrease, prey numbers ____________ because fewer of them are being consumed.

• decrease
• increase
• stay the same
• divide in half

Multiple Choice

Predator population lags behind prey population because:

• Increase in predators leads to decrease in prey

• Increase in predators leads to increase in prey

• Increase in predators leads to decrease in producers

Multiple Choice

What statement is TRUE about the graph?

• The prey is the green line because there needs to be more prey than predators.
• The prey is the red line because there needs to be more predators than prey.
• The green line is the producers
• The red line is the producers

Multiple Choice

TRUE OR FALSE:

Removing a top predator from an ecosystem is always a good thing for the prey that live there.

• True

• False

3. Symbiosis

​

Symbiosis is a term used to describe close and often long-lasting interactions between different biological species
There are 3 types:
1. Mutualism
2. Commensalism
3. Parasitism

​Mutualism

​Both organisms are benefited by the relationship.

Example: The clown fish is protected from predators by the sea anemone and the anemone is cleaned by the clownfish.

​Commensalism

​One organism is benefited by the relationship and the other organism is not harmed or helped

Example: A cattle egret (benefits) follows cattle (not affected) and eats the insects that are stirred up by the movement of the cattle through the grass

​Parasitism

​One organism is benefited (parasite)  by the relationship and the other organism is harmed (host)

Multiple Choice

A relationship that describe a close interaction between two different species is known as what? (This is the broad "umbrella" term.)

• Biodiversity

• Symbiosis

• Predation

• Emigration

Multiple Choice

A relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is harmed.

• Mutualism

• Competition

• Parasitsm

• Commensalism

Multiple Choice

Which of the following symbiotic relationships is considered parasitic?

• Ticks feeding on a dog

• Bees transporting pollen from flowers

• Pilotfish swimming under sharks

• Birds eating the insects from the back of hippo

Multiple Choice

A tapeworm lives in the intestines of its host. Which example best describes the relationship between the tapeworm and its host?

• The tapeworm benefits from its host; however, the host is not affected.

• The tapeworm does not benefit from its host, but the host does benefit.

• The tapeworm benefits from its host, and the host is negatively affected.

Multiple Choice

An organism that lives on or in a host and causes it harm is called

• a host
• a parasite
• a cell
• a virus

Multiple Choice

Which of these best describes parasitism?

• One species benefits while another species also benefits

• One species benefits while another species is killed

• One species benefits while another species is harmed

• One species benefits while nothing happens to another species

Multiple Choice

Type of relationship: A wolf eating a rabbit.

• Predator/prey

• Parasite/host

• Producer/consumer

• Competitors

Multiple Choice

Type of relationship: A wolf eating a rabbit.

• Predator/prey

• Parasite/host

• Producer/consumer

• Competitors

Multiple Choice

A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit:

• Competition.

• Mutualism.

• Commensalism.

• Parasitism.

Multiple Choice

Remoras are fish that generally latch on to sharks and eat leftovers of food from the shark. This is an example of which type of ecological relationship?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Competition

Multiple Choice

This is known as a relationship in which both organisms involved benefit. 

• Predator-Prey
• Commensalism
• Mutualism
• Decomposition

Multiple Choice

Pseudoscorpions often hitch rides on the backs of large beetles or true bugs. What is the ecological relationship?

• Mutualism

• Commensalism

• Parasitism

• Cooperation

Population Ecology

Multiple Choice

When there is a drought and there is limited water, the water would

• cause exponential growth

• be a limiting factor

Multiple Choice

A disease wipes out most of the rabbit population in a forest. What type of limiting factor would this be?

• density-independent

• density dependent

Multiple Choice

The highest population an environment can support is called

• a limiting factor

• exponential growth

• carrying capacity