CHAPTER 10

ECOSYSTEMS:RELATIONSHIPS AND
POPULATIONS
KEY KNOWLEDGE
Components of ecosystems: communities of living
organisms, ecological groupings; ecological niche

Relationships between organisms: feeding including
parasite/host, predator/prey; of mutual benefit including
mutualism and symbiosis

Population dynamics: carrying capacity of ecosystems;
factors affecting distribution and abundance of organisms,
including birth and death rates, migration

Techniques for monitoring and maintaining ecosystems
Questions for Chapter 10:
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 18, 19, 20, 22,
23, 27, 28, 34 and 37

LEARNING INTENTION
To learn what the word ecology means. To learn what an
ecosystem is and how one is named.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
Able to state the meaning of ecology.
Able to describe what an ecosystem is and how one is
named.
Complete Chapter 10 textbook questions
1, 3, 4 and 6

ECOLOGY Study of the relationships
between living things and their surroundings.

ECOSYSTEM - the system formed by the
community (biotic factors) interacting with
each other and the physical surroundings
(abiotic factors).

HABITAT + COMMUNITY = ECOSYSTEM


NAMING ECOSYSTEMS

Ecosystems are given names that are descriptive.
There are several ways of naming them:
Based on the environment: The simplest method
is to base the name on the surroundings e.g. the
river ecosystem, wetlands, etc.
Based on the living organisms: The community
name is based upon the largest or most obvious
organism (dominant species) e.g. grassland, coral
reefs, mangrove swamp, etc.
LEARNING INTENTION
To understand the different types of relationships and
interactions between living things.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
Complete Chapter 10 textbook questions
7, 9 and 11
- Complete worksheets:
- Predator-Prey Interactions
- Predator-Prey Strategies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CZFfyed3M





RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LIVING
ORGANISMS

Every living thing is affected by the presence
or absence of other living things as well as the
environment that they exist in.
The relationship between living things may be:

Predator/prey relationship
One organism consumes another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsfJL-IIVz4


Competition
This involves a number of organisms
competing for a limited resource.
1) Interspecies competition
Several different species all require the same
resource and compete for it if it is in limited
supply
2) Intraspecies competition
Members of the same species competing to
limited resources.


Complete worksheets:
Predator-Prey Interactions
Predator-Prey Strategies.

Discuss answers to textbook questions
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 and 11

Read pages 314 321. Answer questions
18, 19, 20, 22 and 23.
Symbiosis
This is a close relationship between 2 more or
species. This can take several forms.

1) Parasitism where one organisms (called a
parasite) lives on or in another organism
(called a host) to the benefit of the parasite
and the detriment of the host. Killing the host
is not beneficial to the survival of the parasite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMG-LWyNcAs


2) Mutualism both organisms in the
relationship benefit e.g. birds picking ticks
from a rhino, the rhino gets the ticks removed
and the birds get a food source that they have
not had to spend a lot of energy looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqa0OPbdvjw
3) Commensalism
One organism benefits and the other doesn't,
but it isn't harmed either.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPgfAfuXxiE

Discuss textbook questions:
18, 19, 20, 22 and 23


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwL7K_loRjM


SAC 3
ECOSYSTEMS:RELATIONSHIPS AND
POPULATIONS

Continue with PowerPoint presentations of different ecosystems
found around the world.

PLUS
LEARNING INTENTION
To learn how Ecologists study different species within their ecosystem.
To learn the difference between an open and a closed ecosystem.
To learn about factors that affect the population size.
To learn the formula for population growth.

SUCCESS CRITERIA
Able to state the difference between an open and closed ecosystem.
Able to state factors that affect the population size of a species.
Know the formula for population growth.
Complete Ecosystem stability worksheet.


POPULATION DYNAMICS

Population dynamics involves studying the
changes that occur in populations over a period
of time.
TERMS USED IN STUDYING POPULATION
DYNAMICS
Population: organisms of the same species living
in the same area
Community: all of the living organisms in a
habitat e.g. the community near a river might
include grasses, trees, birds, insects, rabbits,
wallabies etc.
Habitat: the type of place an organism lives
e.g. the habitat of the river gums is next to the
river, the habitat of the cockatoos was in the
river gums.

Microhabitats: are smaller areas in a habitat
that are slightly different from the
surroundings e.g. the microhabitat of a worm
might be under a rock.

Population density (abundance) the number
of organisms found in a particular area.

Population distribution: all of the places that
a particular species can be found.

POPULATIONS
OPEN ECOSYSTEMS
Animals and plants can move into (immigrate)
or move out of (emigrate) an ecosystem.

CLOSED ECOSYTEM
There is no movement in or out of the
ecosystem.
DISTRIBUTION
Population may be uniform, random, or
clumped depending on the factors that
influence populations.

Complete Density and Distribution
worksheet

FACTORS AFFECTING POPULATION SIZE

Birth rate: the number of new organisms
produced in a given time e.g. 2 per year.
Death rate: the number of organisms dying in
a particular time
Migration rate: migration is the movement of
organisms into the population from other
areas (immigration) or out of the population
to other areas (emigration).

Environmental factors that affect populations
include: weather, the landscape and availability of
food, breeding and nesting sites (where
appropriate).
Behavioural and adaptive factors that affect
populations include: ability to eat a variety of
foods, ability to reproduce quickly, territorial
behaviour.
Interactions between species that affect
populations include predator-prey relationships,
interspecies competition for food and
interspecies competition for living areas.

POPULATION GROWTH
Growth rate = (Births + Immigration)
(Deaths + emigration) per unit of
time.

Complete Population Growth
worksheet.


LEARNING INTENTION
To understand the different techniques used by
Ecologists to determine the number of organisms within
a specific area.
To learn how Ecologists deal with populations considered
to be pests.
SUCCESS CRITERIA
Able to discuss different techniques used to determine
numbers.
Able to discuss how pests can be controlled.
Complete worksheets provided.
Complete textbook questions 27,28,34 and 37.
MEASURING ABUNDANCE
Measuring abundance involves determining
the number of organisms in a specific area.
Direct observation involves counting all of the
organisms in a particular place.
Sampling involves estimating the size of a
population based on the numbers present in a
particular area.

The use of quadrats is a common method of
sampling a population. They are square,
rectangular or circular structures.
















The average density of the organisms can be
worked out using a simple formula.

Complete sampling populations
worksheet.
CAPTURE MARK RECAPTURE
This method has several parts to it
Step 1: Capture a random sample of organisms
using a method that will not hurt them.
Step 2: Mark them in some way that way that will
remain on the organism but will not harm them.
Then release them where they were caught.
Step 3: Go back to the same area at some future
point in time and catch another random sample.
Record how many marked organisms are
recaptured.

Complete Mark and Recapture
activity and worksheet.

CONTROLLING POPULATION
NUMBERS

Some populations have been designated as
pests for a variety of reasons.
Culling: if the number of organism exceeds the
carrying capacity the excess are killed off.
Biological control: the introduction of a
predator, parasite or pathogen that will kill of
some or all of the population.
Chemical control: the use of pesticides or
herbicides to kill organisms.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSVbdaubxxg

Discuss questions 27, 28, 34 and 37