What is the information content of

individuals?

populations? 

communities? 

Individuals- DNA, genetics, nervous system, "input-output system"

Populations- Only populations can evolve, information stored in gene pools

Communities- Number of organisms and type of organisms. Information is held in diversity- interspecific have more information content

What are the two types of information systems in biology?

What makes them different?

Genetic- most organisms have only the genetic system. Bacteria and protists can sense and respond to their environments, but without nervous systems. 

Nervous- developed in animals. None in plants

Opperate at different speeds

1. Growth

2. Movement

3. Responsiveness or Irritability- Perception & Action

4. Reproduction

5. Metabolism (biochemical reactions) 

6. Adaptation- (Of species to their environment)

A living system is a unique set of common chemicals that is capable of using energy to organize matter according to it's information content that results in self perpetuation. 

CHONPS- chemicals of a living system

matter= chemicals

Nonrandom organizations of matter

Matter cycles through a living system whereas energy does not

Living and nonliving systems assembly 

"Life history"

Biological information assembles living systems from matter using energy and this takes time

Nonliving systems are assembled randomly by physical and chemical "Laws of Nature" like Gravity, Thermodynamics, and Mass Action Chemistry. 

Living systems are also subject to these laws but go beyond them by using information. 

Organisms budget matter, energy, and time simultaneously according to an evolved strategy know as their "life history" 

Unicellular organisms can grow up, reproduce (fisson) and continue living indefinitely. They may die if exposed to circumstances that would cause their death

Multicellular organisms are genetically programmed to grow up, reproduce, continue aging, and die

To be biologically successful all organisms must reproduce. The genetic system must continue 

Living systems are sets of information that:

Altruism- 

• Move through space and time encountering new environments
• Exploit matter and energy in a timely manner to maintain themselves, grow, and reproduce
• Living systems are genetically competitive & selfish
• Altruism (being unselfish) is a learned behavior

Evolution and the information system

Biological success=? 

Successful exploitation of environment depends on good information. Quality of information is maintained by evolution. Populations evolve, not individuals or communities

Success= having numerous fertile offspring (applies to individuals and maybe populations)

groups of organisms of the same species that are living in an area and chare a common gene pool by interbreeding

• Have character densities (# per unit area/volume), distribution patterns, growth, age distributions, etc.. 
• Important because they evolve! in response to environment
• Populations interact with eachother

Derives structure from the interactions and interdependence of the organisms living within it

composed of producers, consumers, and decomposers

communities are assembled (structured) by ecological and evolutionary actions, short and long term 

Community structure- type of organisms, how many organisms, their relationship among eachother, etc... 

• Functioning depends on the complex interactions between it's community of organisms and the non-living environment. 
• Most ecosystem functions are carried out by microbes (use energy to organize matter (photosynthesis) and decompose matter )

Biodiversity-

What are it's two components?

• the variety of different kinds or organisms that make up a community
• Component 1- Species richness- the total number of different species in the community 
• Component 2- Evenness- the relative abundance of the different species

Interspecific- 

Intraspecific-

Interspecific- interactions are between different species

Intraspecific- interactions are between members of the same species 

Two emergent properties of living systems

Energy flow- how does it flow?

Cycling of matter- where does it cycle?

Energy Flows from the sun through the plants, then animals, then decomposers, then is lost as heat (entropic- useless form of energy) 

Biogeochemicals cycle among air, water, soil, and organisms. 

Studying these cycles is an effective way of studying ecology

Decomposers are almost always _____?

_______ matter is recycled

______ the main thing that is recycled- is a __________ source 

• fungi and bacteria
• Inorganic 
• CO2; Carbon 

• Study the physical environment (water flow, substrate, light, etc...)
• Learn the living components (commnity structure) 
• Examine the chemistry (including cycling of matter)
• Study energetics of individuals, populations, communties, ecosystems
• Examine biological interactions (competition, predation, etc..) 

What about environmental disturbances such as pollution? 

Where do bioassessment, sustainability, and restoration fit in?