Ecology
The study of the interactions of organisms and their environment.
Environment
Broken into two factors: Biotic & Abiotic.
Biotic Factors
Living parts of the environment
Plants - Animals - Insects - Microbes
Abiotic Factors
Non-living parts of the environment
(Sun)-Temperature & Light - Soil - Air - Water
Water
Living things are made of 50%-95% water.
All life processes need water to preform.
Respiration - digestion - circulatory - photosynthesis.
Light & Temperature
How much sunlight, determines what type of organisms will live in a region.
Air
Quality of air needs to be good. Air Pollution can cause breathing problems
Different types of weather --> Different organisms
Air Pressure - Few animals live at the extremes
Soil
Different compositions of soil lead to different types of organisms.
Organism
One individual of a species. Ex - a single deer
Population
All individuals of the same species that live in the same area. Ex- All the deer
Community
The populations of different species that interact in some way. Ex- deer, squirrels, birds, mice, insects that live in the woods.
Ecosystem
All the communities and their abiotic factors. Ex- woodlands. Animals, air, water, soil, sunlight.
Biome
A large region with plants and animals that are adapted to the soil and climate of the area.
Ex- polar, grasslands, rainforests, deserts, tundra
Biosphere
The area of Earth that can support life. the shell of Earth from 10 km up - 10 km below. This includes atmosphere and underground. Think of an orange peel.
Population Size
The number of individuals in the population of that species.
Population Density
The number of individuals that occupy space in a specific area.
Population Spacing
How the individuals are arranged.
Even: consistent space between organisms
Clumping: spaced as groups such as herds
Random: scattered, no set pattern
Limiting Factors
An biotic or abiotic factor that limits the population growing. Food, water, shelter, mates.
Carrying Capacity
The largest number of individuals of a species that an environment can support and maintain.
Biotic Potential
The rate at which a population can continue to increase when plenty of food, water, no diseases are available.
Symbiosis
Any close relationship between two or more different species.
Mutualism
A relationship where both species benefit.
Ex- yucca moth/yucca plant Honeybees/flowers
Commensalism
One species benefits and it does not affect the other.
Ex- horseshoe crabs/gill flatworm shark/remora
Parasitism
One species benefits but the other species is harmed.
Ex- Deer Tick/Humans - Lyme disease
The organism that is benefiting and harming the other is called a parasite. The one being harmed is called the host.
Predation
When one organism hunts, kills, and eats another.
Habitat
Where an animal lives.
Niche
The role or job that an organism has in its ecosystem.
Law of Conservation of Matter & Energy
No matter or energy can be created or destroyed. It is recycled.
Food Chains
Energy passed from one organism to another.
Only 10% of the energy is passed from level to level.
Producers - Plants --> Primary Consumers - Grasshopper --> Secondary Consumers - Toad --> Terciary Consumers - Snake --> Top Consumers - Owl
Food Web
Overlapping food chains.
Producers
Make their own food.
Consumers
Eat the producers.
Herbivores
Eat plants.
Carnivores
Eat other animals.
Omnivores
Eat plants & animals.
Ecological Pyramid
The # of animals on that level needed to provide food to the next level.
Energy Pyramid
The amount of energy that is transferred to the next level of the food chain.