Chapter 8 - Living Things Sec. 1 Sec. 2 Sec.3

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.