Ecology

Study of organisms interactions with the environment (abiotic factors) and each other (biotic factor)

Species Identical members that can reproduce and make fertile offspring.

Community Different species living together

Ecosystem community plus environmental conditions

Main Energy Source THE SUN

Producers Absorb sunlight to make their own food by the process of photosynthesis. Also called Autotrophs (plants) They are the 1 st in an food chain, food web, and Energy Pyramid

Chemosynthesis Used in areas with NO sunlight (bacteria)

Consumers Eat producers or other consumers to get food Also called Heterotrophs

4 Kinds

1. Herbivores Eat plants

2. Carnivores Eat Meat

3. Omnivores Eat plants and animals

4. Decomposers Recycle Materials back to the soil, BREAKDOWN Organic Material (Bacteria, Fungi)

Food chains and Food Webs ONLY 10% of energy goes to the next level Start of a food chain is always the producer

Energy Pyramid Base of energy pyramid is always a producer Most energy and biomass is at the base/bottom of the pyramid

Water Cycle Evaporation- water turning into gas from a body of water. Transpiration- water turning into gas from plant leaves BOTH processes put water into the atmosphere

Water Cycle Condensation- Gas turning to liquid water in the clouds Precipitation- Liquid water falling back to earth Both processes put water back on land

Carbon Cycle Photosynthesis- Takes CO 2 out of the atmosphere Respiration- Puts CO 2 back into the atmosphere

Carbon Cycle Combustion also puts CO2 back into the atmosphere Leads to Global Warming and Acid Rain

Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria “fix” nitrogen and put it back into the soil.

Difference Energy: NOT recycled Nutrients: Recycled

Biotic Factor Living things that affect us Plants, animals, etc.

Abiotic Factor Nonliving things that affect us Temperature, water, air quality

Habitat Where you live

Niche How you live

Two Different species CAN share a habitat, But they CANNOT share a niche.

Symbiosis Two species living together

Mutualism Both species benefit Flower/Bee Human/Bacteria

Commensalism One species benefits, the other is unaffected Whale/barnacle

Parasitism One species benefits, the other is harmed Dog/Tick Humans/Tapeworm

Predator/Prey One species benefits, the other species dies Wolf/Rabbit

Populations Immigration Moving into a population ● Emigration ● Moving out of a population

Carrying Capacity Maximum number of individuals an environment can support.

Limiting Factors Things that limit population growth

Density-dependent Felt more strongly as population gets bigger Disease, competition

Density-independent Felt the same NO matter how big or small the population Weather, Natural Disasters

What causes a species to overpopulate? NO predators and LOTS of food.

Environmental Issues

Biomagnification DDT and mercury, Harmful chemicals get trapped in food chains/webs causing the most harm to TOP consumers

Invasive Species Species get into habitats where they don’t belong, out compete natural species

Primary Succession Starts after a major disturbance (like a volcano eruption) that REMOVES ALL THE SOIL. Pioneer Species is the first organism to live in an area, and many times they are lichens

Secondary Succession Starts after a major disturbance (like a fire), BUT NO SOIL IS REMOVED

Taxonomy Kingdom: Largest Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species: Smallest

Kingdoms Archeabacteria: Live in harsh conditions, Unicellular, prokaryotes Eubacteria: Common Bacteria, Unicellular, Prokaryotic Protists: Unicellular, eukaryotes Fungi: Multicellular, Eukaryotic, Heterotrophs, Cell Wall, and No locomotion Plants: Multicellular, Eukaryotic, Autotrophs, Cell Wall, and No locomotion Animals: Multicellular, Eukaryotic, Heterotrophs, and Locomotion

Plant Parts Flowers: Used for Reproduction (Pollination) Leaf: Used for Photosynthesis Stomata: found on the leaf used for gas exchange (take in CO 2 and release O 2 ) Xylem: Vascular tissue used to move materials UP through the plant Phloem: Vascular tissue used to move materials DOWN the plant.

Animal Kingdom Phylum Chordata: Spinal cord and backbone Class Mammalia: Live birth and Mammary Glands