Ch 13: Ecology Study of the relationship of organisms with their (biotic & abiotic) environment

What are Abiotic Factors? Energy Source (sunlight) 2. Temperature 3. Wind 4. Water 5. Soil 6. pH

What are Biotic Factors? Living Organisms Interactions with same species and other species Competition Predator (Carnivore) versus Prey (Smaller Carnivore or Herbivore) Symbiosis Interactions among individuals Parasitism – one benefits, one is harmed Commensalism – one benefits, one doesn’t care Mutalism – both benefit

Levels of Organization Organism – single individual Example = an alligator Population – group of the same organisms living together Example = all of the alligators in the swamp Community – group of different populations living together Example = turtles and fish and alligators in the Everglades

Levels of Organization Ecosystem – the community and their environment Example = The Florida Everglades Biodiversity = assortment or variety of living things in an ecosystem Keystone species has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem Biome – major regional community Example = Tropics Biosphere – all biomes

Levels of Organization