Interactions of Life

BIOSPHERE Includes the top portion of Earth’s crust, all the water that covers the Earth’s surface, and the atmosphere.

ECOSYSTEM Consists of all the organisms living in an area. Also consists of the nonliving parts of the environment (rocks, soil, water, etc.)

ECOLOGY The study of interactions that occur among organisms and their environment.

POPULATION Consists of ALL of a species living in an ecosystem. Example: All of the grasshoppers in Central Kentucky.

COMMUNITY All of the populations in an Ecosystem. This is larger than a Population!

HABITAT Where the animals live. A lion’s habitat is the plains of Africa. What is your habitat?

COMPETITION Some things that may affect competition would be: Size of the habitat Amount of available food

POPULATION SIZE How many of a species are in a given Ecosystem. The size of a population in a specific area is Population Density

CARRYING CAPACITY The total number of individuals a habitat can support. There are limiting factors that can make it more difficult for a species to live and grow, or reproduce in its environment

Limiting Factors Some examples of limiting factors include: Temperature Soil composition Availability of water or food Competition w/ other organisms Predators/Parasites

BIOTIC POTENTIAL The potential amount of offspring. Example: A piece of fruit that has 12 seeds has the POTENTIAL to produce 12 offspring.

CHANGES IN POPULATION Populations can grow or decrease based upon births or deaths Populations can grow or decreased based upon moving to a new population (example: immigration)

EXPONENTIAL GROWTH The larger a population becomes, the faster the growth. After the presentation, we will see the “Doubling Penny” Story.

PRODUCERS Organisms that use outside energy sources to make (or produce) energy rich molecules.

CONSUMERS Eat producers and/or other consumers for energy (because they can’t produce their own). Example: You Example: Sharks

TYPES OF CONSUMERS Herbivores: eat plants Carnivores: eat meat Omnivores: eat both plants and meat Decomposers: consume waste and decaying organisms.

FOOD CHAIN A simple model of the feeding relationship in an ecosystem. Lion eats the zebra, zebra eats grass, grass gets its energy from the sun.

SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS MUTUALISM COMMENSALISM PARASITISM

MUTUALISM Both organisms benefit from the association. You and the bacteria in your stomach. Example—a clown fish and an Anemones.

COMMENSALISM One organism benefits but the other is not harmed. Example—a bird that lives in a tree. The bird gets a place to live and the tree gets nothing in return.

PARISITISM One organism benefits while the other is harmed. Example—a mushroom and a tree

Mushroom and Tree How does a tree benefit a mushroom? A mushroom is a decomposer because it cannot create it’s own energy. It is able to take the energy from the tree (which is why it is aslo a parasite).

NICHE How an organism survives, obtains food and shelter, finds a mate, cares for its young, and avoids danger.

NICHE CONT’D Predator and Prey

NICHE CONT’D Cooperation Example: a deer who detects the presence of a wolf will alert the others.