Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors are the living components of an ecosystem. (predator/prey interactions) Abiotic Factors are the nonliving parts of the ecosystem. They are considered to be LIMITING FACTORS that determine which types of organisms can live there. Examples: ????

An organism’s role in its environment is its niche. If two species are trying to use the same niche, competition will occur and only one species will successfully survive there.

Symbiosis is a relationship where two organisms live very close to one another. There are three major types of symbiotic relationships. Mutualism – both organisms benefit. Sea anemone and clownfish

2. Commensalism – one organism benefits, the other is neither benefits nor it harmed. bird and capybara

3. Parasitism – a symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other organism is harmed. parasitic videos

AP Bio: Aposematic coloration Batesian mimicry Mullerian mimicry

Ecological Succession is a series of predictable changes in abiotic and biotic parts of a community of organisms over time. Succession starts with pioneer organisms and over many years results in a climax forest community that is very stable.

Succession on Land http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/9i.html

http://fire. cfs. nrcan. gc http://fire.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/research/climate_change/carbon/carbon_postfire_e.htm http://fire.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/research/climate_change/carbon/carbon_postfire_e.htm http://fire.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/research/climate_change/carbon/carbon_postfire_e.htm Forest Fire http://www.biology.duke.edu/bio217/2005/nlg3/CC_ecology.htm

Succession http://fire.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/research/climate_change/carbon/carbon_postfire_e.htm

Primary succession would occur on rock after a volcanic eruption. Secondary succession would occur after a man-made disturbance such as a fire or deforestation.

Succession in a Lake Ecosystem http://www.kidfish.bc.ca/images/lake%20succession.gif

Biome –

Renewable Resources – can be restored during your lifetime. Non-renewable Resources – cannot be restored during your lifetime.

Burning non-renewable resources (fossil fuels) as an energy supply causes an increase in production of greenhouse gases like….. This may lead to global warming.

Acid Precipitation – Precipitation with a pH level below 5.2. The primary cause is burning of fossil fuels which releases nitrogen and sulfur compounds that turn acidic when mixed with water vapor in the atmosphere.

Burning non-renewable resources (fossil fuels) as an energy supply causes environmental problems like acid rain because…..

Use of aerosol products and refrigerants causes the release of CFC’s (chloro- fluorocarbons) into the atmosphere. This causes depletion of the ozone layer (which normally protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet light.)