Organisms and Their Environments Ecology Organisms and Their Environments

Ecology The study of the interactions of organisms and their environment

Biotic Factors All the living organisms that inhabit an environment. Bio = life tic = pertaining to. Animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, protists

Abiotic Factors All the non-living parts of the environment A = not/without, bio = life Examples = soil, rocks, water, minerals, temperature

NOTE: All organisms depend on others for food, shelter, reproduction and protection. We must study an organism’s relationship with other organisms at different levels and see how different factors affect them.

Levels of Biological Organization

Organism

Population A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same area.

Community A collection of populations that interact with one another.

Ecosystem Interactions of a community and its abiotic factors

Biome  large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. 

Biosphere The portion of the Earth that supports life. Many different environments exist here. Bio = life

Niche vs. Habitat

Niche The role a species plays in a community. Includes the space, food, and other conditions the organism needs to survive.

Habitat The place where the organism lives.

NOTE: Several species may share a habitat, but the food, shelter, and resources of that habitat are divided into separate niches.

Interactions between Organisms Aka relationships

Autotrophs Organisms that use solar energy to make their own food. Auto = self Also called Producers

Heterotrophs Organisms that depend on other organisms for food and energy. Hetero = other Also called consumers

5 Types of Heterotrophs

Herbivores Eat only plants

Carnivores Eat other heterotrophs

Scavengers Eat organisms that are already dead

Omnivores Eat both animals and plants omni = all

Decomposers Absorb nutrients from dead organisms Fungi, Bacteria

Competition Organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an abiotic or biotic resource in the same ecosystem.

Predation An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

Symbiosis Close and permanent relationships between organisms

Commensalism One species benefits and the other is not harmed or benefited.

Crab sheltering in carpet of a sea anemone

Mutualism Both species benefit.

Golden damselfish being cleaned by 2 different cleaner fish- both parties benefit.

Parasitism One species benefits and the other is harmed.

Mosquitoes are a parasite Mosquitoes are a parasite. They benefit from our blood and we are harmed by the bite and/or transmitted disease.

These are common parasites. Lice, Hookworms, Fleas, Ticks, Leeches

Energy in Ecosystems Note: Organisms interact in order to obtain energy and resources necessary to stay alive.

Energy Flow Energy flows thru an ecosystem in one direction: sun autotroph heterotroph

Food Chain A model that shows how matter and energy move through an ecosystem. It has arrows that show the direction that energy is being transferred.

FOOD CHAIN

Trophic Level A feeding step in a food chain that represents each organism.

4 3 2 1

Can you name the trophic levels below?? Tertiary consumer Primary consumer Producer Secondary consumer

Food Web Shows all the possible feeding relationships at each trophic level in a community.

Ecological pyramids Diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web. 3 types

Energy Pyramid Pyramid of Energy Heat 0.1% Consumers 1% Consumers 10% Consumers 100% Producers Parasites, scavengers, and decomposers feed at each level. 10% Rule - Only about 10% of energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level The rest is lost as heat

Pyramid of numbers Based on the number of individual organisms at each trophic level Pyramid of Numbers Fox (1) Birds (25) Grasshoppers (250) Grasses (3000)

Biomass Pyramid The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called biomass. A pyramid of biomass represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem.

NOTE: Energy and matter are constantly being recycled. A balance of everything going on in an ecosystem is called HOMEOSTASIS.