Ecological Succession

Biotic Factors Living part of the environment Tree, plants animals

Abiotic Factors Nonliving parts of the environment Water Rock sun

Habitat and Niche Habitat – area where an organism lives (the organism’s “address”) Niche – the physical conditions that help the organism to survive (the organism’s “occupation”) Type of food organism eats How it gets food Which other species eats the organism When and how the organism reproduces

Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time. Example: Cape May Warbler feeds at the tips of branches near the top of the spruce tree Bay-Breasted Warbler feeds in the middle part of the spruce tree Yellow Rumped Warbler feeds in the lower part of the tree and at the bases of the middle branches

Predation – interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism Symbiosis – relationship where 2 species live closely together

Mutualism Both species benefit from the relaitonship As far as is known, the fish is able to produce a special mucus that causes the anemone not to release its stings. It is also believed that the movements of the fish inform the anemone of its identity. In return for the anemone's protection, the fish brings scraps to it, and lures larger fish into the anemone's tentacles. http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/265.htm

Commensalism http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/search.asp?search=whale+and+barnacles&sz=0&maximages=40&l=on&p=on&s=on&w=on One organism is benefited and the other is not helped nor harmed Barnacles on a whale do not hurt the whale nor help it, but they benefit from the whale because as a whale swims, the water carries food particles to them

Parasitism One organism is benefited and the other is harmed

Ecological Succession Primary – occurs where no soil exists, only ash and rock 1st species to populate Often lichens (fungus and algae) When they die they create organic material to make soil for other plants to grow

Secondary Succession Occurs when land is cleared and plowed for farming or after a forest fire Plants start to grow

Climax Community Full forest – animals and plants living together

Sources Cited Pictures from www.photographersdirect.com http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/pub/seashore/text/265.htm