Species, Communities and Ecosystems Topic 4.1 Species, Communities and Ecosystems

Important Terminology Species: a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring Habitat: the environment in which a species typically lives or the location of a living organism Population: a groups of organisms of the same species that live in the same area at the same time.

Community: A groups of populations living and interacting with each other in an area Ecosystem: A community and its abiotic environment Ecology: the study of relationships among living organisms and their environment

Ecosystem

Autotrophs & Heterotrophs Autotroph: organisms that can produce their own organic molecules from simple inorganic substances. Plants and most algae Some chemiosmotic (thermal vents) “Self feeders” Also called producers

Heterotrophs: must obtain organic molecules from other organisms “other feeders” Obtain energy (food) from autotrophs Also called consumers

Decomposers Heterotrophs/consumers Gain energy from non living matter Detritivores: ingest dead organic matter Earthworms and vultures Saprotrophs: secrete digestive enzymes into the dead organic matter in order to digest the material before absorbing the products Fungi and some bacteria

Decomposition of organic material Decomposers are vital to maintaining a supply of inorganic material such as carbon in the environment through nutrient cycling Decomposition of organic material Dead leaves and other parts of plants Feathers, hairs and other dead parts of animals Feces from animals Decomposer Method of feeding Examples Detritivore Ingests & then digests Earthworm, vulture Saprotroph Digests externally and then ingests Fungi , bacteria

Communities Formed by populations of different species living together and interacting with each other Complex relationships Parasitism (1 benefits, 1 harmed) Mutualism (both benefit) Commensalism (1 benefits, does not benefit and is not harmed)

Ecosystem A community forms an ecosystem by its interactions with the abiotic environment All living organisms plus air, water ,soil etc. Highly complex interacting system

Inorganic Nutrients Autotrophs & heterotrophs obtain inorganic nutrients from the abiotic environment Living organisms need a supply of chemical elements Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen Nitrogen and phosphorus Approximately 15 other elements

Nutrient cycles Supply or inorganic nutrients is maintained by nutrient cycling recycling

Sustainability of Ecosystems Ecosystems have the potential to be sustainable over long period of time Three requirements for sustainability Nutrient availability Detoxification of waste products Energy availability

Mesocosm Practical #5 Setting up a sealed mesocosm to try to establish sustainability

Ecological Levels of Organization Activity Directions Pick your favorite species of plant or animal (common name is acceptable) Using Pg. 37 of the CP text as a guide, show your plant or animal in each ecological level of organization Grading: Neatness and color Include & use correctly each of the following terms Organism - community Population - ecosystem