Ecology and our Ecosystems Everything you ever wanted to know and were too afraid to ask!

Ecology Ecosystems All the living and nonliving parts that interact in a specific environment. The study of the interactions between living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.

Ecology Biotic factors – the living parts of an ecosystem Abiotic factors – the nonliving parts of an ecosystem

Biotic and Abiotic Factors In an Ecosystem

Ecology Vocabulary Populations – all the members of one species in a particular area Habitats – the place where an organism lives and provides the things it needs Communities – all the DIFFERENT populations that live together in an area Niches – An organism’s role in an ecosystem, or how it makes its living

More Vocabulary Adaptation – the behaviors and physical characteristics of species that allow them to live successfully in their environment Competition – the struggle between organisms for the limited resources in a habitat Symbiosis – a close relationship between species that benefits at least one of them

Food Chains and Food Webs

Food Chains A model showing the links from one organism in an ecosystem to another Always begins with a producer Sun – basic form of energy for all living things

Producers Anything that produces/makes its own food Supplied with energy directly from the sun Largest part of a food chain/food web Plants

Consumers Organisms that obtain energy by feeding on other organisms

Types of Consumers Herbivores – consumers that eat only plants Carnivores – consumers that eat only animals Omnivores – consumers that eat both plants and animals

Producers & Consumers

Decomposers Organisms that break down dead plants and animals and return nutrients back into the soil Bacteria Fungi

Decomposers

Sample Food Chains Grass -> Gazelle -> Lion Grass -> Cow -> Human Lettuce -> Human Grass -> Grasshopper -> Little Fish -> Big Fish -> Bear -> Bacteria

Many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem Food Webs Many overlapping food chains in an ecosystem

Food/Energy Pyramids Producers are at the bottom - most abundant Herbivores are above the producers Carnivores and Omnivores eat the herbivores and the producers Humans are at the TOP of the pyramid

Food & Energy Pyramids

Human Impact on Ecosystems

THE END Save all of your notes to study for the test.