Ecology Study of interactions among living things & between living things and their environment

Abiotic Factors Sunlight (hours/day, intensity, shade) Soil type (amount/type of organic matter) Nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, carbon) Water Detritus Temperature pH & salt content

Biotic Factors Include all Living things Two types of interactions among living things 1)Interspecific = between different species 2)Intraspecific = within the same species

Levels of organization in an Ecosystem Population = all organisms of one species living in the study area Community = all of the organisms living in the study area Ecosystem = all of the organisms living in the study area and the abiotic factors. Biome = several ecosystems in same climate

Biosphere Includes all of the biomes on earth All areas of the planet that support life

Examples of Interactions 1) Predation = (+,-) One predator kills and eats more than one prey organism

2) Parasitoid = (+,-) One parasitoid kills and eats one host organism.

3) Herbivory : (+,-)herbivore eats plant

4)Competition = (-,-) 2 organisms compete for resources Intraspecific and interspecific

Symbiotic Relationships Organisms live closley together Names end in –ism Parasitism Mutualism Commensalism

5) Parasitism = (+,-) Many parasites feed on one host organism….try not to kill host

6) Mutualism = (+,+) symbiotic relationship where both benefit

7) Commensalism = (+,0) one organism benefits the other is not affected