Introduction to Ecology

Ecology Study of the interactions between organisms (biotic) and the non-living (abiotic) parts of their environment Each organism depends in some way on other living and non-living things in its environment

Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors- non-living factors in the ecosystem that affects that ecosystem Ex. Sunlight, salt, oxygen, rainfall, temperature, Chemicals, etc.

Biotic Factors Biotic factors- living components of an ecosystem Interactions between organisms that can affect the ecosystem

Biotic: anything living or once alive Abiotic: anything not living

Levels of Organization

Levels of Organization Smallest organism population Community ecosystem Biome Biosphere Largest

Organism (species) a single living species

Population all the organisms of the same species living in one place at one time

Community Community- all of the populations of living organisms in one area at one time

Ecosystem Ecosystem- All organisms and the non-living environment in an area Can be as small as your back yard or as large as the world.

Biome Large group of ecosystems that share the same climate. Examples: Tundra, Desert, Temperate Deciduous Forest.

Biosphere Relatively thin layer of Earth and its atmosphere that supports life. All of the biomes make up the biosphere.

Habitat Habitat- the physical location of the organism

Niche Niche- an organism’s role in the community (like a job) It includes the way an organism interacts with its environment. (ex: How it gets food, how it finds shelter, when it reproduces, how many offspring it has)

Symbiosis: close relationship between any 2 living organisms Remember: Sym = together Bio = living 3 Types of symbiotic relationships Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Mutualism- two species cooperating, they both benefit (+ and +) ex. bees and flowers, hippos and fish

Commensalism- one species benefits from another, the other species is not affected (+ and no affect) ex. Sea anemones and clown fish Barnacles and whales NEMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Parasitism- one species benefits from another, the other species is harmed (+ and -), detriment=harm dogs and ticks, humans and tape worms

Competition competition- organisms that are in the same niche and are therefore struggling for a resource (- and -) There are 2 types Interspecific- between 2 different species Ex: lions and hyenas or pine trees and oak trees Intraspecific- between same species Ex: 2 male elephants fighting for female

Predation (+ and -) predation- one species, the predator, hunting and eating another, the prey leopards and gazelles, spider and fly

Competition an interaction between organisms or species in which both the organisms or species are harmed. Causes of Competition: Defend organisms space-territory Defend resources-food, water, available females Plants-compete for soil, nutrients and sunlight

Spatial Distribution: How spread out a population is Spatial Distribution: How spread out a population is. Where the population is located. Population Density: How many individual organisms are in a given area Limiting factors: Natural barriers (like land, mountains, ocean) that limit where populations can live.

The end Loris is an arboreal (animal which lives on trees) and slow-moving animal. It is nocturnal. Usuall found in South East Asian countries-India, China, Sri Lanka. They don’t have tails and they use hands and legs to move from one tree to another tree. They are insectivorous but also feed on vegetables.