10T2K© Ecology

Thing 1: What is ecology? Ecology is the study of how living things interact with each other and their physical environment.

Thing 2: Ecosystems Ecosystems are made up of biotic factors and abiotic factors. Biotic factors are the communities of living things. Each community is made up of different populations of species. Abiotic factors are the non-living parts: water, air, soil, rock, etc.

Thing 3: A biome is a class of ecosystem Some land biomes Desert Grassland Rainforest Deciduous forest Coniferous forest Tundra Some aquatic biomes Deep ocean Intertidal Lake Swamp Marsh River ESTUARY

Thing 4: Symbiosis Symbiosis is a close ecological relationship between organisms Mutualism is when each organism needs the other (plant and pollinator, for example). Commensalism is when one organism is helped and the other isn’t affected (sparrow and tree, for example). Parasitism is when one organism benefits and the other is harmed, but not usually killed (mosquito and human, for example).

Thing 5: Exponential population growth Exponential growth: population grows quickly because of abundant resources (J curve).

Thing 6: Carrying capacity As resources become scarce, growth slows and reaches a steady state (S curve). Resources that limit population growth are called limiting factors. The maximum population size that an ecosystem can support is called the carrying capacity.

Thing 7: Succession and pioneer communities Ecosystems can change over time. This is called succession. The first living thing in an area make up the pioneer community. On land, pioneer communities often include lichens. In water, pioneer communities often include photosynthetic prokaryotes and algae.

Thing 8: Succession and climax communities Pioneer communities change the environment, allowing other organisms to live there Break down rock Add organic material to soil Eventually, a climax community can form, after which little change occurs.

Thing 9: Ecological cycles Water cycle Oxygen cycle Carbon cycle Nitrogen cycle

Thing 10: Ecological pyramids Numbers pyramid Biomass pyramid Energy pyramid