Environmental Science Living Things in Ecosystems LaVigne Environmental Science Living Things in Ecosystems Chapter 2 Notes #1

The story of Borneo (in Asia) DDT killed mosquitoes (that carried malaria) DDT also ended up killing the wasps Effect- thatch roofs collapsed The caterpillars boomed because there were no wasps to eat them DDT also ended up on cockroaches Geckos ate the roaches, got nerve damage, got slow enough to be killed by house cats The house cats dies of poisoning, allowing the rat population to boom

The story of Borneo (in Asia) The rats brought fleas, which brought the plague Healthy cats had to be shipped in!

Ecosystems: Everything is connected Ecosystem- all organisms in a certain area, along with their physical environment They are all in the biosphere Ex. Deserts, wetlands, coral reefs, etc) Often considered isolated unit However there are not clear boundaries (things can move from one system to another)

Composition of Ecosystems biotic factors – living parts of an ecosystem animals plants microorganisms

Composition of Ecosystems Abiotic factors – nonliving parts of the ecosystem Temperature Sunlight Water supply/humidity Soil type/Mineral nutrients

In an ecosystem there are: communities a group of interacting populations of different species Ex. In a forest – plants, animals, microorganisms, etc… Habitat – the place where a living thing lives

In an ecosystem there are: population a group of individuals of the same species living in a particular place Ex. All the oak trees in a forest Ex. All white tail deer in Michigan

In an ecosystem there are: species a group of organisms that can produce fertile offspring/share common genes therefore resemble each other Ex. People at a gathering Ex. Robins in the forest organism one individual living thing

In an ecosystem there are: niche an organisms way of life how it fits into its environment Relationships Reproduction (when, how many) Shelter/actuary, etc Ex. A dog has puppies, barks at strangers, wants to get positive attention from his master, gets fleas, sleeps at the foot of the bed, eats dog food, etc.)

In an ecosystem there are: