Ecology …the study of how organisms interact with each other and their environments © J Beauchemin 2006

Introduction Groups of animals live in specific habitats. There are two factors included in every habitat: Biotic factors –Living things, like…? Abiotic factors –Nonliving things, like…?

Like a set of nesting dolls… We can think about the interactions and types of living things by organizing them into groups, smallest to largest. A species includes only one type of organism. –Example: pigeon A population includes all members of one species that live in the same area. –Example: all the pigeons in Brockton

…bigger and bigger groups! A community includes all of the different species that live in the same area. –Example: all the pigeons, ants, maple trees, dogs, etc. that live in Brockton An ecosystem includes both the community and the abiotic factors. –Example: the Brockton community plus the cars, buildings, rocks, air…

The organisms in a habitat can be organized in the following way… species community population ecosystem

Food webs All organisms need FOOD to survive! Food is our source of energy. The energy flows from the producers to the consumers. Food webs show what eats what.

Eat or be eaten Here are some important terms that will help you describe interactions in a food web. 1. Producer (autotroph) –can make its own food –forms the base of the food web

Mmmmm…delicious. 2. Consumer (heterotroph) –cannot make its own food There are several words that describe consumers… –Prey: the hunted –Predator: the hunter –Herbivore: eats plants –Carnivore: eats animals –Omnivore: eats both plants and animals

Hey, you gonna eat that? 3. Decomposer –Breaks down dead organisms –Examples: bacteria, maggots, fungi, worms –Complete the circle of life by returning nutrients to the soil

Pop Quiz 1.In an ecosystem what is the name for the non living factors like water, soil, rocks. 2.What is the difference between a population and a community. 3.In a food web the direction of the arrow is showing the _____________ flow in the system. 4.What is the difference between a producer, a consumer and a decomposer.

*How do different species of organisms interact with each other? Agenda [ 1.Intro to ecology: notes 2.Food webs 3.Pop quiz

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