Interactions of Living Things Carin Miranda Smyrna Middle School

Biotic and Abiotic Biotic-Living things such as mammals, fish, birds and plants. Abiotic-Nonliving things such as water, temperature, air, sunlight, dirt, rocks

Organization in the Environment Organism, population, community, ecosystem, biosphere Population-members of one species in an area. Community-several different populations living together.

Roles in the Environment Producers-Organisms that can make their own food from sunlight.Example:grass Consumers: Herbivores, carnivores, and scavengers. Decomposers: Nature’s recyclers.

Food Chain Sun  Producers  Herbivores  Carnivores  Scavengers Example: Grass is eaten by a rabbit, rabbit is eaten by a Fox.

Food Web In the picture the arrow points to the animal that is doing the eating. Looks like a web

Energy Pyramid Base of an energy pyramid is represented by producers. Looks like a pyramid.

Limiting Factors and Carrying Capacity Carrying capacity-The largest population an environment can support. After one species in an ecosystem disappears the other species are thrown out of balance. Limiting factors determine an area’s carrying capacity because animals need resources to survive. Resources such as water, food, sunlight, and space are likely to be limiting factors when a population is approaching the carrying capacity. Fighting over food or nesting space is an example of competition.

Predator Prey The predator eats the prey is eaten. Prey adaptations include: camouflage, chemical defenses, warning coloration, and specialized behaviors.

Symbiotic Relationships Mutualism-both benefit Example coral and algae Commensalism- one benefits one unaffected Example Remoras and sharks Parasitism- one benefits one is harmed Example wasps and tomato hornworm