Habitat Notes
Species Interbreed and produce fertile offspring
Hybrid Interbreed but do not produce fertile offspring
Population Group of organism in an area
Biological Community Groups of different interacting organisms (plants and animals) in an area.
Ecosystem Ecologic System A community of organism Energy and nutrient processing system Has inputs and outputs Dynamic
Habitat Where an organism lives
Ecological Niche Your functional role (your job) in the ecosystem How you fit in, what you eat, what eats you, your tolerances Relationships with the environment
Generalist Species eats anything, can live anywhere Rats, Weeds
Specialist Species picky eater, fragile Koala
Competitive Exclusion Principle If two or more species coexist using a limited resources, one will be displaced. Rats & mice Grass & weeds Humans & just about everything else
Biotic Components Living factors surrounding plants and animals decomposers
Abiotic Components Nonliving Factors temp, salinity, sunlight, pH, wind, soil, moisture, gases, time
Biomes Major regional ecological community It is characterized by a distinct climate and therefore a particular set of plants and animals that have adapted to it. Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Deciduous Forest, Grassland and Desert Tropical Rain Forest
Aquatic Life Zones Aquatic equal of biome Marine Coral reefs, estuaries, deep ocean con’t shelf Freshwater Lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes
Biosphere Earth Biome or Earth Biological System or Global Biome Skin of life on the Earth bottom of ocean to top of highest mountains Intersection of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere Closed (materials) System Nutrients, O 2, CO 2,
Tolerances Temperature Sunlight Acidity of soil Air Pressure Pollution
Range of Tolerances Optimum Range Range of conditions that an organism is well adapted Stress Zone Conditions for survival and reproduction are possible but not optional Intolerance Zone Conditions for survival are not possible
Tolerances Different species have widely different ranges of tolerances. Cockroach, rat
Tolerances
Limiting Factors The factor that is in short supply and therefore limits the population size. Sunlight in lake, water in desert, food, Nutrients, Oxygen