Topic: Ecology MI: Organization in the Biosphere

Ecology? Branch of biology that deals with the interactions among organisms and their environment

Biotic Factors All LIVING organisms in the environment

Abiotic Factors NONLIVING factors in the environment Water, oxygen, light, temperature, soil, inorganic and organic nutrients Physical_and_Abiotic_Factors_Impact_Living_Systems.asf

Population All individuals of a particular species within a certain area Example: –All black oak trees in a forest Populations.asf

Community ALL THE POPULATIONS of different organisms within a given area Example: all the frogs, fish, algae, and plants in and around a pond

Ecosystem A community and its physical environment Includes BIOTIC and ABIOTIC factors Ecosystems__Abiotic_and_Biotic_Factors.asf

Biosphere Portion of earth in which living things exist

Producers Produce organic compounds from inorganic compounds Autotrophs Ex: plants and algae

Consumers Heterotrophs Herbivores: feed only on plants Carnivores: feed on other animals - Predators  kill prey and feed on them - Scavengers  feed on dead animals they find Omnivores: feed on plants and animals Decomposers / Saprophytes: break down remains of dead organisms (bacteria and fungi) –Return nutrients back to soil to be used again (recycled)

Biodiversity Differences (variations) among living things in an ecosystem Leads to STABILITY Great value to humans –foods –medicines –energy –increased crop production Why_More_is_Better.asf

What is needed to keep an ecosystem stable? Constant source of energy (SUNLIGHT) Material cycles Producers

1.List some of the biotic factors in the diagram above. 2.List some of the abiotic factors seen in the diagram above? 3.What does this diagram represent? How can you tell?

In order to be self-sustaining, an ecosystem must contain (1.) large numbers of organisms (2.) a warm, moist environment (3.) a constant source of energy (4.) organisms which occupy the same niche

In a natural community, all the living things that directly or indirectly affect the environment are known as (1.) pioneer organisms (2.) secondary consumers (3.) climatic limitations (4.) biotic factors

Which organisms would most likely have a predator-prey relationship? (1.) tapeworm and dog (2.) barnacle and whale (3.) hawk and mouse (4.) rabbit and grass

Which group can best be described as a population? (1.) all the honeybees in an orchard (2.) all the plants and animals in a forest (3.) the life in Earth's atmosphere (4.) the living and nonliving factors in a meadow

A certain plant requires moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, light, and minerals in order to survive. This statement shows that a living organism depends on (1.) abiotic factors (2.) biotic factors (3.) carnivore-herbivore relationships (4.) symbiotic relationships