What Shapes an Ecosystem? Environmental Interactions

Biotic factors  The biological (living) influences on organisms within an ecosystem.

Abiotic factors  Physical or non living factors that shape ecosystems.

Habitat  That area in which an organism lives.

Niche  The full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which it uses those conditions. –A niche is basically an organisms JOB!!

Predation  When one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

Symbiosis  When two species live closely together. –Example: humans and dogs!!

Types of symbiosis 1111. Mutualism: Both species benefit from the relationship. –E–E–E–Ex: Flowers and bees 2222. Commensalism: One member benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed. –E–E–E–Ex: Barnacles on whales 3333. Parasitism: One organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it. –E–E–E–Ex: Tapeworms in humans intestines

Ecological Succession  Predictable changes that occur in an ecosystem over time. –Example: When human clear a forest and put up a shopping mall.

Types of Succession  1. Primary Succession: Succession that occurs where no soil previously existed. –Example: Volcanic rock changes to a tropical island forest over time.  2. Secondary Succession: When a disturbance of some kind changes an existing community without removing the soil. –Example: When a wild fire burs all the forest but leaves the soil.

Pioneer Species  The first species to populate an area.