Ecology – Key concepts

Ecology Ecology is the field of science that studies the relationship between organisms and the environment. Organism refers to any living thing. Environment refers to the surroundings of the organism, including all the abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors that influence the organism.

Abiotic factors These are the physical characteristics of the environment. Abiotic factors Pressure – oxygen levels, altitude, depth Soil type – pH, nutrients Wind – speed, direction, exposure Water – salinity, humidity, pH, oxygen content Light – intensity, direction, day length Temperature

Biotic factors All the other organisms (predators, prey parasites, competitors) e.g. for a honey bee the biotic factors would be flowering plants (food), butterflies (competitors), birds (predators), Varroa mite (parasite)

Habitat Place/environment an organism lives in (its address). Habitat is usually defined in terms of physical characteristics or abiotic factors. e.g. the habitat of a mangrove plant is the muddy inter-tidal zone, the habitat of a tadpole is freshwater ponds, lakes and streams.

Ecological Niche Ecological niche refers to the role or way of life of an organism. It is a combination of where the organism lives (its habitat) and how it lives there (its adaptations). –(it’s profession).

Population A group of organisms of the same species in an area.

Community All the organisms that live within a defined area (e.g. lake, forest, mountain, etc) and their interrelationships.

Ecosystem An ecosystem consists of a biological community together with its physical environment.