Ecology - The study of the relationships of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.

_____ _____are resources that limit the size of populations of organisms in an ecosystem. - Limiting Factors -examples: -climate -water -habitat -predation -pollution

Carrying Capacity the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain.

Biotic or Abiotic? Plants growing in a field. -Biotic Climate of an ecosystem. -Abiotic Decomposing plant matter. -Biotic Rocks in the soil. -Abiotic

Biotic Factors Definition noun, plural: biotic factors A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism, for example a predator consuming its prey.factorenvironmentorganism predatorprey Supplement Biotic factors are factors resulting from the activities of a living thing or any living component in an environment, such as the actions of an organism affecting the life of anothers organism.living thingenvironmentorganism For instance, in a quail’s environment, the biotic factors are the living elements of the environment such as the quail’s prey like insects, seeds, etc. and the quail’s predators like coyotesenvironmentpreyinsectsseedspredators

Niche Occupation (What they do) Ex. Bird -Build nests, gather food for chicks, protect eggs, etc.

Habitat Residence (Where they live) Ex. Bird -Nest in tree

Population A group of organisms of the same species

Biotic Only Biotic only? Or Both Biotic and Abiotic Populations A group of organisms of the same species

Community Populations living together in same area

Biotic Only Biotic only? Or Both Biotic and Abiotic Communities Populations living together in same area

Ecosystem Communities, plus the abiotic factors, living together in same area

Biotic and Abiotic! Biotic only? Or Both Biotic and Abiotic Ecosystem Communities, plus the abiotic factors, living together in same area

Biosphere All of the ecosystems on the planet combined

Symbiosis “Living Together” A close relationship between 2 or more species

Mutualism The cleaner fish eats parasites out of the inside of this moray eel. It gets a meal and is protected from predators by the fierce eel. The Moray eel gets clean of parasites.

Commensalism A Ramora fish follows a shark feeding off of the shark’s scraps and getting protection from the “big bad fish”. The Ramora fish does not bother the shark.

Parasitism A Mistletoe has no roots of its own and lives off the tree that it attaches itself to. It slowly chokes out the life of the host tree.

Energy Pyramid copyright cmassengale19 If the producer in this pyramid yeilds 2100 kcals of energy, then the 2 nd level consumer will get about…… 21 kcals!

Competition Occurs when 2 organisms try to use the same resource at the same place at the same time. Ex. cheetahs and lions, since both species feed on the same prey

Which organism is the squirrel in competition with? The Bird

Carrying Capacity the maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain.

Biological Magnification Toxins (increase/decrease) as they move through trophic levels. Increase!

Succession Natural, gradual changes in the types of species that live in an area

Pioneer Plants -Lichens -Mosses

Secondary Succession Pioneer plants Climax community

Primary Succession Pioneer Plants Climax Community