Chapter 5 Life in Ecosystems

Lesson 1: What Are Habitats and Niches? The natural environment where an organism lives. Niche An organism’s role in the habitat. Niche includes how an organism grows, reproduces, protects itself and behaves.

Adaptations Animals have different adaptations that help them to survive in their habitat Polar Bears have thick fur and heavy padding to stay warm Sea Turtles have flippers and rounded shells Desert Turtles have sharp claws and flat shells to help them survive Some Adaptations can be physical, while others are behavioral

Natural Selection Natural Selection is the process in which surviving individuals pass on the characteristics best suited for the survival in their environment.

Symbiosis Symbiosis is a close, long-lasting relationship between two different organisms There are three kinds of symbiosis: 1. Parasitism 2. Commensalism 3. Mutualism

Parasitism Parasitism- where the parasite benefits and the “host” is harmed Example: A hookworm takes blood and nutrients from its host, and the host is harmed

Commensalism Commensalism- when one organism benefits and the other goes unaffected Example: An elf owl makes its home in a cactus. The owl benefits, the cactus is not affected.

Mutualism Mutualism- when both organisms benefit from the relationship. Example: A cleaner shrimp eats parasites attached to the fish, so both benefit. Shrimp eats, and the fish stays clean. http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/animals-pets-kids/fish-kids/fish-symbiosis-kids/

Lesson 2: What Factors Affect Ecosystems? Changes in Populations and Ecosystems

Main Idea The size of any population can vary over time. It responds to changes in climate and resources.

A Balanced Ecosystem A population is all the organisms of a given species that live together in the same area.

Limits on Populations Predators are animals that hunt/eat other animals Prey are animals that are hunted/eaten. In a healthy ecosystem, populations of predators/preys are balanced.

Changing the Balance Ecosystems may never recover once they are changed Alien Species are not native to an ecosystem Can change an ecosystem significantly Usually enter into the United States unknowingly

Zebra mussels Long Horned Beetle Came over on ships from Russia. dumped into great lakes. clog water pipes, smother native species (ex: clams) http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/biology/a_zm.html Long Horned Beetle Traveled from Asia on wooden ships, Burrow under the bark of trees, slowly killing them

Nonliving Organisms Can also change the ecosystem Including Natural events such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires and droughts.

Adapting to Change Living things respond to change in their environment by adapting, relocating, or perishing (dying). Change can cause extinction: all the members of a species die out. Fossils show different species lived at different times.

Evidence in Rocks Scientists estimate the age of a fossil through radioactive dating. Mass Extinction: believed happened to the dinosaurs, (all species die at once.)

Climate Change Earth’s climate changes over time. During ice ages, North America/Europe covered by glaciers. Woolly Mammoth and Saber-toothed Cat were in N. America. Scientists believe human activity/climate change caused extinction.

Lesson 3: How Can Humans Change Ecosystems? Human Activities Impact the ecosystems in both negative/ positive ways. Rainforests are a valuable resource. They produce oxygen, and are home to many different species. Many plants/animals become extinct when habitats are destroyed, effects many ecosystems.

Effects on different species Habitat destruction: main reason why rates of extinction are rising. Wetlands: help to absorb harmful chemicals from groundwater. A species that is close to becoming extinct is Endangered A species close to becoming endangered is threatened.

Pollution The three types of pollution are : ______, ________, and ________ Examples include, Oil spills, trash and garbage, and burning fossil fuels.

Growth and Human Population Increased human population causes greater demands on limited resources People need shelter, food, clean water, clean air, and resources. Increased amount of humans has destroyed some ecosystems and put a strain on others

Government Involvement The government is creating and enforcing new laws to protect the environment Industry is being given clean- air guidelines to prevent further damage to ecosystems Individuals are also doing what they can to reduce pollution, and restore damaged ecosystems.