1. What Shapes an Ecosystem?

2. Biotic and Abiotic Factors Biotic factors - all of the living organisms that inhabit an environment

3. Biotic and Abiotic Factors Abiotic factors – all nonliving parts an ecosystem Abiotic factors – all nonliving parts an ecosystem  Temperature Temperature  Wind Wind  Water Water  Dirt Dirt  Rocks Rocks

4. Habit vs. Niche habitat - is the place where an organism lives out its life niche - the role and position a species plays in its environment ANALOGY- If an organisms habitat is its address, its niche is its occupation

5. More about Niches Only one species can occupy each niche in an ecosystem It is advantageous for a species to occupy a niche different than those of other species If two organisms live in the same niche, one will not survive The species with the best adaptations for that particular niche will survive

6. Competition Competition occurs when organisms attempt to use the same resource at the same time Resource- anything necessary for life

7. Competition There is a winner and a loser. The loser does not survive Competitive exclusion principle- no two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time

8. Predation predation- one organism captures and feeds on another organism Predator – does the killing and eating Prey – the one that is killed and dies

9. Who's who?

10. Symbiosis Symbiosis – any two organisms living closely together 3 types:  Mutualism  Commensalism  Parasitism

11. Mutualism Mutualism – both species benefit Example – Flowers depend on insects to pollinate them. Flowers give the insects food and the insects help the flowers reproduce

12. Commensalism Commensalism – one member benefits, the other is neither helped nor harmed Example – barnacles on the skin of whales

13. Parasitism Parasitism – one organism benefits, and the other organism is harmed The parasite (eater) gets its nutritional needs met by the host ( eaten on).

14. Ecological Succession Ecosystems are constantly changing As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants die out and new organisms move in the community...this is ecological succession

15. Primary Succession Primary succession – occurs on surfaces where no soil exist Pioneer species – the first species to populate an area

16. Secondary Succession Secondary succession – restores an ecosystem to its original condition after a major disturbance (fire, avalanche, logging)