1. Interactions of Life

2. BIOSPHERE
Includes the top portion of Earth’s crust, all the water that covers the Earth’s surface, and the atmosphere.

3. ECOSYSTEM Consists of all the organisms living in an area.
Also consists of the nonliving parts of the environment (rocks, soil, water, etc.)

4. ECOLOGY
The study of interactions that occur among organisms and their environment.

5. POPULATION Consists of ALL of a species living in an ecosystem.
Example: All of the grasshoppers in Central Kentucky.

6. COMMUNITY All of the populations in an Ecosystem.
This is larger than a Population!

7. HABITAT Where the animals live.
A lion’s habitat is the plains of Africa.
What is your habitat?

8. COMPETITION Some things that may affect competition would be:
Size of the habitat
Amount of available food

9. POPULATION SIZE How many of a species are in a given Ecosystem.
The size of a population in a specific area is Population Density

10. CARRYING CAPACITY
The total number of individuals a habitat can support.
There are limiting factors that can make it more difficult for a species to live and grow, or reproduce in its environment

11. Limiting Factors Some examples of limiting factors include:
Temperature
Soil composition
Availability of water or food
Competition w/ other organisms
Predators/Parasites

12. BIOTIC POTENTIAL The potential amount of offspring.
Example: A piece of fruit that has 12 seeds has the POTENTIAL to produce 12 offspring.

13. CHANGES IN POPULATION
Populations can grow or decrease based upon births or deaths
Populations can grow or decreased based upon moving to a new population (example: immigration)

14. EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
The larger a population becomes, the faster the growth.
After the presentation, we will see the “Doubling Penny” Story.

15. PRODUCERS
Organisms that use outside energy sources to make (or produce) energy rich molecules.

16. CONSUMERS
Eat producers and/or other consumers for energy (because they can’t produce their own).
Example: You
Example: Sharks

17. TYPES OF CONSUMERS Herbivores: eat plants Carnivores: eat meat
Omnivores: eat both plants and meat
Decomposers: consume waste and decaying organisms.

18. FOOD CHAIN A simple model of the feeding relationship in an ecosystem.
Lion eats the zebra, zebra eats grass, grass gets its energy from the sun.

20. SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPS
MUTUALISM
COMMENSALISM
PARASITISM

21. MUTUALISM Both organisms benefit from the association.
You and the bacteria in your stomach.
Example—a clown fish and an Anemones.

25. COMMENSALISM One organism benefits but the other is not harmed.
Example—a bird that lives in a tree. The bird gets a place to live and the tree gets nothing in return.

26. PARISITISM One organism benefits while the other is harmed.
Example—a mushroom and a tree

27. Mushroom and Tree How does a tree benefit a mushroom?
A mushroom is a decomposer because it cannot create it’s own energy. It is able to take the energy from the tree (which is why it is aslo a parasite).

29. NICHE
How an organism survives, obtains food and shelter, finds a mate, cares for its young, and avoids danger.

30. NICHE CONT’D
Predator and Prey

31. NICHE CONT’D Cooperation
Example: a deer who detects the presence of a wolf will alert the others.