1. Ecology Notes

2. What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of interactions that occur among organism and their environment.
An ecologist is one who studies these interactions.

3. Competition
occurs when 2 or more organisms seek the same resource at the same time.
Limits population size
Most intense competition is between the same species
There can be competition between different species.

4. Limiting Factor
anything that restricts the number of species in a population (abiotic or biotic)
can affect more than 1 population in a community
This can be water, food, or shelter.

5. Carrying Capacity
the largest number of individuals of 1 species that an ecosystem can support

6. Biotic and Abiotic Factors
Plants
Atmosphere
Sun
Animals
Water
Soil
Micro-organisms
Climate

7. Biotic Potential
highest rate of reproduction under ideal conditions for an ecosystem

8. Organism
can move from place to place
may establish new communities

9. Producer organism uses an outside energy source such as the sun
most contain chlorophyll (chemical required for photosynthesis) (green plants)
a few organisms use chemicals in a process called chemosynthesis (organisms found near volcano vents on the ocean floor) to make their food.

10. Consumers cannot make their own energy
obtain energy by consuming other organisms
herbivores – eat plants

11. Consumers carnivores – eat meat omnivores – eat both
decomposers – eat waste and dead organisms

12. Food Chain and Web
feeding relationship in an ecosystem

13. Symbiotic Relationships
close relationship between organisms called symbiosis
symbiotic relationship where both species benefit called mutualism

14. Symbiotic Relationships
symbiotic relationship where 1 species benefits and the other is left alone called commensalism

15. Symbiotic Relationships
symbiotic relationship where 1 species benefits but other species (the host) are harmed called parasitism

16. Niche
how an organism survives, obtains food, and shelter, finds a mate, cares for young and avoids danger.
Special adaptation improve survival
Presence of predators usually increases the number of different species – also limits size of prey population.