1. 18.1 – Species, Communities and ecosystems

2. I. Vocab / levels of organization
Habitat - the environment in which a species normally lives or the location of a living organism.
Abiotic factors – NON-living components
Biotic “ LIVING components

3. B) Species
A Group of organisms which could potentially interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

4. Definition of ‘species’ is ambiguous and problematic: Ex: The wolf (Canis lupus) & coyote (Canis latrans) are different species but can interbreed to produce fertile offspring…how does this fit with the definition???
Canis latrans
Canis lupus
Canis lupus x latrans

5. C) Population
A group of organisms of the same species who live in the same area at the same time.

6. D) Community
A group of populations living and interacting with each other in an area.

7. E) Ecosystem A community and its abiotic environment.

8. F) Biosphere
All abiotic and biotic components of the earth. (Includes its atmosphere, Ecosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere )

9. G) Ecology
The study of relationships between living organisms and between organisms and their environment.

10. II. Obtaining Nutrition
Autotroph - Organism that synthesizes its organic molecules (“food”) from simple inorganic substances. (May also be referred to as ‘Producers’ or ‘Primary producers’)
1. Photoautotroph – Uses sun/light energy to synthesis Carbon compounds (Plants & Photosynthetic algae, phytoplankton)

11. PHOTOAUTOTROPHS Phytoplankton (“Diatoms”) Photosynthetic Algae Plants
Plants
Photosynthetic Bacteria

12. 2. Chemoautotroph – Uses thermal or chemical energy to synthesize Carbon compounds

13. CHEMOAUTOTROPHS

14. B) Heterotroph
organism that obtains organic molecules from other organisms. (‘Consumers’)

16. C) Saprotroph
An organism that lives on or in non-living organic matter, secreting digestive enzymes into it and absorbing the products of digestion (external digestion).

17. D) Detritivores – ingest dead organic. matter (internal digestion)
D) Detritivores – ingest dead organic matter (internal digestion) (“Decomposers)
Dung beetle
“Rolypoly, Woodlice, Sowbug”
Earthworm
Bacteria

18. III. Nutrients
Inorganic nutrients originate from abiotic environment (CO2, N2, P, O2, Ca, S, etc)
Some converted to organic compounds
(Ex: CO2 + H2O → C6H12O6 + O2
INORGANIC
ORGANIC

19. C) Nutrients recycled D) Allows for ecosystem sustainability if 1
C) Nutrients recycled D) Allows for ecosystem sustainability if 1. Balanced. Depends on: 2. Availability of nutrients, light 3. Wastes broken down

20. Nutrients vs. Energy

21. Primary Succession 1. NO SOIL
PIONEER SPECIES turn rock to soil over time. (Lichens first then mosses)
Ex. Volcanic eruption, glaciers melting, new islands and rock shore

22. Secondary Succession 1. SOIL Present
2. Happens after disturbance (Faster than Primary)
Ex. Forest Fire, abandoned farm field, Tornado, and hurricane