1. How do organisms interact with each other and their environment?
Intro to Ecology
How do organisms interact with each other and their environment?

2. Ecology
The study of the interactions of organisms and their environment

3. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors
Bio = life
tic = pertaining to.
A = not/without, bio = life

4. Levels of Biological Organization

5. Organism a single individual of one particular species

6. Population
A group of organisms of one species that interbreed and live in the same area.

7. Community
A collection of populations of different species that interact with one another.

8. Ecosystem
Interactions of a community and its abiotic factors

9. Biome  large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region. 

10. Biosphere
The portion of the Earth that supports life.

11. Niche vs. Habitat Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of branches
Bay-Breasted Warbler
Feeds in the middle
part of the tree
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Feeds in the lower part of the tree and
at the bases of the middle branches
Cape May Warbler
Feeds at the tips of branches
near the top of the tree
Spruce tree

12. Habitat
The place where the organism lives.

13. Niche
The role a species plays in a community.
Includes -

14. NOTE:
Several species may share a habitat, but the food, shelter, and resources of that habitat are divided into separate niches.

15. Interactions between Organisms
Aka relationships

16. Autotroph vs Heterotroph
Auto = self
Also called Producers
Hetero = other
Also called consumers

17. 5 Types of Heterotrophs

18. Herbivores
Plant-eaters

19. Carnivores
Eat heterotrophs

20. Scavengers
Eat dead organisms

21. Omnivores
omni = all

22. Decomposers Detritivore
Decomposer:Fungi, Bacteria
Detritivore: worms, maggots

23. Competition
Organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an abiotic or biotic resource in the same ecosystem.

24. Predation
An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism.

26. Symbiosis A relationship where two species live closely together
3 types

27. 1) Mutualism
Both species benefit
+/+

29. 2) Commensalism
One species benefits and the other is not harmed or benefited.
+/0

31. 3) Parasitism
One species benefits and the other is harmed.
+/-

32. Symbiosis: Parasitism

33. Energy in Ecosystems

34. Energy Flow Energy flows thru an ecosystem in one direction:
sun autotroph heterotroph

35. Food Chain
Shows one way flow of energy

36. Trophic Level
A feeding step in a food chain that represents each organism.

37. 4 3 2 1

39. Ecological pyramids
Diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter contained within each trophic level in a food chain or food web.
3 types

40. Energy Pyramid
Pyramid of Energy
Heat
0.1% Consumers
1% Consumers
10% Consumers
100% Producers
Parasites, scavengers, and decomposers feed at each level.
10% Rule - Only about 10% of energy available within one trophic level is transferred to organisms at the next trophic level
The rest is lost as heat

42. Pyramid of numbers
Based on the number of individual organisms at each trophic level
Pyramid of Numbers
Fox (1)
Birds (25)
Grasshoppers (250)
Grasses (3000)

43. Biomass Pyramid
The total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level is called biomass.
A pyramid of biomass represents the amount of potential food available for each trophic level in an ecosystem.

44. Biomass Pyramid

45. NOTE:
Matter is constantly being recycled. Energy is constantly being transformed and replenished. A balance of everything going on in an ecosystem is called HOMEOSTASIS.