Ecology STUDY GUIDE

Ecology The study of relationship between the

environment and the living organisms (Interactions)

Organisms Species pop Community Habitat Eco System biomes biosphere

Individual organisms The smallest unit that an ecologist

will concern

Species A group of the same organisms living

at the same time, same location and capable of breeding and producing fertile young.

Populations Group of species in a specific area They may or may not interact with

each other EX: Grade Level, teachers and student, WCL,

Montvale, Parents, kids, athletes, non-athletes, girls, boys. All of these population makeup up a community

Communities A group of all the population

interacting with each other.

Ecosystems A group of habitats, when put

together you get an ecosystem

Biosphere All places on the earth and

atmosphere, ocean , caves etc. Bio means life Sphere mean earth

Habitat All of the biotic (living things)

interact with the abiotic (non-living things)

Ex: rock, air, soil, water Living and non-living and how they

interact with each other

Abiotic Factors The non-living thing in the

environment Ex: rock, soil, air, water

Carry Capacity The maximum population of a species

Limiting Factors Access to food, water, resources and

shelter

Density Dependent Food, the more people you have, the

less food you have Diseases, parasites all effected by population

Density Independent Everybody is affect regardless of

population. An example is a natural disaster

Competition between and among Species

Over food, water or shelter Between the same species they look

for food, water and shelter or a mate

Producers 1st tropic

Bottom of the pyramid First level Autotrophs Plants, producers Uses sunlight (most energy)

Primary ConsumersSecond Tropic Level The second tropic level Primary consumers Mouse, Herbivores Ex: cows, deer, (mice) 100 calories 90% (Mainly used for plant)

Secondary Consumers

Third Tropic Level Heterotroph (snakes) Carnivore or Omnivore Ex: Humans Eats the primary consumer 10% energy Lose 90% energy

Tertiary ConsumerFourth Tropic Level

The top of the food pyramid 1% energy Consumes primary consumers thing below

them Eat least amount energy Ex: People are on top

Quandary ConsumerFifth Tropic Level

Rarely, do you get a fourth level consumer The reason why is because too little

energy to supply them ONLY .1% energy (Way too little)

Flow of Energy in a Tropic Level (arrows,

Loss of energy) Slowly as you descend, the amount of food

required gets larger and larger Due too little energy Impossible to supply if there are large

quantities at the top pyramid

Pyramid vs Web,Types of Pyramids

A pyramid may talks about different types od animals or plants or one type

A food web talks about many types of organisms

A food chain is only one specific progression to top level

Decomposer An organisms that breaks down dead

animals (recycles them) the material is recycled into environment

Ex; Worms, flies, mushrooms

Autotroph (photosynthesis)

An organism that is able of making its own food

Ex: Plants The formula for photosynthesis Carbon dioxide+ water+ sunlight=

Glucose+ Oxygen

Heterotroph An organisms that can’t make it its own

food It gets its nutrients from other sources Ex: Human, Animals, Mushrooms

Herbivore An Organisms that only consumes plants Ex: Cow, sheep

Carnivore An organisms that consumes meat Ex: Cat, Dog, Tiger

Omnivore An organisms that consumes both plant

and meat Ex: Raccoons, mice, humans

Saprobe Forms of decomposers like bacteria. They help recycle the material back into in

environment Ex: Bacteria

Scavenger They eat dead things (Leftovers) Ex: Vultures, Hyenas, Rats

Symbiosis The way two or more organisms

interact with each other

YUMMY!

Competition Competition between species and among

species

Mutualism An equal relationship Both organisms benefit from it, neither

organisms is harmed EX: Tickbirds and rhinos, the bird sits on

the rhino and eats ticks and early warning system.

Parasitism One animal benefits, but one get harmed (Host) Parasites wants to make you sick but not

die Tick and animal Worms

Predator-Prey EX: Lion and zebra The predator the one who hunts Prey is one that is hunted The predator lag behind the prey in the

number Then the prey population drops followed

by the predator population

Amensalism One organism benefits and completely

destroys and kills the other organisms, all plants around gets killed

Ex: The black walnut This benefits the black walnut tree,

because the walnut is getting more nutrition, and there are no competition for the water or essential nutrients.