ecology the study of interactions of organisms and their environment
TRANSCRIPT
ECOLOGY
The study of
interactions of organisms and their environment
Levels of Organization
• Individual Organisms (Species)
• Populations
• Communities
• Ecosystems
• Biosphere
Organisms/Species
• A human (Homo sapien)
• Deer• Piranaha• Worm• Bigfoot?
Populations
• Same species living in same area
• Species? -can breed and produce offspring that can have babies
Communities
• Coral Reef• Cedar swamp• Vernal pool
Ecosystems
• Tropical rainforest• Desert• Temperate
deciduous forest (ours)
• Ponds• Coral reef
Biosphere
Physical Conditions
ABIOTIC - non-living• Sunlight• Water• Temperature• Soil• Wind• Disturbance
BIOTIC - living things• Bacteria• Protists• Fungus• Plants• Animals
PRODUCER
- an organism that makes its own food (autotroph) - becomes food for other organisms.
CONSUMER
- organism that obtains food by eating others (producers or other consumers)
DECOMPOSER
- organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms
HERBIVORE
- consumer that eats only producers.
OMNIVORE
- consumer that eats both producers and consumers (plants, fungi, and meat)
CARNIVORE
- consumer that eats only other consumers (exclusively meat-eaters)
FOOD CHAIN
- pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another.
FOOD WEB
-pattern of feeding in an ecosystem consisting of interconnected and branching food chains
Energy Pyramid
Primary Succession
• The development of brand new land – (volcano created new land)
Secondary Succession
• A once established forest is destroyed and has to start growth over. For example a forest fire
Mutualism
• Both species benefit
Commensalism
• One species benefits the other gets nothing
Parasitism
• One species harms another • Think parasite
Predation
• Predator Prey – One eats the other