EcologyEcology

the the studystudy of the interactions among of the interactions among organismsorganisms and their relationships with the and their relationships with the physical environmentphysical environment

• no organism exists in no organism exists in isolationisolation

PopulationPopulation

is ALL the members of a is ALL the members of a speciesspecies inhabiting a given locationinhabiting a given location

CommunityCommunityis all the interacting is all the interacting populationspopulations in an areain an area

EcosystemEcosystem thethe livingliving community and the physical community and the physical

environment functioning together as a environment functioning together as a stable systemstable system

abiotic + biotic = ecosystemabiotic + biotic = ecosystem

the portion of the Earth in whichthe portion of the Earth in which lifelife exists exists• composed of many ecosystemscomposed of many ecosystems

simple complexsimple complex1. 1. populationpopulation 2. 2. communitycommunity 3. 3. ecosystemecosystem 4. 4. biospherebiosphere

Biosphere Biosphere

B. EcosystemsB. Ecosystems

Self-sustaining ifSelf-sustaining if

1. There is a constant source of energy such as sunlight and organisms who can use that energy to make food (photosynthesis)

2. There is a recycling of materials between organisms and their environment. This is primarily accomplished by the action of decomposers such as bacteria and fungi. Without decomposers, materials in dead bodies would not be available to other organisms.

Chunk!Chunk!

Define ecology.Define ecology. Define Define populationpopulation, and give an example., and give an example. Define Define communitycommunity, and give and example., and give and example. Define Define ecosystemecosystem, and give an example., and give an example. What is the What is the biospherebiosphere?? Arrange the red terms above in order from smallest to Arrange the red terms above in order from smallest to

largest.largest. What is the memory visual for a “self-sustaining What is the memory visual for a “self-sustaining

ecosystem”?ecosystem”? Explain the 3 requirements for a self-sustaining Explain the 3 requirements for a self-sustaining

ecosystem.ecosystem.

2 Components of an Ecosystem:2 Components of an Ecosystem:Abiotic & Biotic FactorsAbiotic & Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors areare non-livingnon-living like like chemicals and physical factorschemicals and physical factors

Examples include

• intensity of intensity of sunlightsunlight

• temperaturetemperature rangerange

• type of soiltype of soil

• availability of availability of spacespace

• pH (acidic/basic/neutral)pH (acidic/basic/neutral)

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors Abiotic factors can act as Abiotic factors can act as limitinglimiting factors which factors which

means they determine which types of organisms means they determine which types of organisms can live in an environmentcan live in an environment

• if temperatures are if temperatures are lowlow, only certain species of plants and animals , only certain species of plants and animals can survive (no flamingos and palms)can survive (no flamingos and palms)

• bodies of water must have a high amount of bodies of water must have a high amount of oxygenoxygen for some for some species of fish (such as trout) to survivespecies of fish (such as trout) to survive

• salt limits the types of organisms that exist in oceans and coastal salt limits the types of organisms that exist in oceans and coastal areas (freshwater vs saltwater fish)areas (freshwater vs saltwater fish)

Biotic FactorsBiotic FactorsBiotic factors are Biotic factors are livingliving things and their interactions things and their interactions

Chunk!Chunk! Define abiotic, and give 4 examples of abiotic factors.Define abiotic, and give 4 examples of abiotic factors. Define limiting factors, and give 3 examples.Define limiting factors, and give 3 examples. Define biotic factors, and give 4 examples.Define biotic factors, and give 4 examples. Describe 3 interactions in the ecosystem below.Describe 3 interactions in the ecosystem below.

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