1. Principles of Ecology Heading Vocabulary Important Info
Chapters 2, 3, 4, & 5

2. B. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors
A. What is Ecology?
Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
B. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors
Biosphere – portion of the Earth supporting life
Biotic factors
a. All organisms inhabiting the environment
b. The “living” things in the environment
c. Each organism adapts to its part of the biosphere
Abiotic factors
a. Nonliving parts of the environment
b. Can determine which species will survive
examples: rainfall, temperature, light, soil

3. Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
ECOSYSTEM

4. Abiotic or Biotic? 1 2 3 4 5 6

5. C. Levels of Biological Organization
Organism/Species: group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.
Populations
a. A group of organisms of the same species living together
b. Must compete for resources
Community
a. Several populations that interact
b. Changes in one population will cause changes in the others
Ecosystem
a. Interactions between populations and their surroundings
b. 2 main types:
1. Terrestrial – land
2. Aquatic – fresh or salt water

6. A keystone species is a species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem.

7. Levels of Biological Organization

8. Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect many other factors.
Biodiversity is the assortment, or variety, of living things in an ecosystem.
In general, where do we find more biodiversity?

9. D. Niche vs. Habitat The role an organism plays in the environment
(Its “job” in the community)
Habitat
Place where an organism lives
Three Species of Warblers and their niches
Cape May Warbler
Feeds at the tips of branches
near the top of the tree
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
Spruce tree

10. Earthworm Example Habitat of the earthworm: in the soil.
Niche: To aerate ( add air to or oxygenate) the soil.

11. Formative Assessment Ch. 13 Section 2- p. 380
Select an ecosystem that is familiar to you and describe the biotic and abiotic factors that exist there.
Biotic- living factors
Abiotic- non-living factors

12. 2. How would the removal of a keystone species affect an ecosystem’s biodiversity?
Increase or decrease?
DECREASE!

13. 3. Explain how a change in an abiotic factor such as sunlight would affect biodiversity.
Change in temp
change in numbers and types of species in an ecosystem
 new species may move into area taking the place of those that can’t survive

14. 4. Humans are sometimes described as being a keystone species, does this label fit? Why or why not?
Keystone species help establish and maintain complex web of life
Humans DON’T fit b/c human activities often decrease or harm biodiversity

15. Temp could affect food available creating another selective pressure.
5. What role might an abiotic factor such as temperature play in the evolution of a species?
Long-term temp. change= selective pressure that selects which individuals?
Best adapted to the changed temp will survive.
Temp could affect food available creating another selective pressure.