Aim: What Shapes an Ecosystem? Hw: Answer Regents Questions on Handout

Ecosystems Biotic factors – living things –Animals, plants, fungus, etc. Abiotic factors – non-living things –Temperature, soil, water, sunlight

Identify the biotic and abiotic factors.

Habitat The place where an organism lives Habitat includes biotic and abiotic factors Describe your habitat

Niche An organism’s occupation or role in an ecosystem. –Includes: Place in the food web / chain Type of food it eats Reproductive behavior Where it lives

Competitive Exclusion Principle No two species can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time If they try to then competition will occur.

Community Interactions Symbiosis –Parasitism (+, -) one benefits and the other is harmed –Mutualism (+,+) both species benefit –Commensalism (+, 0) one benefits and the other is unaffected Competition for resources Predation –Predator and prey

Ecological Succession Ecosystems are constantly changing. As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants die out an new organisms move in.