Ecology: an introduction

The study of the interactions that take place among organisms and their environment

Biosphere The part of Earth that supports life Top portion of Earth's crust (lithosphere) All the waters that cover Earth's surface (hydrosphere) Atmosphere that surrounds Earth

Ecosystem All the organisms living in an area and the nonliving features of their environment Biotic – living Abiotic – nonliving

Biotic Biotic – living Plants Animals Single celled organisms Fungi

Abiotic Abiotic – nonliving Water Air Soil Temperature Sunlight

Parts of an Ecosystem

Population All the organisms in an ecosystem that belong to the same species (biotic)

Populations All of the same species in an ecosystem www.intrasystems.gr www.nkf-mt.org.uk

Community All the populations in an ecosystem (biotic)

http://www2. tpwd. state. tx http://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/black_tailed_prairie_dog/images/lg_black_tailed_prairie_dogs.jpg

The place in which an organism lives Habitat The place in which an organism lives provides the kinds of food and shelter, the temperature, and the amount of moisture the organism needs to survive

Niche The specific role (job) that an organism plays in its ecosystem

http://www.thinksimian.com/images/birds_2/nest.JPG

Limiting Factors Anything that restricts or controls the number of individuals in a population www.bahamascommerce.com

Limiting Factor Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population. Includes living / biotic and nonliving / abiotic features of the ecosystem

Competition All living things compete for Food Space Competition limits population growth www.opim.wharton.upenn.edu

Competition Food Space

Competition Competition caused by population growth affects many organisms, including humans Limits population size

Carrying Capacity The largest number of individuals of one species an ecosystem can support www.wwt.org.uk

Carrying Capacity The maximum number of individuals of any species that can be supported by a particular ecosystem on a long-term basis

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002558F/carrying_capacity.JPG

Energy Transfer Food Chains Food Webs Energy Pyramids

http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/images/food_chain.jpg

Relationships in Ecosystems

Symbiosis Any close relationship between species en.wikipedia.org

Mutualism A relationship in which both species benefit Pollination www.biology.clc.uc.edu Cleaner fish Lichens: algae + fungus www.orn.mpg.de www4.tpgi.com.au

Commensalism A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed Shark & remora Barnacles on whale www.community.webshots.com www.cbu.edu

Parasitism A relationship in which one organisms benefits and the other is harmed Mistletoe Tick www.wcosf.org www.oznet.ksu.edu

Predator - Prey Predators are consumers that capture and eat other consumers, called prey http://www.uga.edu

Cooperation Organisms working together toward a common end or purpose http://special.newsroom.msu.edu http://forger.ca/