Ecology

Ecology = study of the interactions between Ecology = study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. Environment = living and non-living things which organisms interact.

Parts of the environment Biotic = living factors in the environment (plants, animals, bacteria, etc) Abiotic = non-living factors in the environment that have an impact on the organisms in that environment (rocks, water, air temp, precipitation, etc.)  

Abiotic factors Sunlight-source of almost all energy on Earth. Provides warmth and light. (plants/animals use) Climate-describes the average weather conditions in an area over time. Temperature-Hot or cold depending on where you live…(ex: polar bears in rainforest?)

Abiotic Factors Water-all life on Earth requires water! Most organisms on earth are made mostly of water! Important for life processes such as growing and reproducing Atmosphere-Made of gases in which you breathe. Soil-Bits of rocks, water, minerals and remains of once living things.

Factors Depend on each other Biotic factors and abiotic factors depend on one another. If just one factor-either biotic or abiotic- is disturbed, other parts of the ecosystem are affected. Ex: severe droughts…fish and other animals died. Water=abiotic Animals-biotic

Organization in the environment Organism = an individual of a species Population = a group of same species in a given area Community = all the populations in a given area Ecosystem = community and its abiotic environment Biosphere = part of earth where life exists

Organisms are producers, consumers, or decomposers Producers = organisms that make their own food from energy from the sun (plants, algae, protists)   Consumers = organisms that eat producers or other organisms for energy (animals) Herbivores = plant eaters Carnivores = eats animals Omnivores = eats both plants and animals Scavengers = animals that feed on bodies of dead animals

Organisms are producers, consumers, or decomposers Decomposers = organisms that get energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms (bacteria, fungi)

Unicellular – single celled organisms (bacteria, protists, some fungi) Multicellular – many celled organisms (plants, animals, some fungi)

Autotroph- “self-feeders” They make their own food Ex: plants, algae Producers Heterotroph- “different-feeders” Eat food for nutrients Ex: Animals consumers