ECOLOGY The study of interactions of organisms and their environment

Levels of Organization Individual Organisms (Species) Populations Communities Ecosystems Biosphere

Organisms/Species A human (Homo sapien) Deer Piranaha Worm Bigfoot?

Populations Same species living in same area Species? -can breed and produce offspring that can have babies

Communities Coral Reef Cedar swamp Vernal pool

Ecosystems Tropical rainforest Desert Temperate deciduous forest (ours) Ponds Coral reef

Biosphere

Physical Conditions ABIOTIC - non-living Sunlight Water Temperature Soil Wind Disturbance BIOTIC - living things Bacteria Protists Fungus Plants Animals

PRODUCER - an organism that makes its own food (autotroph) - becomes food for other organisms.

CONSUMER - organism that obtains food by eating others (producers or other consumers)

DECOMPOSER - organism that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

HERBIVORE - consumer that eats only producers.

OMNIVORE - consumer that eats both producers and consumers (plants, fungi, and meat)

CARNIVORE - consumer that eats only other consumers (exclusively meat-eaters)

FOOD CHAIN - pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another.

FOOD WEB -pattern of feeding in an ecosystem consisting of interconnected and branching food chains

Energy Pyramid

Primary Succession The development of brand new land – (volcano created new land)

Secondary Succession A once established forest is destroyed and has to start growth over. For example a forest fire

Mutualism Both species benefit

Commensalism One species benefits the other gets nothing 

Parasitism One species harms another  Think parasite

Predation Predator Prey – One eats the other