Ecology Relationships in the environment

Vocabulary of Ecology Ecology- The study of the interaction between organisms and between organisms and their environment. Sometimes the interactions are positive, sometimes negative

Species Two organisms are in the same species if they can reproduce in their environment and produce fertile offspring

Population Population-all of the organisms of one species living in a given area

Community – A community is a group of interacting populations

Ecosystem  An ecosystem consists of the living and the non- living things in an area.

Biome  Biomes are large geographic areas with the same type of communities.  Examples would be freshwater, marine, estuarine, tundra, taiga, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, grassland, and desert biomes

Tundra and Taiga

Grasslands and Deserts

Temperate Forest and Rain Forest

What are some other biomes?

 The biosphere is that portion of the earth that supports life.  Where is it?  It includes the surface of the crust, as well as the crust to a depth of many meters, and the atmosphere

How do living things affect each other and their environment?  The role of an organism in its environment is called the organism’s niche.  One way to understand the term niche is to ask yourself, “How would things change if that organism were no longer here?

Consider the niche of this guy How would life be different for other organisms if all beavers disappeared?

Don’t confuse “niche” and “habitat”  Niche is the role played by the organism in the community  Habitat is a place. It is the place where an organism lives out its life.

Question: True or False? Two organisms which occupy the same habitat must also occupy the same niche?  Answer: FALSE. Consider the two organisms pictured. They occupy the same habitat, but is their role in the community the same?

What factors affect the size of a population of organisms? FFFFirst, it’s important to understand biotic potential. Biotic potential is the highest rate of reproduction of a population under ideal conditions. QQQQ: How often in nature are conditions ideal? AAAA: Never. Something (food, weather, predation etc.) is always less than ideal

Limiting Factors  Factors which prevent a population from reaching its biotic potential are called limiting factors.  Limiting factors may be either biotic or abiotic.  Biotic limiting factors are those which are living things.  Abiotic limiting factors are non-living influences from the environment

Q: What kinds of things in the environment represent limiting factors?  Space  Predation  Food supply  Parasites  Diseases  Temperature  Oxygen  Water  Soil type... And others  Abiotic  Biotic  Abiotic  Abiotic…..

Symbiotic Relationships  Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship in which both organisms involved benefit.  Example: Sharks and pilot fish. and pilot fish.

This Just In (Oct. 2014)More Mutualism in the Ocean More Mutualism in the OceanMore Mutualism in the Ocean

Commensalism  Commensalism is another symbiotic relationship.  In a commensal relationship, one organism benefits, the other is neither harmed nor benefited.  Example: Spanish Moss

Parasitism PPPParasitism is also a form of symbiosis IIIIf a symbiotic relationship is parasitic, the parasite benefits, while the other organism, called the host is harmed.

Close-up of a Deer Tick

Other relationships in the environment Decomposers live on dead and decaying matter. They break down dead organisms and waste and RECYCLE the nutrients back into the ecosystem Scavengers eat, and then recycle nutrients from dead organisms

 Now let’s look at the how we describe healthy ecosystems…… get ready to draw!