Chapter 2 – Principles of Ecology

2.1 Organisms and Their Relationships

Vocabulary List ecology biosphere biotic factor abiotic factor population biological community ecosystem biome habitat niche predation symbiosis mutualism commensalism parasitism

Organisms depend on each other in all types of environments — deserts, tropical rain forests, and grassy meadows. Ecology

The study of the interactions between organisms and their environments Ecology

What is Biosphere?

The thin layer of air, land, and water on or near Earth’s surface in which all living things on Earth exist.

What is Biosphere? The biosphere supports a wide variety of organisms in a wide range of environments.

What is Biosphere? Every environment, such as a rainforest, contains living and non-living factors (components)

LIVING factors = BIOTIC factors NON - LIVING factors = ABIOTIC factors Plants Animals Fungi Bacteria Sunlight Soil Moisture Temperature

Levels of Organization The biosphere is too large to study all the relationships at one time. We use smaller pieces, or levels of organization, for their studies. 1. organism 2. population 3. biological community 4. ecosystem 5. biome 6. biosphere

Organisms, Populations, and Biological Communities Organisms An individual living thing, such as one striped fish

Organisms, Populations, and Biological Communities Population A group of organ isms of the same species that interbreed and live in the same place at the same time, such as the school of striped fish,is a population.

Organisms, Populations, and Biological Communities Community All of the populations of species (fishes, coral, and marine plants) that live in the same place at the same time

Ecosystems, biomes, and the biosphere Ecosystems A biological community, such as the coral reef, and all of the abiotic factors, such as the sea water, that affect it.

Ecosystems, biomes, and the biosphere Biome A biome is formed by a group of ecosystems (the coral reefs off the coast of the Florida Keys) that share the same climate and have similar types of communities.

Ecosystems, biomes, and the biosphere Biosphere The highest level of organization is the biosphere composed of many biomes

Ecosystem Interactions increase their chances of survival  Organisms increase their chances of survival by using available resources in different ways.  Birds might use a tree for shelter, while insects use the tree’s leaves for food.

Ecosystem Interactions - Habitat  A habitat is an area where an organism lives  An insect might spend its entire life on one tree. Its habitat is that tree.  A bird flies from tree to tree. Its habitat is the grove of trees.

 Organisms also have a niche.  A niche is the role an organism has in its environment  It is how the species meets its specific needs for food and shelter.  It is how and where the species survives and reproduces. Ecosystem Interactions - Niche

Community Interactions  Organisms living in biological communities interact constantly.  Each organism depends on other organisms and competes with other organisms. CompetitionPredation Symbiosis

 Competition occurs when organisms need to use the same resource at the same time.  It is for food, water, space, and/or light.  When strong organisms compete with weak organisms, the strong organisms usually survive.

 It is the act of one organism consuming another organism for food  Most organisms obtain their food by eating other organisms.  The organism that pursues is the predator.  The organism that is pursued is the prey.

 Some species survive because of relationships with other species  A relationship in which two organisms live together in close association is called symbiosis MutualismCommensalismParasitism A relationship between two species that live together and benefit t from each other One organism is helped and the other organism is not harmed or helped One organism benefits and another organism is harmed

CLASSWORK/HOMEWORK 2.1 Reading Notes (Tuesday, April 22) 2.1 Study Guide (Tuesday, April 22) How Does Your Biome Grow LAB 2.1 QUIZ, Wednesday, April 23

1)How does wavelength impact a biome 2)How does a type of soil impact a biome 3)How does wind impact a biome 4)How does CO 2 level affect impact a biome Possible Biomes and Abiotic Factors