1. The interaction of organisms with the environment.
Ecology:
The interaction of organisms with the environment.

2. Background Vocabulary
Population:
- all members of a single species in a given location

3. Community:
-only living organisms – all populations together
- all living things
Ecosystem:
- living (organisms) with the non-living (water, soil oxygen, carbon dioxide, sunlight)
Abiotic Factor – Not living
Biotic Factor - Living

4. Biosphere:
- portion of earth where life exists
- composed of numerous ecosystems (earth)

5. Competition:
- two different organisms living in the same environment utilizing the same limited resources will compete (fight)
Habitat:
- organisms home – where an organism lives
Niche:
- an organisms role in the environment
****organisms can occupy the same habitat , but not the same niche

6. These birds are occupying the same habitat but not the same niche

7. An ecosystem is made up of abiotic and biotic factors.
An ecosystem is self-sustaining if:
- constant source of energy
- cycling of materials

8. Abiotic Factors (NON_LIVING):
- physical and chemical factors which affect an organisms ability to survive
- the non-living factors
- ex. Intensity of light pH levels
- range of temperatures - supply of gases
- amount of moisture

9. drought heavy snow extreme cold Limiting Factors (Abiotic or Biotic):
- determine the types of organisms which may exist in an environment
- ex: abiotic factors are limiting factors
ex. If a body of water’s dissolved oxygen level is low, fish that need higher oxygen levels could suffocate and die.
drought
heavy snow
extreme cold

10. Carrying Capacity:
- maximum size of a population that can be sustained in a given area.
- limited resources affect populations: food, water, shelter, etc.
- members of a species compete for these things.

11. Biotic Factors:
- all living things that affect the environment

12. Autotrophs or Producers:
- synthesize their own food (inorganic to organic)
- ex. Photosynthesis and chemosynthesis

13. Heterotrophs or Consumers:
- cannot synthesize their own food.

14. Decomposers:
-break down organic wastes and dead organisms to simpler ones. (Recycle nutrients in an ecosystem)

15. Types of Heterotrophs:
1- Saprophytes: heterotrophic plants, fungi and bacteria which live on dead matter.(Decomposers)

16. 2. Herbivores: Plant eating animals

17. 3. Carnivores: Meat eating animals

18. 4. Omnivores: eat both plant and animals

19. Types of Carnivores:
1. Predators: animals which kill and consume their prey

20. 2. Scavengers: animals that feed on dead prey

21. Food Chains and Food Webs
Show the pathway of energy through living components
Food Chain:
- Transfer of energy from green plants through a series of organisms. Shows predator – prey relationships

22. Food Web: Interacting food chains

24. Food (Energy) Pyramid:
Producers: (plants) autotrophs – photosynthesis
Primary consumers: herbivores
Secondary consumers: carnivores
**omnivores can be primary or secondary
Decomposers: Recycle nutrients in ecosystem (Bacteria & Fungi)
**There is a decrease in the overall energy in each level as you move up the food chain, web or pyramid.
**There is more energy in the producer level than at the consumer level

25. least energy most energy producers primary consumers tertiary
secondary
consumers
primary consumers
most energy
producers

26. Food Web/Food Pyramid

28. Biomass:
- amount of organic matter
**Total mass of carnivores in a particular ecosystem is less than the total mass of the producers**

29. Symbiotic Relationships:
Symbiosis: Living together
1. Commensalism: (+,0) one organism is benefited and the other is unaffected Ex. Barnacles on a whale

30. 2. Mutualism: (+,+) both organisms benefit

31. 3. Parasitism: (+, -) parasite benefits at expense of host
ex. Tapeworm, athletes foot

32. Succession:
- Replacement of populations/communities until a stable community is reached – takes a very long time
Pioneer Organisms:
- First organisms to inhabit a location (lichens & mosses)
Climax Community:
- Community in which populations remain stable
Biodiversity-
- wide variety of species
- a climax community contains a great deal of biodiversity

34. Pioneer Organism:
- first organisms to inhabit a given location
- ex. Lichens & Mosses

35. Succession of a climax forest
Living things modify the environment  one community makes it more suitable for the next
Pioneer organisms  Climax Forest
Climate changes, natural disasters, and human activity can alter this process, but succession will continue and restore the climax community

36. **Materials are reused**
In a self-sustaining ecosystem, materials must be cycled among the organisms and the abiotic environment
**Materials are reused**
Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen Cycle:
- Involves the process of respiration and photosynthesis

37. 2. Water Cycle:
- involves photosynthesis, transpiration, evaporation, condensation, precipitation, respiration, and excretion