Ecology

• What is ecology the study of?

  Interaction of living things with their environment
• What are the levels of ecological organization?

  • Individual: Single plant/animal of a species
  • Population: Group of individuals of a species
  • Community: Different species interacting in an area
  • Ecosystem: Living things and their physical environment
  • Biome: Group of ecosystems with similar climate
  • Biosphere: All biomes and ecosystems
• What is an example of a population?

  Herd of zebras
• What is an example of a community?

  Zebras, giraffes, grasses, trees
• What is an example of an ecosystem?

  Zebras, grass, water, soil, air
• What is a biome?

  Large area with similar climate and organisms
• What is the biosphere?

  All biomes and ecosystems on Earth
• What does abiotic refer to?

  Nonliving components of an ecosystem
• What are examples of abiotic factors?

  Soil, sunlight, temperature, pH
• What does biotic refer to?

  Living components of an ecosystem
• What are examples of biotic factors?

  Trees, animals, fungi, bacteria
• What is symbiosis?

  Close, long-term interaction between two species
• What are the three types of symbiosis?

  • Mutualism: Both benefit (e.g., bees and flowers)
  • Commensalism: One benefits, other unaffected (e.g., orchids on branches)
  • Parasitism: One benefits at the other's expense (e.g., lice on mammals)
• What is mutualism?

  Both species benefit from the interaction
• What is commensalism?

  One species benefits, other is unaffected
• What is parasitism?

  One organism benefits at the other's expense
• What are the types of competition in ecosystems?

  • Intraspecific competition: Between individuals of the same species
  • Interspecific competition: Between individuals of different species
• What is predation?

  One species hunts and eats another species
• What are the components of population dynamics?

  • Size
  • Density
  • Distribution
• What are limiting factors in an ecosystem?

  Factors that restrict population growth and distribution
• What is a density-dependent limiting factor?

  Factors that have a greater effect on larger populations
• What is a density-independent limiting factor?

  Factors that affect populations regardless of size
• What is carrying capacity?

  Maximum number of organisms an area can support
• What limits carrying capacity?

  Availability of resources in an area
• What are the types of population growth?

  • Exponential growth: Constant reproduction rate
  • Logistic growth: Growth slows after a period of rapid increase
• What is ecological succession?

  • Changes in an ecosystem over time
  • Primary succession: Starts on bare rock
  • Secondary succession: Occurs after disturbances
• What is primary succession?

  Starts on bare rock with no soil
• What is secondary succession?

  Occurs after disturbances in an ecosystem
• What is an example of primary succession?

  Formation of soil on bare rock
• What is an example of secondary succession?

  Regrowth after a forest fire
• What are adaptations?

  Changes in traits over time for survival
• What are examples of physical adaptations?

  • Camouflage
  • Mimicry
  • Body shapes/sizes
  • Protective coverings
• What are sensory adaptations?

  • Changes that enhance perception of the environment
  • Help organisms respond to stimuli
• What do adaptations help with?

  • Resource acquisition
  • Defense against predators
  • Camouflage
  • Climate tolerance
  • Reproduction
• What is a food chain?

  Linear display of energy flow in an ecosystem
• What is a food web?

  Complex display of energy flow through multiple chains
• What are autotrophs?

  Organisms that synthesize their own energy
• What are heterotrophs?

  Organisms that must consume others for energy
• What are the roles in an ecosystem?

  • Producer: Autotrophs that produce energy
  • Primary Consumer: Herbivores that consume producers
  • Secondary Consumer: Carnivores that consume other animals
  • Decomposer: Breaks down organic matter into nutrients
• What are food niches?

  • Scavengers: Consume dead material
  • Decomposers: Break down organic matter
  • Deliverers: Transport nutrients