7) ecology

• What is a key concept in ecology regarding organisms?

  All organisms have relationships with each other
• What types of relationships do mice have?

  With other mice, plants, predators, and environment
• How do mice interact with their environment?

  They breathe oxygen and burrow in soil
• What happens if the mouse population decreases?

  Predators have less food and soil quality decreases
• What is a habitat?

  • The place where an organism lives
  • Examples: field, forest, basement
• What is a population in ecology?

  All organisms of a particular species in a habitat
• What constitutes a community in ecology?

  All populations of different species in a habitat
• What are biotic factors?

  Living factors like food availability and predators
• What are abiotic factors?

  Non-living factors like temperature and soil pH
• What is an ecosystem?

  • Interaction of a community of living organisms
  • With the non-living parts of their environment
• What is the main focus of ecology?

  Understanding how ecosystems function and change
• What resources do animals need to survive?

  • Space (territory)
  • Food
  • Water
  • Mates for reproduction
• What resources do plants need to survive?

  • Light
  • Space
  • Water
  • Mineral ions from soil
• Why do organisms compete with each other?

  Resources are limited and need to be shared
• What is interdependence in ecology?

  All species depend on other species in some way
• What does a food web illustrate?

  • Feeding relationships within a community
  • Shows how species are interconnected
• What happens if the mouse population increases?

  Grass decreases, affecting rabbits and grasshoppers
• How does an increase in mice affect hawks?

  Hawks may have more mice to eat
• What could happen to hawk populations if rabbit populations decline?

  Hawk populations might not increase much
• What should students understand about ecological relationships?

  • Relationships among species are interconnected
  • Changes in one species affect others
• What is the importance of understanding ecological relationships?

  To predict the knock-on effects of changes