interdependance

• Relationships organisms have


  • With other organisms of the same species
  • With the plants they eat
  • With the predators that eat them
  • With all the other animals that live nearby
  • With the environment itself
• If any one part of the ecosystem changes


  It can affect all other parts of the ecosystem
• Habitat


  The place where an organism lives
• Population


  All of the organisms of a particular species that live in a habitat
• Community

  All the populations of different species that live together in a habitat
• Biotic factors


  The living factors of the environment
• Abiotic factors

  The non-living factors of the environment
• Ecosystem


  The interaction of a community of living organisms with the non-living parts of their environment
• Ecology


  Understanding how ecosystems function and how they might change in the future
• Competition

  • Organisms need limited resources to survive
  • Organisms have to compete with each other to get enough of these resources
• Resources organisms compete for

  • Space (territory)
  • Food
  • Water
  • Mates
• Resources plants compete for

  • Light
  • Space
  • Water
  • Mineral ions
• Interdependence


  All species depend on other species in some way
• Food web

  Shows the feeding relationships within a community
• If mouse population increases

  Less grass available for rabbits and grasshoppers, hawk population may not increase much