1. Abiotic factors are NON-LIVING factors Ex: Oxygen, Carbon-dioxide, rocks, soil, water, sun, Temperature, precipitation

2. Biotic factors are LIVING factors

Ex: other animals, bacteria, plants, predators

***In an ecosystem organisms interact with BOTH abiotic And biotic factors

What is ecology?

-The study of how organisms interact with the living And the non-living things that surround them

What are the factors in an environment that can affect organisms?

***In any ecosystem, the growth and survival of Organisms depends on the physical conditions ,the resources available, and the other populations present 1. Resources are FINITE (limited)

Ex: water, CO2, O2, space, food

2. COMPETITION is the struggle for resources amongst Organisms (the “fight”…remember “survival of the fittest”

3. Limiting Factors are factors in the environment that Keep the size of a population in check (limits the growth)

Ex: Oxygen (abiotic), predators (biotic), food supply (biotic), water (abiotic), space (abiotic)

Carrying Capacity- The number of organisms of any Single species that an ecosystem Can support

What factors can affect population growth in an ecosystem?

Can a population reach a “maximum” point? YES!!

***Carrying capacity is determined by available energy, Water, oxygen, minerals, and types of populations present

What roles do organisms play in the ecosystem? Ecological Niche-The role that each species plays in the ecosystem

**Only ONE species at a time can occupy an ecological Niche otherwise, COMPETITION results

-The MOST common relationship in an ecosystem is Predator/Prey Ex: Snake/rabbit, Frog/cricket Autotroph (producer) vs. Heterotroph (consumer)

(make own food) Ex: plants

(consume food from outside source) Ex: deer, cricket

Carnivores vs. Herbivores (meat eater) vs (plant eater)

Decomposers- Break down waste and dead Organisms to be recycled into Environment (By the process of DECOMPOSITION) Ex: bacteria

What are some common relationships in an ecosystem?

Scavengers (consume dead organisms) are NOT Decomposers!!! **The two organisms that MUST be present in EVERY stable ecosystem are producers (plants) and decomposers (bacteria) **Decomposers are

Not always illustrated But they are ALWAYS There!!! (usually microscopic)

How are feeding relationships in an ecosystem represented?

**In a food chain or food web the arrows represent the transfer of energy

Food chains- a single pathway illustrating a feeding relationship (what eats what)

Food web- A series of connected food chains illustrating all the feeding relationships in one ecosystem

What else does a food web or food chain tell us?

Ex: Energy is transferred to the fox when it eats the squirrel

**Energy is lost as you travel along a food chain or web

Most energy (get energy Directly from the sun)

Least energy

How is energy transferred throughout an ecosystem?

Why?

At each level of the chain or web, organisms are using energy (ATP) to carry out life processes

What is an energy pyramid?

An energy pyramid is a diagram that illustrates the transfer of energy through a food chain or web

Producers

Herbivores

Carnivores

Energy decreases As you travel Up the energy pyramid

-At each level, the organism is using some of the energy To carry out life processes

How are materials recycled in an ecosystem?

-Nitrogen is recycled by decomposers breaking down Dead organisms or waste

**Energy gets lost or used up, it is NOT recycled

(need a constant source…sun)

-Carbon-dioxide and Oxygen are recycled through the processes of PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION (plants and animals)

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity-A measurement of the degree to which species may vary within an ecosystem (variation amongst living things)

***The MORE biodiversity within an ecosystem, the More STABLE the ecosystem

**Biodiversity serves as a barrier to the spread of Disease or insect attack

**Natural disasters and human activities cause a loss of biodiversity

Ex: Forest fires, deforestation, industrialization, Land development, pollution, hunting, fishing

How do humans benefit from biodiversity? -rich variety of resources, genetic material for Medicines (cures), insecticides, food, oxygen

Ecological Succession- The series of changes by which one habitat changes into another

Ex: Lake community to Forest community, A foresting rebuilding after a forest fire

Is it possible for an ecosystem to change?