Alternate Text - links
Intro and factors that affect sustainability
(Pre-Ecology Assignment – Class #1)
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mpurba/C7.pdf (P. 274)
http://hrsbstaff.ednet.ns.ca/mpurba/C8.pdf P. 348
You Can Make a Difference – Fair Trade Products STSE
Review
Ecology
Ecosystem
Habitat
Niche
Biotic Factors
Abiotic Factors
Species
Organism
Population
Community
Producers
Consumers
Herbivore
Carnivore
Omnivore
Scavenger
Decomposers
Food Chain
Food Web
Trophic Level
Pyramid of energy
ECOLOGY
The study of the interrelationships
between organisms , and between those
organisms and their environment.
Biotic Factors
The LIVING factors in an environment.
Biotic factors include both:
the ORGANISMS AND
the interactive RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN organisms
Examples:
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Biotic Interactions - clarification
1. Symbiosis
(Mutualism +,+)
(Commensalism +,0)
(Parasitism +, -)
2. Competition
Interspecific – competition between members of
different species
Intraspecific - competition between members
of the same species
Abiotic Factors
The NON-LIVING FACTORS which affect life in an ecosystem.
Examples:
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Species
a group of living organisms consisting of
similar individuals capable of exchanging
genes or interbreeding.
Population
Describes members of the SAME SPECIES living in the
same ecosystem or habitat
Example: Caribou herd in Labrador
Community
Describes ALL POPULATIONS of the variety of species
in the same ecosystem or habitat.
Example: George’s Lake Community
PRODUCERS
Also known as AUTOTROPHS (“self-feeders”)
Organisms that CAN produce their own food and oxygen through
PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
Examples:
Plants (phytoplankton)
Algae
CONSUMERS
Also known as HETEROTROPHS (“other-feeders”)
Organisms that CANNOT produce their own food and feed on
OTHER organisms to survive.
Organisms that get oxygen through CELLULAR RESPIRATION.
TYPES OF CONSUMERS:
HERBIVORE
Eats plants
Ex: __________________________
CARNIVORE
Eats other consumers
Can be either a PREDATOR or a SCAVENGER (or both)
Ex: __________________________
OMNIVORE
Eats plants AND animals
Ex: __________________________
DECOMPOSERS
Also known as DETRITIVORES or SAPROBES
Organisms that get their nutrients by breaking down
DETRITUS (decaying plant and animal material)
FOOD CHAIN
A diagram that defines ONE SINGLE CHAIN of feeding
relationships in an ecosystem – ARROWS SHOW THE FLOW OF
ENERGY.
Starts with PRODUCERS
Why do food chains usually only go up as high as the
third order, or tertiary consumer?
Energy decreases as it is passed up the food chain, and
the top levels have the least energy, so they are limited in
levels.
Trophic Level
the feeding position in a food chain such as primary producers, herbivore,
primary carnivore, etc.
PYRAMID OF ENERGY A pictorial representation of the flow of energy.
Energy is measured in Joules (J).
PRODUCERS always have the most energy (bottom of pyramid).
TOP CARNIVORES always have the least energy (top of pyramid).
About 10 % of the total energy is passed on from one trophic level to the next.
That is, 90% is lost due to processes such as:
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