Topic 2 – Habitat and Lifestyle

Science 9 Biodiversity

• What do you do better than anyone else in the class?

• Everyone has special talents that make that person unique!

• An organism’s niche include 2 parts:– where an organism lives (habitat)– what it does

Type of niche Description Examples of organismsfilling this niche

Producers

Consumers

Herbivores

Omnivores

Carnivores

Decomposers

Type of niche Description Examples of organismsfilling this niche

Producers grow using energy from the

Sun plants, algae

Consumers

Herbivores eat producers may be prey to other animals

cows, deer, snowshoe hare, grasshoppers

Omnivores eat consumers and producers raccoons, bears

Carnivores eat only other consumers dragonflies, hawks,

lynx

Decomposers• break down dead organisms release nutrients, which are

used by other organisms• certain bacteria, fungi

Variation and Competition

• When food, water, or sunlight are plentiful, many species can share them!

• BUT...• When any of these resources become scarce,

the organisms that depend on the resource must compete for it!!!

Competition

• when 2 or more species need the same resource

• can occur between members of the same species or between different species

• leads to limited resources and limits size of population

• variations may give advantages or disadvantages to species

Competition Cont.

• some species avoid competition with more dominant species by using a different food source of keeping different habits or behaviours– Ex: cougar vs. lynx– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWgsCDdMBS

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• read through pg. 18- Warblers

The Broad Niche

• Why do Canadian ecosystems lack diversity but support high numbers of species?

• Broad Niche: the role or characteristic activities filled by a generalist

• Generalists: can live in a variable conditions and rely on a variety of food sources

• Ex: arctic hare• Other examples?

• Specialists:– Type of organism that is adapted to very specific

environments and have a narrow niche

• Narrow niches:– A highly specialized role or characteristic activity

undertaken by an organism in an ecosystem

• Specialization:– Adaptations for surviving in very specific

environments.

Life in the Extreme

• Planet Earth – “Deserts”: Characteristics of Deserts and Animal Adaptations

Dependencies Between Species

• all organisms NEED other organisms to survive!!!

• This is called symbiosis!!

Symbiosis

• Symbiosis: interdependence between species

Type of Symbiosis1. Commensalism - one organism benefits, the

other is not harmed• Ex: a bird building a nest in a tree

2. Mutualism – benefits both organisms involved

• Ex: sea anemone & clownfish

3. Parasitism – one organism benefits and the other is harmed

• Ex: tapeworm in intestinal wall of a human

Classify the following symbiotic relationships under mutualism (M), commensalism (C), or parasitism (P).

1. E. coli bacteria in the human large intestine produce vitamin K. The

large intestine provides a place to live and nourishment for the bacteria.

2. A person is infected with tapeworm from eating raw pork. The

tapeworm absorbs nutrients from the small intestine and the person becomes sick.

3. Rhizobia bacteria living in association with plant roots turn nitrogen from the air into compounds the plant can use. The benefit to the bacteria is unclear.

4. The yucca moth lays eggs in the ovary of the yucca flower. At the same time, the moth pollinates the flower.

5. One type of algae lives inside reef-building coral. The algae cause the coral to grow faster and the coral provide nutrients that the algae can use.

6. Small plants called epiphytes grow on the branches of rain forest trees without harming the trees. Up in the branches, the epiphytes can get enough light and water, and nutrients from the tree.

7. Lichens are made up of algae and fungi living together. The fungus relies on food provided by the algae. The algae are “housed” and protected from drying out by the fungus.

8. Crown gall disease weakens plants and slows their growth. The bacterium that causes the infection obtains nutrients from the plants.

To do:

• Topic 1-2 Review pg. 25 #1-6