Ecology
The study of the interaction between organisms and the environment
Biotic
All of the living things found together that interact with one another such as Animals, Plants, and Bacteria
Abiotic
Non living parts of the environment including all of the physical factors such as the sun, climate, temperature, water, atmosphere, and soil
Obtain energy
Organisms in an ecosystem can be divided into 3 groups based on the way they
Producers
Use sunlight for energy
Consumers
Eat producers or or other organisms for energy
Decomposers
Breaks down remains of dead organisms
Food chain
A model that shows how energy flows in an ecosystem through feeding relationships
Food web
Illustrates all the complex feeding relationships in a real ecosystem
Energy pyramid
Show the amount of energy available in each step of a food chain
Organism
Indavisual
Population
Similar organisms
Community
Different populations
Ecosystem
Community and its abiotic environment
Biosphere
All ecosystems
Limiting factor
Anything that restricts the size of a population
Carrying capacity
The largest number of individuals of a species that an environment can support over time
Habitat
Place within a ecosystem in which an organism lives
Niche
Organisms way of life within an ecosystem
Competition
2 or more individuals or populations try to use the same limited resource such as food, water, shelter, or sunlight
Prey
Organism that is eaten
Predator
Organism that eats the prey
Symbiosis
Close, long term association between two or more species
Mutualism
Both organisms benefit
Commensalism
One organism benefits the other is unaffected
Parisitism
One organism benefits the other is harmed
Parasite
Benefits
Host
Harmed
Ecological succession
The gradual change of a community over time
Primary succession
The series of community changes which occur on an entirely new habitat which has never been colonized before
Order of Primary Succession
1. Bare rock is exposed
2. Lichens grow and form soil
3. Mosses grow
4. Ferns grow
5. A forest grows
2. Lichens grow and form soil
3. Mosses grow
4. Ferns grow
5. A forest grows
Climax community
A community emerges that is not replaced
Secondary Succession
Follows the destruction or partial destruction of a vegetational area
Order of Secondary Succession
1. Soil intact
2. Crabgrass
3. Pine trees
4. Oaks and maples
2. Crabgrass
3. Pine trees
4. Oaks and maples
