Chapters 2, 3, 4, & 5

HeadingHeading VocabularyVocabulary Important InfoImportant Info

Ecology is the study of interactionsinteractions between organisms and their environment. organisms and their environment.

1. Biosphere – portion of the EarthEarth supporting lifelife

2. Biotic factorsa. All organismsorganisms inhabiting the environmentb. The “livingliving” things in the environmentc. Each organism adapts to its part of the biosphere

3. Abiotic factorsa. NonlivingNonliving parts of the environmentb. Can determine which species will surviveCan determine which species will survive examples: rainfall, temperature, light, soil

Biotic FactorsBiotic Factors

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors

ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM

Abiotic or Biotic?

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1. Organism/Species: group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.

2. Populationsa. A group of organisms of the same species living togethersame species living togetherb. Must compete for resources

2. Communitya. . Several populations Several populations that interactb. Changes in one population will cause changes in the others

3. Ecosystema. Interactions between Interactions between populations and their surroundingspopulations and their surroundingsb. 2 main types:

1. Terrestrial – landTerrestrial – land2. 2. Aquatic – fresh or salt Aquatic – fresh or salt

waterwater

A keystone species is a species that has an unusually large effect on its ecosystem.

keystone

Levels of Biological Organization Levels of Biological Organization

Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect many other factors.

Biodiversity is the assortment, or variety, of living things in an ecosystem.

In general, where do we find more biodiversity?

1. Niche The rolerole an organismorganism plays

in the environmentenvironment(Its “job” “job” in the community)

2. Habitat Place where an organism organism

liveslives

Cape May WarblerFeeds at the tips of branchesnear the top of the tree

Yellow-Rumped WarblerFeeds in the lower part of the tree andat the bases of the middle branches

Spruce tree

Bay-Breasted WarblerFeeds in the middlepart of the tree

Three Species of Warblers and their niches

Earthworm Example Habitat of the earthworm: in the soil. Niche: To aerateaerate ( add air to or oxygenate) the

soil.

Formative Assessment Ch. 13 Section 2- p. 380

1. Select an ecosystem that is familiar to you and describe the biotic and abiotic factors that exist there.

Biotic- living factors Abiotic- non-living factors

2. How would the removal of a keystone species affect an ecosystem’s biodiversity?

Increase or decrease? DECREASE!

3. Explain how a change in an abiotic factor such as sunlight would affect biodiversity.

Change in temp change in numbers and types of species in an ecosystem new species may move into area taking the place of those that can’t survive

4. Humans are sometimes described as being a keystone species, does this label fit? Why or why not?

Keystone species help establish and maintain complex web of lifeHumans DON’T fit b/c human activities often decrease or harm biodiversity

5. What role might an abiotic factor such as temperature play in the evolution of a species?

Long-term temp. change= selective pressure that selects which individuals?

Best adapted to the changed temp will survive.

Temp could affect food available creating another selective pressure.