Unit 2 Ecology

Unit 2 Ecologyand the EnviromentLevels of Organization in Ecologyatommoleculeorganellecelltissueorganorgan systemorganismpopulationcommunityecosystem

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Students should recall the correct order. Ask them to identify it before showing the correct answer.2Ecosystem

A biome is a group of ecosystems with similar climate, plant and animal species.

Biotic FactorBiotic = living thingslifeSuch as: animals, plants, bacteria, fungus, protists, etc.

Abiotic FactorsA bio tic

Not Life

Non living things such as:Rocks, water, temperature, soil, light. Etc.

There are more abiotic factors that there are biotic factors!!!

Populations vs. CommunitiesA population is a group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area at the same time

community -interacting populations All the living things that live together.

Symbiosis

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism

Predation

Carrying Capacity

Trophic Level

Energy travels up the trophic levelsOnly 10% of energy is transferred to the level above it.Position that organisms occupy on the food chain or each step in the food chainEcological Pyramid

Food Web

Did you know?The directions of the arrows in a food web show which way the energy flowsnot who eats who.

Producer

AutotrophProducers are usually plants but not always!! They just have to make food from the sun (autotroph).

PhytoplanktonSolar powered Sea SlugAuto troph

Self feedingDecomposersDecomposers are mainly bacteria & fungi. They break down dead organismsWithout them, we would be covered in dead organisms in no time at all!!!

ConsumerConsumers are heterotrophs (get energy from eating other organisms)Hetero trophDifferent feedingPrimary Consumer

Secondary Consumer

Lion - Secondary consumer after eating the goatTertiary ConsumerTertiary consumers eat secondary consumers.

Tertiary consumer after eating the jackal.Herbivore

Omnivore

Carnivore

Detritivore

Limiting Factors

Ecosystem Sustainability

Ecological Succession

Primary Succession

Secondary Succession

Climax CommunitySecondary Succession ends in the climax community, which is the most stable community and will remain until the next disturbance.In the Colorado mountains, the climax community is the pine forest!