Transcript Ecology
Ecology Stem Words ECO – House/Home LOGY – “The science of…” OR “the study of…” Eco + logy = The study of home - where things live. The study of the relationships living things have with each other and to their environment. Biotic Factors Biotic Factors - all of the LIVING things in an ecosystem (living now or once was living) Stem word: BIO = life or living Abiotic Factors Abiotic Factors – all the NON-LIVING parts of an ecosystem Examples: 1. Water 2. Sunlight 3. Soil 4. Air, Oxygen 5. Temperature How Living and Non-Living things are Organized on Earth: From Largest to Smallest 1. Biome 2.Ecosystems 3.Communities 4.Populations 5.Individual Organism Biome Biome – a group of ecosystems with similar climates and organisms Examples of Biomes: 1. Tropical Rain Forests 2. Tundra 3. Grassland 4. Desert 5. Ocean (marine) 6. Deciduous Forest The Tundra Biome is a cold dry place where no trees live. Grassland/ Savanna Ocean Biome Coniferous Forest (Tiaga) Ecosystems Contains ALL the living AND nonliving things that interact in a particular area. Communities ALL the different populations of organisms within an area. Populations ALL the members of one species in a particular area. It’s a NUMBER count. Does not matter how big or small the area is. World Population South Carolina Pop. Greenwood Pop. EMS Population Species - Organisms that are physically similar - Can mate to produce FERTILE offspring. - Fertile means their babies can have babies. - Similar DNA (genetics) Examples of a Species: Dogs - Different dog breeds can mate to give mixed breed that look like both parents AND the mixed puppies can have babies themselves. Cats Humans Horses Examples of Non-Species: Horse + Donkey = Mule (Sterile) Lion + Tiger = Liger (Sterile) Zebra + Horse = Zorse (Sterile) Sterile – cannot have babies Horse + Donkey = A Mule (AKA: Honkey) (A animal that is STERILE = cannot breed Lion + Tiger = A Liger (A sterile animal – cannot breed) Liger Horse + Zebra = Zorse (A sterile animal – cannot breed) Habitats Habitats – The place where an organism lives and can find the things it needs to survive. Needs for Survival: 1. Food 2. Water 3. Shelter 4. Space How big does an organisms habitat need to be? Depends on size of animal. Examples: Squirrel – backyard Whale – ocean Fish – pond Single ecosystem contains 1000’s of habitats A single ecosystem can contain many habitats. Changes in Population Size (Positive and Negative) 1. Births and Deaths 2. Immigration and Emmigration Immigration – moving into a population Emmigration - moving out of a population 3. Limiting Factors Limiting Factors An environmental factor that causes a population to DECREASE or stop growing. 1. Food/water = starvation 2. Disease/accidents 3. Shelter/Weather 4.Predators/Hunters 5. Space Competition over space Birth/Death Rates What happens to Moose population as Wolf population increases? Carrying Capacity Carrying Capacity – the largest population an environment can support.