ecosystems/trophic energy module 1/7

community ecology

study of interactions among species

symbiosis

Two species living in close and long-term association with e/o in an ecosystem

what defines ecosystem boundaries

subjective to the abiotic and biotic factors of a region

biosphere

region of our planet where life resides

competition

struggle of individuals, intra/inter species, to obtain a shared limiting resource

competitive exclusion principle

two species competing for the same limiting resource cannot coexist

resource partitioning

two species divide a resource based on differences in behavior/morphology

3 ways to reduce competition

• temporal → same resource, diff times

• spatial → diff habitats

• morphological →shape

predation

one animal typically kills and consumes another animal

parasitoids

specialized type of predator that lays eggs inside other organisms (host)

parasitism

one organism lives on or in another organism (host)

pathogens

parasite that causes disease in its host

herbivory

an animal consumes plants or algae

mutualism

two species that increases the chances of survival or reproduction for both species

photosynthesis

plants and algae use solar energy to convert co2 and h2o into c6h12o6 and o2

commensalism

one species benefits and the other species is neither harmed nor helped

native species

lives in its historical range; where it has lived for thousands or millions of years

exotic/alien species

species living outside its historical range

invasive species

spreads rapidly across large areas and causes harm

consumers/heterotrophs

incapable of photosynthesis; obtain energy by consuming other organisms

herbivores/primary consumers

consume that eats producers

carnivore

consumer that eats other consumers

secondary consumer

carnivore that eats primary consumers

tertiary consumer

carnivore that eats secondary consumers

trophic level

successive levels of organisms consuming one another

scavengers

consumes dead animals

detritivores

breaks down dead tissues and waste products into smaller particles

decomposers

Fungi and bacteria complete breakdown process; organic matter → small elements, recycled back into the ecosystem

second law of thermodynamics

one organism consumes another → not all energy transferred

2 reasons energy is not efficient in consumption

not all energy usable

metabolism, movement, heat

ecological efficiency

proportion of consumed energy that can be passed from trophic levels

10% rule

only ~10% given biomass can be converted into energy at the next highest trophic level

food web

how energy and matter move through 2+ interconnected food chains