Ecological Interactions and Trophism

Symbiosis

Interactions between two or more organisms regardless of the benefit or cost of either organism

Mutualism

When both organisms benefit increasing the survival and reproduction for both interacting species

Commensalism

When one organism benefits and the other one is not affected (or at least we think is unaffected)

Competition

When both organisms are harmed during getting their shared niche (sum total abiotic and biotic needs of a species/population to survive and reproduce)

Intraspecific Competition

Interactions between the same species

Interspecific Competition

Interactions between difference species

Exploitation

when one organism benefits and the other is harmed

Herbivory

A type of exploitation when an organism feeds on the tissue of plants

Predation

A type of exploitation when individuals of one species (usually animals) capture and consumes individuals of another species (usually animals)

Parasitism

A type of exploitation when one organism lives on, or in another organism and causes harm

Trophism

Movement of energy in the form of food from one organism to another

Autotrophy

Organisms that can convert abiotic sources of energy into energy stores in organic compounds (producers are plants)

Photoautrophy

Organisms that utilize light (sunlight mainly) to produce organic compounds (life does not exist without them)

Chemoautotrophs

Organisms that use inogornic compounds and elements to produce organic compounds (sulfur, ammonia, hydrogen, iron)

Heterotrophs

Organisms that ingest organic compounds made by autotrophs or other heterotrophs (consumers)

Mixtrophs

Nutritional opportunist which can function as an autotroph or a heterotroph

Food Chain

A simple diagram that shows the flow of energy from autotrophs to heterotrophs (shows a linear path or energy flow, which is overly simplistic0

Carnivores

Consumers that eat other consumers

Herbivores

Consumers that eat producers

Omnivores

Consumers who eat both consumers and producers

Food web

Much more complete and complex view of the ecosystem (series of interconnected food chains)

Energy

A quantitive property of physical system allows something to do work (heat, light, kinetic, chemical)

Three main types of energy

chemical, thermal, electromagnetic

Chemical energy

stored in molecular bonds (found in food) herT

Thermal Energy

Energy of the randomly moving particles, which results in temperature (generated during metabolic processes)

Electromagnetic energy

Radiant energy that travels in wave/particles (used by photosynthetic organisms to make organic compounds)

Law conservation of energy

energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred

Kinetic energy

Energy of motion (muscle movement)

Potential energy

Stored energy that has potential to do work (can be stored in chemical bonds in organic molecules)

Calorie

Unit of energy - used to define energy value of food

Energy

• Only about 10% of the energy gained makes it to the next level

• Energy enters the ecosystem often from the sun