Ecology
Study of how living things interact with their environment and each other
Abiotic
Non living factors
Biotic
Living factors
Ecosystem
Single unit of nature, includes all factors
Niche
Role of species in environment
Habitat
Physical environment a species adapted too
Competitive exclusion principle
2 different species can not occupy the same niche
Ecosystems need
Energy
Autotrophs(producers)
Produce food for themselves and others
Heterotrophs(consumers)
Depend on others for food
Herbivore
Consume producers
Carnivores
Consume animals
Omnivore
Consume plants and animals
Decomposer
Break down remains and waste
Scavengers
Consume tissues of dead animals
Food chains
Single pathway of energy through ecosystem
Trophic level
Feeding position in food chain/web
Food web
MĂşltiple pathways of energy flow
1st trophic level
Makes own food
2nd level
Consumes producers
3rd level
Consumes primary consumers
4th level
Consumes secondary consumers
Biomass
Total mass of organisms at a trophic level
Organic compounds
Proteins,lipids,nucleic acids and carbs make up cells
Cellular respiration releases
Carbon dioxide
Carbon is released when
Organisms decompose
Photosynthesis
Removes carbon dioxide from atmosphere
Carbon may
Be stored in sedimentary rock for millions of years
Warm ocean waters release
Carbon
Runoff, rivers and streams
Dissolve carbon in rocks
Nitrogen makes up
78% of earth’s atmosphere
Nitrogen is used in
Proteins,dna,chlorophyll
Nitrogen fixation
Gas to nitrates
N fixing bacteria is in
The soil
Atmospheric nitrogen
N2
Ammonium
NH4+
Nitrates and nitrites
NO3-, NO2-
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
From atmosphere to biosphere
Denitrifying bacteria
From biosphere to atmosphere
Legumes roots
Example of nitrogen cycle