Biological Diversity

Food chains

sequence showing the direction in energy is transferred in an ecosystem

__**NOTE:**__ *decomposers* = __**dotted lines**__

Types of consumers

==Herbivore== - plants

==Carnivore== - meat

==Omnivore== - both

Order of Food chain

1. **producer**, plant (seaweed or normal plant), synthesis of sun, water, and carbon dioxide in photosynthesis
2. **primary consumer** - herbivore
3. **secondary consumer**
4. **third-order consumer**
5. highest order consumer is called an **Apex Predator**

Types of ecosystem

1. **Terrestrial** - on land
2. **Aquatic** - water

* *Marine* - seawater/ocean
* *Freshwater* - lakes, etc
* *Estuarine* - where freshwater meets the sea - Mangrove

Biotic V Abiotic Factors

***a*****biotic factor** = __an__ object = *non-living*

**biotic factors** = are living

Examples of Abiotic Factors

* Gas availability
* buoyancy (in terrestrial or aquatic settings
* wind, tied and waves
* viscosity - resistance provided
* temperature
* pressure
* light availability
* air pressure
* precipitate - rainfall
* salinity/absorbed ions (SALT CONTENT)

Food WEBS

***FOOD WEBS are* ==*all the food chains in one ecosystem*==**

\
__**NOTE:**__ *When drawing a food web*, make sure the PRODUCERS are at the BOTTOM

Bio Mass Pyramids

* Producer = @ bottom + have the most amount of biomass


* the levels are called TROPIC LEVELS
* The top level of the biomass pyramid is called the apex predator

\

There is more biomass at the bottom (more prey than predators) because ==*energy* is== not only ==lost when eaten== but through ==other activities performed by the animals==.

\
__**NOTE**____**:**__ When drawing a __**Food Web and a Bio Mass Pyramid**__, the producers are at the ***BOTTOM***

\
__**NOTE:**__ Some __*aquatic environments*__ have __*reverse biomass pyramids*__

Niche of Species/Organisms

All %%__***RESOURCES***__%% (of the abiotic and biotic factors) %%an organism uses in its environment%%

\
They can either be…


1. Specialist niches
2. Generalist niches

$NOTE$: ==***No*** two species have the SAME two niches==. *This would* ***create unhealthy competition***

Specialist Niches

* are strong competitors for the same resources
* highly susceptible to extinction
* poor adaptation abilities
* only survive within certain perimeters(food and habitat)

__*E.g.*__ Koalas

Generalist Niches

* highly adaptable
* can live in a range of conditions
* weaker in competition with species/organisms that have specialist niches

__*E.g.*__ Humans

Biotic Relationships

4 Categories


1. __**Symbiosis -**__ when two organisms live together, both benefit

* 3 types of symbiosis


2. __**Competition -**__ two types of organisms compete for the same resource

* inter-competition - different species \*^^*REMEMBER:* __**Inter = interact = different**__ *species interacting* \*^^
* intra-competition - same species


3. __**Prey/Predator**__
4. __**Allelopathy -**__ Plants, fungi, and coral

Types of Symbiosis (1-3 types of Biotic relationships)

1. __**Parasites**__ (e.g. flees)

* does not kill
* feeds on its host/organism

\


2. __**Mutualism**__ (e.g. shark and fish that swims near it)

* BOTH organisms benefit


* ^^\*REMEMBER^^ Mutual = both

\

3. __**Commenuslaism**__ (e.g. Epiphytes on tree trunks)
* NO benefit OR harm
*  one organism helps the other organism

\

Competition (5th types of biotic relationships)

1. __**Inter**__ = $*Inter*$*acting* with different species

\

2. __**Intra-competition**__ = competition within species

__**Predator/ Prey**__ (6th type of Biotic Relationship) & __**Allelopthay**__ (Plants, Fungi, Coral)

__**Predator/Prey**__ - one organism eats the other (e.g. fox and rabbit)

\
__**Allelopathy**__ (e.g. pine trees)

* Three different ways
* plant organism releases a chemical to slow down or stop the growth of other plants in their area
* __stops__ ***chlorophyll*** (the green pigment in plants that helps with photosynthesis)
* __prevents__ ***cellular respiration***