Ecology Key Concepts: Symbiosis, Competition, and Biomes

Mutualism

symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit from the relationship

Commensalism

one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

Parasitism

One organism benefits and the other is harmed

Amensalism

one organism is harmed and the other is unaffected

competition

the struggle between organisms to survive in a habitat with limited resources

Predation

An interaction in which one organism captures and feeds on another organism

Neutralism

Neither species benefits or is harmed

niches

the specific role of an organism in its habitat, or how it makes its living

Intraspecific Competition

Competition among members of the same species

interspecific competition

Competition between members of different species

resource partitioning

When species divide a niche to avoid competition for resources

Interference competition

individuals interact directly with one another by physical force or intimidation

Exploitation Competition

organisms compete indirectly through the consumption of a limited resource

Apparent Competition

Two unrelated prey species compete for survival through a shared predator

Biome

A group of similar ecosystems that have developed in similar climate regions

Terrestrial Boundaries

Ecotones (blending regions into a new biome)

Aquatic Boundaries

Freshwater vs Marine

Terrestrial and Aquatic Biotics

Producers (Vegetation)

Consumers

Carnivores, Herbivores, and Omnivores

Decomposers

Terrestrial Abiotic

Temperature

Precipitation

Climate

Latitude Geographically

Aquatic Abiotic

Temperature

Light Penetration

Salinity

Oxygen Levels

Water Currents

Primary Productivity

the rate at which solar energy (sunlight) is converted into organic compounds via photosynthesis over a unit of time.

Two processes of producers

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration

Cellular Respiration (Aerobic Respiration)

6O2 + C6H12O6 —> 6CO2 + 6H2O + Energy (ATP) + Heat

Photosynthesis

6CO2 + 12H2O + solar energy —> 6O2 + C6H12O6 + 6H2O

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

total rate of photosynthesis in a given area. It is the combination of biomass accumulated and the glucose lost due to respiration

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

rate of energy storage by photosynthesizers in a given area, after subtracting the energy lost to respiration. It is the total energy that can be passed to consumers, which is typically about 40%.