Introduction to Ecology

Ecology

Is the study of the interaction between groups of organisms and their environment

An ecosystem

Consists of organisms and their interactions with the environment both the living parts

Biosphere

It is the parts of the earth and its atmosphere where life can exist

Biotic factors

Living factors. An organism’s influence on other organism’s

Abiotic factors

Non-living factors

Climate factors

Are the weather conditions that affect organisms in an ecosystem

Weather & Climate

Weather - conditions of atmosphere over short periods of time.

Climate - conditions of atmosphere over long periods of time.

Aquatic factors

Are those that affect organisms that live in water eg. Currents/waves & salinity

Edaphic factors

Are soil factors that affect organisms eg.soil type/ pH

Producers

Make their own food from the sun eg. Green plants

Food chain

Shows who eats who in an ecosystem.

Food web

Consists of two or more intersecting food chains

A trophic level

Is a feeding level in a food chain

A pyramid of numbers

Is used to show the number of individuals at each trophic level of a food chain

Habitat

Is a place where an organism lives

The niche

Is the role of an organism in an ecosystem

Nutrient recycling

Is the way nutrients are exchanged between the biotic and abiotic parts of the ecosystem

Symbiosis

Is the relationship between two organisms of different species in which at least one of them benefits