ecosystems

environment

• factors affecting organisms

  • biotic/abiotic factors

• factors affected by organisms

biotic factor

other living organisms & interactions

abiotic factor

non living factors like water or climate affecting organisms

why are abiotic factors more important?

• affects where organisms can and can’t live

• change over time

• affect organisms on all levels

population

group of SAME SPECIES in area at the same time

species

organisms that:

• breed with e/o

• produce fertile offspring

speciation

formation of a new species

what do population ecologists study?

the CHANGES IN SIZE of one species of organisms

what does studying the change of size in populations entail?

• size of population

• rate of change & factors affecting it

• abiotic factors

community

group of DIFFERENT SPECIES in area at the same time

what are the three truths about a community?

• dynamic

• abiotic factors determine suitability of organisms

• interactions determine population of organisms

how do changing abiotic factors affect communities?

changes # of organisms in a habitat over time

• “chain reaction”

what is an example of interactions affecting populations of species?

• predator-prey

• parasitism

• competition within/between species

what do community ecologists study?

study INTERACTIONS between members of different species

what does studying the interactions between in populations entail?

• what kinds of species there are

• how many organisms are in each species

draw out the relationships between organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.

ecosystem

• populations of biotic factors

• abiotic factors affecting populations

are ecosystems small or large?

can be both

biosphere

all ecosystems combined, all inhabitable places in the world

what are the parameters for earth’s biosphere?

• few kilometers above ground

• few kilometers below ground

taxonomy

classification of living organisms

what was the earliest classification system, and who made it?

organisms were sorted into TWO KINGDOMS: plantae & animalia

• created by aristotle

what alterations were made after the discovery of microorganisms, and who made them?

• proposed a third kingdom, protista

  • by haeckel

what is the current system of classification today?

• three domains: bacteria, archaea, eukarya

• six kingdoms

what falls under the domain of bacteria?

• prokaryotes

  • unicellular organisms

do prokaryotes have a nucleus?

they do not

how do prokaryotes reproduce?

asexually

how do prokaryotes gain energy?

• producing food via chemo/photosynthesis (autotroph)

• consuming other organisms (heterotroph)

• usually the same for all prokaryotes

how do prokaryotes move?

via flagella

• appendages on bacteria

what falls under the domain of eukarya?

eukaryotes

• unicellular OR multicellular

do eukaryotes have a nucleus?

they do

how do eukaryotes reproduce?

sexually

how do eukaryotes gain energy?

diverse array of methods that are different for all eukaryotes (autotroph + heterotroph)

what falls under the domain of archaea?

prokaryotic archaebacteria

• unicellular organisms

do archaebacteria have a nucleus?

no

how do archaebacteria reproduce?

asexually

how do archaebacteria gain energy?

• most use chemicals to create energy (chemotroph)

• some consume other organisms (heterotroph)

where are most archaebacteria found?

extreme environments

• i.e. thermal vents, salt lakes, antarctica, etc.

what makes archaebacteria unique?

• unique RNA sequence

• distinct plasma membrane & cell wall chemistry