Ecology and Species Interactions

Ecology

study of interactions among organisms and their environment

Biotic

interactions are interactions among living things

Abiotic

interactions are between organisms and their non-living environment

Organismal

Investigates how adaptions and choices by individual animals affect reproduction

Population

Focuses on groups of inter-breeding individuals and species interactions

Community

studies how populations of species interact to form community

Hypothesis Testing procedure

• Observations

• Hypothesis formation

• Data analysis

• Acceptance or rejection of hypothesis

Temperature

regulates physiological processes, dictating species survival and geographic distribution based on growth conditions

Wind

shapes vegetation structures and influences seed dispersal, affecting plant community comparison and ecosystem dynamics

Water

determines species aggregation, vegetation, and biodiversity

Light, Salinity, and pH Variables

Light availability is crucial for photosynthesis, while specific salinity and pH levels restrict species to environments they can tolerate, such as salt marshes or peat bogs.

Temperature

Low temp freezes plants; high temp denatures proteins

Wind

Wind amplifies cool temp(wind chill); creates pounding waves

Water

Insufficient water limits plants and animals; excess water drowns organisms

Light

Insufficient light limits plant growth, particularly in aquatic environments

Salinity

High salinity reduces plant growth; affects osmosis in marine and freshwater biomes

pH

Affects decomposition and nutrient availability; directly influences mortality