9 SCI Ecology

Definition of ecology:

The scientific study of how living organisms interact with one another and with their environment.

The terms for how is life interacting with living things and how life is interacting with non - living things…

living = Biotic (like bacteria, animals, plants).

non living = Abiotic (like air, temp, water).

Definition of species:

A group of individuals that are capable of interbreeding and producing viable offspring.

how do we classify?(Taxonomy)

Taxonomy - how we group species together. It is the science of naming, describing, and classifying organisms. This includes all plants, animals, and microscopic organisms.

All living things are classified by…(taxonomy groups)

Domain

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Taxonomy stages rhyme:

Do Keep Ponds Clean Or Frogs Get Sick.

Dichotomous Keys

A dichotomous key is a way to classify species through yes and no questions.

Abiotic Factors

Non - living elements of the environment that influence the way organisms and ecosystems function.

Biotic factors

Living things that influence the way organisms and ecosystems function.

Population

all the individuals of the same species in an area.

Community

all the populations that live together in an area.

Adaptation

Plants and Animals have developed adaptations to increase their chances of survival. An adaptation is a body of behaviour change that enables it to become better suited to its envrionment.

Types of adaptations

Adaptations can be physical, behavioural, or physiological.

physical - body parts adapted for survival

behavioural - behaviours for survival

physiological - how metabolism works

Food chain categories

producer

consumer

herbivores

carnivores

omnivores

decomposers

Food web

A food web is a representation of feeding relationships within a community.

Quadrats

a quadrat is a square frame (often 1m x1m) used by scientists to study plants of small animals in an area. It helps estimate how many organisms are in a larger area by looking at a smaller sample.

sampling systems (quadrats)

continuous - quadrats placed next to each other.

systematic - quadrats placed every 2m to each other.

Haphazard - (semi random) just throw.

Random - a random number generator is used to give coordinates in sample area.