bio chapter 5 NSMO

Ecology

Ecology

The science that studies the relationships between living organisms and their interactions with their environments

All living organisms, regardless of their types and habitats, exist within a system called the

Biosphere

Two factors in biosphere

Biotic Factors: include all living organisms (plants, bacteria, animals, etc.)

Abiotic Factors: are the non-living components in an organism’s environment (water, air, temperature, etc.)

Name the levels of organization

Individual

Population

Community

Ecosystem

Biome

Biosphere

Symbiosis

A close relationship in which two or more living organisms live together

Mutualism

Both organisms benefit

Ex. clownfish and sea anemones

Commensalism

One benefits, while the other neither benefits or is harmed

Ex. birds nesting on trees

Parasitism

One benefits, other is harmed

Ex. internal parasites like bacteria

Difference between Autotrophic and Heterophic

Autotrophic: make their own food Ex. plants (through photosynthesis)

Heterophic: obtain food by consuming other organisms or organic matter. Ex. humans

Decomposers

Break down dead organisms and waste, releasing nutrients back into the environment Ex. Fungi and bacteria

Trophic level

Representing each step in a food chain or food web

Food chains

a sequence in which energy is transferred from producers through a series of consumers

Food web

a model that represents the interconnecting and diverse food chains within an ecosystem

Ecological Pyramids

a diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy, biomass, and number of organisms at each trophic level in an ecosystem

Nutrient

a chemical substance that an organism must obtain from its environment to carry out life processes and sustain life

Ecological Succession

It occurs when one biological community is replaced by another as a result of changes in biotic and abiotic factors

Primary succession

occurs after an entire biological community, along with the soil, has been removed

Secondary succession

occurs after an entire biological community has been removed, but the soil remains

Leading Species

appear during primary succession to initiate the formation of a new biological community, such as lichens and mosses

Climax community

refers to a stable biological community in which little change occurs.

Weather

the state of the atmosphere at a specific place and time

Climate

the average weather conditions in a particular region

Ozone

a protective layer in the atmosphere that absorbs most harmful ultraviolet rays, concentrated mainly above the South Pole

Major Terrestrial Biomes are Classified Based on

Precipitation, temperature, their vegetation

Aquatic ecosystems

Marine waters, transitional waters, freshwater

Biodiversity

The variety of living organisms found in a particular place that interact with one another is called biodiversity

Extinction

the disappearance or death of the last individual of a species within the biosphere

The Importance of Biodiversity

• Stability of the ecosystem.

• Contributes to the quality of the biosphere.

• Has direct economic importance, such as providing food, shelter, medicine, and clothing.

• Has indirect economic value, such as supplying the atmosphere with oxygen, removing carbon dioxide, and maintaining soil fertility

Factors That Threaten Biodiversity

Overexploitation

Habitat loss

Fragmentation of habitat

Pollution

Acid precipitation

Biological magnification

Eutrophication

Introduced species

Protecting biodiversity

It involves reducing consumption, recycling materials, and conserving ecosystems

Restoring Ecosystem

Bioremediation:

The use of living organisms—such as prokaryotes, fungi, or plants—to remove toxic substances from a polluted area

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Biological Augmentation

The introduction of natural predatory organisms into a disturbed ecosystem to help restore its balance

Animal behavior

Innate Behavior: Behavior that depends solely on inheritance Ex. Some young animals walk immediately after birth

Learned Behavior: Behavior that depends on previous experiences Ex. Swimming

Competitive Behavior

Aggressive behavior

Dominance hierarchy

Territorial behavior

Foraging Behavior

The ability of an organism to obtain food and overcome obstacles while searching for it. Ex. Many herbivores such as elephants and buffaloes

Migratory Behavior

The movement of animals from one place to another in search of survival opportunities Ex. the migration of salmon for reproduction