Interactions and Ecosystems

Ecology

the study of the relationship between living organisms and their environment.

Ecologist

People who study the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Living Things Needs

1) food 2) water 3) habitat 4) air (gas exchange)

Adaptation

An inherited characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce in its environment.

Example of Adaptation

Birds' bones are hollow which makes them able to fly.

Ecosystem

the complex set of interactions between living and non-living things in a particular environment.

Symbiosis

Occurs when two species live closely together in a relationship that lasts over time.

Mutualism

Each partner benefits from the relationship. Ex: remora and shark.

Parasitism

One partner benefits and the other is harmed. The benefactor is known as the parasite and the victim is known as the host. Ex: tapeworm, mosquito, leech.

Commensalism

One partner benefits and the other appears to be unaffected. Ex: Orchid plant and tree trunk.

Impact of Beavers on Ecosystems

Beavers build dams to stop water, dramatically changing the environment around them.

Biomes

Very large ecological areas on the earth's surface, with fauna and flora adapting to their environment.

Types of Biomes

5 TYPES: DESERT, TUNDRA, GRASSLAND, FOREST, AQUATIC.

Desert Biomes

They are the Hot and Dry Deserts, Semi Arid Deserts, Coastal Deserts and Cold Deserts.

Aquatic Biomes

Grouped into two, Freshwater Biomes (lakes and ponds, rivers and streams, wetlands) and Marine Biomes (oceans, coral reefs and estuaries).

Forest Biomes

Three main biomes that make up Forest Biomes: Tropical Rainforest, Temperate and Boreal Forests (also called the Taiga).

Grassland Biomes

Two main types of grassland biomes: the Savanna Grasslands and the Temperate Grasslands.

Tundra Biomes

Two major tundra biomes—The Arctic Tundra and the Alpine Tundra.

Natural Resources

The materials or products that are found in nature and are used to meet our basic needs. Example: trees, water, oil, minerals, etc.

Uses of Natural Resources

1) Trees are cut for fuel and building 2) Roads are built and paved 3) Ground is plowed to farm 4) Water for power and consumption 5) Minerals to mine (sell, build structures, for power, etc).

Wants

Things that make our lives more enjoyable, contributing significantly to our ecological footprint.

Needs

Essential items required for survival; for example, food is a need, while year-round access to distant food is a want.

Ecological Footprint

A calculation of the total area of land and water needed to supply all materials and energy used, as well as to absorb all waste produced.

Ways Humans Leave a Footprint

Includes food consumption, resource usage for homes and technology, and water waste.

Reducing Ecological Footprint

Actions such as walking or biking instead of driving, recycling, and being conscious of power use to lessen environmental impact.

Reduce

Minimizing the amount of garbage, food waste, and energy usage produced.

Reuse

Using products multiple times instead of discarding them, such as Tupperware and grocery bags.

Recycle

Finding new uses for products that cannot be reused, such as paper, plastic, and glass.

Biotic

Living components of an ecosystem, including humans, bacteria, plants, and animals.

Abiotic

Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as air, soil, sun, and water.

Niche

The role of an organism in its ecosystem, including what it eats, where it lives, and how it interacts with other organisms.

Producers

Organisms that create their own food using energy from the sun and nutrients from the soil, such as plants and algae.

Consumers

Organisms that eat and consume food made by producers or other consumers.

Herbivores

Animals that eat producers and fill the plant-eating niche. E.g. Cows, horses.

Carnivores

Animals that eat other consumers and fill the meat-eating niche. E.g. Wolves, coyotes, sharks.

Omnivores

Organisms that eat both producers and consumers. E.g. Raccoon, Skunk, and humans.

Food Chain

A model that shows how energy is stored in food and passed from organism to organism.

Food Webs

Complex models that show all of the relationships between predator and prey in an ecosystem, combining several food chains.

Pyramid of Numbers

A representation that shows how many organisms are involved at each level of a food chain or web.

Biomass

The total mass of all the organisms in an ecosystem.

Scavengers

Organisms that feed on dead or decaying plant and animal matter. E.g. Crows, raccoon, coyote.

Decomposers

Organisms that grow on or in dead material, absorbing some nutrients into their own cells. E.g. Fungi, bacteria, and worms.

Predators

Consumers that kill and eat other animals called prey. E.g. Cougar, lynx, shark.

Prey

Animals that get killed and eaten by predators. E.g. Mouse, snowshoe hare.

Ecosystem Interactions

The relationships and interactions between different organisms within an ecosystem.

Carbon Cycle

Organisms contain Carbon-when these organisms die, over time and under great pressure they decompose and turn into fossil fuels.

Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels are non-renewable resources.

Uses of Fossil Fuels

We use fossil fuels for petroleum (to fuel our cars), coal, natural gas.

Greenhouse Gas Emission

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the air.

Global Warming

Greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing global warming.

Water Cycle

A continuous movement of water through an ecosystem.

Evaporation

Liquid changes into water vapour.

Transpiration

Water is taken in through a plant's roots and evaporates from the plant's leaves, stem, and flowers.

Condensation

Is the process in which water vapour changes into a liquid.

Precipitation

Liquid water forms from condensation occurring inside clouds and then falls as rain, sleet, snow, and hail.

Ground Water

Is water in the soil. Plant roots can grow down to reach ground water.

Run-off

Is water that runs off the ground into lakes, rivers, or streams.

Pollution

Occurs when a substance is added to the environment at such a fast rate that it cannot be broken down, stored, or recycled in the air, land, or water.

Acid Rain

Occurs when pollutants containing sulfur and nitrogen are found in high levels in the air.

BIOACCUMULATION

When pollutants move from level to level in the food chain.

SUCCESSION

The gradual process by which some species replace others in an ecosystem.

Primary Succession

The gradual growth of organisms in an area that was bare, such as rock. E.g. Lichens produce acids that breakdown the rocks, then ferns and mosses begin to grow.

Secondary Succession

The gradual growth of organisms in an area that previously had a number of organisms. E.g. A burnt forest area is an example of secondary succession.

Biological Control

Controlling pests using their natural enemies.

Introduced Species

When exotic species (from a different part of the world) are introduced to an environment where they have no natural enemies they can often survive and reproduce better than the native species and therefore take over.

EXTINCTION

When a species no longer exists anywhere in the world.

Ecosystem Monitoring

A way to check the condition of an ecosystem by comparing the results of investigations done at different times.

Physical Monitoring

Uses satellites to track changes in landscape over time. Construction of cities, deforestation, erosion, etc.

Environmental Monitoring

Tracks changes in climate, temperature, and weather patterns.

Chemical Monitoring

Assesses air, soil and water quality (Carbon in the air, acid rain, etc).

Biological Monitoring

Tracks changes in organisms and populations of organisms over time. Migration patterns, endangered species, etc.

Indicator Species

A species that is sensitive to environmental change (pesticides, Acid rain, introduced species) and is the first to be affected; they help to monitor the overall health of our environment.

Baseline Data

A starting point of data that allows scientist to go back and see if changes occurred after a disturbance (flood, exotic species).

Environmental Impact Assessment

A report that outlines how an activity will affect the environment. This helps plan to minimize impact or cancel project.