• Trophic (energy) levels

    • energy decreases as most is lost as body heat

    • biomass decreases (less organisms)

    • stable ecosystem

  • Food chains/webs

  • sun=primary source of all energy

  • bioaccumulation-harmful chemicals will build up in organisms going up each trophic level 

  • Nutrition

    • predator/prey (needs to be in equlibrium)

    • producers (autotrophs)

    • consumers (heterotrophs)

      • herbivores  (primary consumers)

      • omnivores 

      • carnivores (secondary consumers)

    • decomposers

  • Ecological relationships

    • mutualism

    • commensalism

    • parasitism

  • Organization- Biosphere-->biome-->ecosystem-->community-->population-->organism

  • More biodiversity=more stable

  • Biotic vs abiotic factors

  • Limiting factors- limit the amount of organisms living in an area (usually abiotic)

  • carrying capacity- max # organisms an area can support 

    • limited by biotic & abiotic factors

  • Niche= organism's role in its environment

    • Organisms in the same habitat will not compete for food if they occupy different niches (remember Darwin's finches)