Bio

LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION

  • Definition of Levels of Organization: The hierarchical structure in which biological entities are arranged.

Main Categories

  • Biotic Factors (Living): Examples include:

    • Tree

    • Coral

    • Dog

    • Grass

    • Ants

    • Plants

  • Abiotic Factors (Not Living): Examples include:

    • Rocks

    • Water

    • Clouds

    • Temperature

    • Sunlight

Functional Definitions

  • O (Organism): One member of a species

  • P (Population): Multiple members of the same species living in the same area

  • C (Community): All biotic factors in an area

  • E (Ecosystem): All biotic and abiotic factors in an area

  • B (Biome): Group of similar ecosystems

  • B (Biosphere): All life on Earth

POPULATIONS & GROWTH

Types of Growth Patterns

  • Exponential Growth:

    • Characteristic Shape: J-curve

    • Description: Growth starts slowly and accelerates over time

    • Conditions: Occurs when there are plenty of resources and low predation

  • Logistic Growth:

    • Characteristic Shape: S-curve

    • Description: Growth slows down due to limited resources or limiting factors

    • Key Concept: The population reaches its Carrying Capacity, where birth rate equals death rate

    • At this point, the environment can no longer support additional population members

SYMBIOSIS/PREDATOR-PREY RELATIONSHIPS

Symbiosis

  • Definition: Long-term relationship between organisms

  • Types of Symbiosis:

    • Mutualism: Both organisms benefit (+/+)

    • Parasitism: One organism benefits while harming the other (+/−)

    • Commensalism: One organism benefits, while the other neither benefits nor is harmed (+/0)

Predation

  • Definition: One carnivore/omnivore organism eating another organism

    • Example: Shark eating a seal

  • Herbivory: Organism (herbivore) eats producers

    • Example: Deer eating grass

  • Relationship Nature:

    • Predator/Prey: Short-term relationship between organisms

BIOMASS AND ENERGY FLOW

Biomass Definition

  • Biomass: Living tissue in an ecosystem

  • Most Biomass/Energy Level: Producers must have the most biomass/energy

Energy Flow Model

  • Sun's Energy: Photosynthesis is the process by which producers convert sunlight into energy

  • Energy Transfer: Only 10% of the original energy continues to the next trophic level

    • Energy Loss: 90% of energy is lost as heat energy

Trophic Levels and Energy Availability

  • Tertiary Consumers: 0.1% available energy

  • Secondary Consumers: 1% available energy

  • Primary Consumers: 10% available energy

  • Producers: 100% available energy

  • Energy Loss Explanation:

    • Growth (mitosis)

    • Reproduction

    • Immune defense

    • Daily maintenance

    • Waste

Autotroph vs. Heterotroph

  • Autotroph: Organisms that can make their own food

  • Heterotroph: Organisms that must consume other organisms for food

  • Trophic Levels:

    • TROPH: Means "food"

    • HETERO: Means "other"

    • AUTO: Means "self"

HABITAT & NICHE

Definitions

  • Habitat: The location where an organism lives (home)

    • Example: Deer living in forests or fields

  • Niche: An organism’s role (job) in its ecosystem

    • Example: Deer eating food and caring for fawns

FOOD CHAIN VS. FOOD WEB

Food Chain

  • Definition: A linear progression showing who eats whom

  • Energy Flow: Represents the direction of energy travel

Food Web

  • Definition: Comprised of multiple food chains

  • Biodiversity Advantage: Allows for more options, increasing biodiversity