Ecology:Ecology:an introduction

The study of the The study of the interactions that interactions that take place among take place among

organisms and their organisms and their environment environment

Biosphere Biosphere

The part of Earth that supports The part of Earth that supports lifelife Top portion of Earth's crust Top portion of Earth's crust

(lithosphere)(lithosphere) All the waters that cover Earth's All the waters that cover Earth's

surface (hydrosphere)surface (hydrosphere) Atmosphere that surrounds EarthAtmosphere that surrounds Earth

EcosystemEcosystem

All the organisms living in an All the organisms living in an area and the nonliving features area and the nonliving features of their environmentof their environment Biotic – livingBiotic – living Abiotic – nonlivingAbiotic – nonliving

BioticBiotic

Biotic – livingBiotic – living Plants Plants AnimalsAnimals Single celled organismsSingle celled organisms Fungi Fungi

AbioticAbiotic

Abiotic – nonlivingAbiotic – nonliving WaterWater AirAir SoilSoil TemperatureTemperature Sunlight Sunlight

Parts of an Parts of an EcosystemEcosystem

PopulationPopulation

All the organisms in an All the organisms in an ecosystem that belong to the ecosystem that belong to the same species (biotic)same species (biotic)

CommunityCommunity

All the populations in an All the populations in an ecosystemecosystem (biotic) (biotic)

http://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/texas_nature_trackers/black_tailed_prairie_dog/images/lg_black_tailed_prairie_dogs.jpg

Habitat Habitat

The place in which an The place in which an organism lives organism lives provides the kinds of food and provides the kinds of food and

shelter, the temperature, and the shelter, the temperature, and the amount of moisture the organism amount of moisture the organism needs to survive needs to survive

NicheNiche

The specific role that an organism plays The specific role that an organism plays in its ecosystemin its ecosystem

http://www.thinksimian.com/images/birds_2/nest.JPG

CompetitionCompetition

FoodFood Space Space

CompetitionCompetition

Competition caused by Competition caused by population growth affects many population growth affects many organisms, including humans organisms, including humans

Limits population size Limits population size

Limiting Factor Limiting Factor

Anything that restricts the Anything that restricts the number of individuals in a number of individuals in a population. population.

Includes living / biotic and Includes living / biotic and nonliving / abiotic features of the nonliving / abiotic features of the ecosystem ecosystem

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals of The maximum number of individuals of any species that can be supported by a any species that can be supported by a particular ecosystem on a long-term particular ecosystem on a long-term basisbasis

http://library.thinkquest.org/J002558F/carrying_capacity.JPG

Energy TransferEnergy Transfer

Food ChainsFood Chains Food WebsFood Webs Energy PyramidsEnergy Pyramids

http://www.arcytech.org/java/population/images/food_chain.jpg