Chapters 2, 3, 4,

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Principles of Ecology
Heading Vocabulary Important Info

• Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5

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A. What is Ecology?

• Ecology is the study of interactions between
  organisms and their environment.

B. Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors

• Biosphere portion of the Earth supporting life
• Biotic factors
• a. All organisms inhabiting the environment
• b. The living things in the environment
• c. Each organism adapts to its part of the
  biosphere
• Abiotic factors
• a. Nonliving parts of the environment
• b. Can determine which species will survive
• examples rainfall, temperature, light, soil

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Abiotic Factors
Biotic Factors
ECOSYSTEM
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Abiotic or Biotic?

1 2 3
4 5 6
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C. Levels of Biological Organization

• Organism/Species group of organisms that can
  breed and produce fertile offspring.
• Populations
• a. A group of organisms of the same species
  living together
• b. Must compete for resources
• Community
• a. Several populations that interact
• b. Changes in one population will cause changes
  in the others
• Ecosystem
• a. Interactions between populations and their
  surroundings
• b. 2 main types
• 1. Terrestrial land
• 2. Aquatic fresh or salt water

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• A keystone species is a species that has an
  unusually large effect on its ecosystem.

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Levels of Biological Organization
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Changing one factor in an ecosystem can affect
many other factors.

• Biodiversity is the assortment, or variety, of
  living things in an ecosystem.
• In general, where do we find more biodiversity?

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D. Niche vs. Habitat

• Niche
• The role an organism plays in the environment
• (Its job in the community)
• Habitat
• Place where an organism lives

Three Species of Warblers and their niches
Cape May Warbler Feeds at the tips of
branches near the top of the tree
Bay-Breasted Warbler Feeds in the middle part of
the tree
Yellow-Rumped Warbler Feeds in the lower part of
the tree and at the bases of the middle branches
Spruce tree
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Earthworm Example

• Habitat of the earthworm in the soil.
• Niche To aerate ( add air to or oxygenate) the
  soil.

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Formative Assessment Ch. 13 Section 2- p. 380

• Select an ecosystem that is familiar to you and
  describe the biotic and abiotic factors that
  exist there.
• Biotic- living factors
• Abiotic- non-living factors

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• 2. How would the removal of a keystone species
  affect an ecosystems biodiversity?
• Increase or decrease?
• DECREASE!

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• 3. Explain how a change in an abiotic factor such
  as sunlight would affect biodiversity.
• Change in temp
• change in numbers and types of species in an
  ecosystem
• ? new species may move into area taking the place
  of those that cant survive

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• 4. Humans are sometimes described as being a
  keystone species, does this label fit? Why or why
  not?
• Keystone species help establish and maintain
  complex web of life
• Humans DONT fit b/c human activities often
  decrease or harm biodiversity

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• 5. What role might an abiotic factor such as
  temperature play in the evolution of a species?
• Long-term temp. change selective pressure that
  selects which individuals?
• Best adapted to the changed temp will survive.
• Temp could affect food available creating another
  selective pressure.