Ecology Notes

Ecology – the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment

Environmental Factors

Biotic – are living or were once living

Abiotic – never living

Symbiotic Relationships

Commensalism – one species benefits, one is unaffected [neither harmed or benefited]

Mutualism – both species benefit

Parasitism – one species benefits, one is harmed or dies

[parasite – feeds on host host – organism that the parasite lives off of]

*For the most part, the parasite does not kill the host animal, b/c then it would have to find another organism to live off of

Producer - [plants/flora] - performs photosynthesis [6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight 6O2 + C6H12O6]

Sun – the source of all energy on Earth

Consumer – [animals/fauna] – performs respiration [6O2 + C6H12O6 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy]

Decomposer – breaks down dead organisms [bacteria and fungi]

Plankton

Phytoplankton – drifting producers

Zooplankton – drifting consumers

Consumers

Carnivore – eats only meat

Herbivore – eats only plants

Omnivore – eats both meat and plants

*Note – Vegetarians are omnivores, not herbivores – humans can CHOOSE not to eat

meat, Herbivores cannot digest meat]

Scavenger – feeds on already dead animals

Predator – organism that hunts its food (animals) and eats it

Prey – organism that is hunted by a predator

Food chain – a step by step series of producers and consumers in the Energy Pyramid

Food Web – numerous food chains all interconnected

Biomes – an area in the world where the producers and consumers are determined by two factors

- Annual Rainfall/Precipitation

- Climate [The average yearly temperature]

Tropical Rainforest – warm and wet [ 200+ cm of rain/year]

- Temperate Rainforest – same level of precipitation but very cool temperatures

The United States has a temperate rainforest in Washington and Oregon

Grassland – mild temperatures and subhumid climate [25-75 cm rain/year] Rainy/dry seasons

Other names depending on their worldwide location –

Savannah; Plains; Prairie; Steppes; Pampas; Veldt

Deciduous Forest – trees lose their leaves in the Fall [75+ cm rain/year]

Coniferous Forest – cone bearing trees have waxy coating needles [ more than 50 cm rain/year]

Tundra/Alpine – extremely cold and dry [ ~ 20 cm rain/year]

Permafrost – permanently frozen soil – never thaws below 3-4 in down

Desert – extremely dry [can be very hot or cold] [less than 25 cm rain/year]

Aquatic – fresh water or salt water – temperature can be warm or cold