EcologyEcologyStem WordsStem Words

ECO – House/Home

LOGY – “The science of…” OR “the study of…”

Eco + logy = The study of home - where things live.

The study of the relationships living things have with each other and to their environment.

Biotic FactorsBiotic Factors

Biotic Factors - all of the LIVING things in an ecosystem

(living now or once was living)

Stem word: BIO =life or living

Abiotic FactorsAbiotic Factors

Abiotic Factors – all the NON-LIVING parts of an ecosystem

Examples:1. Water2. Sunlight3. Soil4. Air, Oxygen5. Temperature

How Living and Non-Living things How Living and Non-Living things are Organized on Earth:are Organized on Earth:

From Largest to Smallest

1. Biome 2.Ecosystems

3.Communities 4.Populations

5.Individual Organism

BiomeBiomeBiome – a group of ecosystems with

similar climates and organisms

Examples of Biomes:1. Tropical Rain Forests2. Tundra3. Grassland4. Desert5. Ocean (marine)6. Deciduous Forest

                                            

                        

The Tundra Biome is a cold dry The Tundra Biome is a cold dry place where no trees liveplace where no trees live..

                                            

                        

Grassland/Savanna

                                                                    

Ocean BiomeOcean Biome

                                            

                        

                                            

                        

Coniferous Forest (Tiaga)

Ecosystems -Ecosystems -Contains ALL the

living AND non-living things that interact in a particular area.

Communities -Communities -

ALL the different populations of organisms within an area.

PopulationsPopulationsALL the members of one species in a particular

area.

It’s a NUMBER count. Does not matter how big or small the area is.

World PopulationSouth Carolina Pop.Greenwood Pop.EMS Population

SpeciesSpecies- Organisms that are physically similar- Can mate to produce FERTILE

offspring.- Fertile means their babies can have

babies.- Similar DNA (genetics)

Examples of a Species:Examples of a Species:

Dogs - Different dog breeds can mate to give mixed breed that look like both parents AND the mixed puppies can have babies themselves.

Cats

Humans

HorsesHorses

Examples of Non-Species:

Horse + Donkey = Mule (Sterile)

Lion + Tiger = Liger (Sterile)

Zebra + Horse = Zorse (Sterile)

SterileSterile – cannot have babies – cannot have babies

Horse + Donkey = A Mule (AKA: Honkey)Horse + Donkey = A Mule (AKA: Honkey)(A animal that is STERILE = (A animal that is STERILE = cannot breedcannot breed

Lion + Tiger = A LigerLion + Tiger = A Liger(A sterile animal – cannot breed)(A sterile animal – cannot breed)

LigerLiger

Horse + Zebra = ZorseHorse + Zebra = Zorse(A sterile animal – cannot breed)(A sterile animal – cannot breed)

HabitatsHabitats

Habitats – The place where an organism lives and can find the things it needs to survive.

Needs for Survival:1. Food2. Water3. Shelter4. Space

How big does an organisms How big does an organisms habitat need to be? habitat need to be?

Depends on size of animal.Examples:

Squirrel – backyardWhale – oceanFish – pond

Single ecosystem contains 1000’s of habitats

A single ecosystem can contain A single ecosystem can contain many habitats.many habitats.

                                            

                        

Changes in Population SizeChanges in Population Size(Positive and Negative)(Positive and Negative)

1. Births and Deaths2. Immigration and Emmigration Immigration – moving into a

population Emmigration - moving out of a

population3. Limiting Factors

Limiting FactorsLimiting Factors

An environmental factor that causes a population to DECREASE or stop growing.

1.Food/water = starvation

2.

Disease/accidents

3. Shelter/Weather

4.Predators/Hunters

5. Space

Competition over space

Birth/Death Rates

What happens to Moose population as Wolf population increases?

Carrying CapacityCarrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity – the largest population an environment can support.