Habitat Notes

Species Interbreed and produce fertile

offspring

Hybrid Interbreed but do not produce

fertile offspring

Population Group of organism in an area

Biological Community Groups of different interacting

organisms (plants and animals) in an area.

Ecosystem Ecologic System

A community of organism Energy and nutrient processing

system Has inputs and outputs Dynamic

Habitat Where an organism lives

Ecological Niche Your functional role (your job) in the ecosystem How you fit in, what you eat, what

eats you, your tolerances Relationships with the environment

Generalist Species eats anything, can live anywhere

Rats, Weeds

Specialist Species picky eater, fragile

Koala

Competitive Exclusion Principle If two or more species coexist

using a limited resources, one will be displaced. Rats & mice Grass & weeds Humans & just about everything

else

Biotic Components Living factors

surrounding plants and animals decomposers

Abiotic Components Nonliving Factors

temp, salinity, sunlight, pH, wind, soil, moisture, gases, time

Biomes Major regional ecological community It is characterized by a distinct climate

and therefore a particular set of plants and animals that have adapted to it. Tundra, Taiga, Temperate Deciduous

Forest, Grassland and Desert Tropical Rain Forest

Aquatic Life Zones Aquatic equal of biome

Marine Coral reefs, estuaries, deep ocean con’t shelf

Freshwater Lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes

Biosphere Earth Biome or Earth Biological

System or Global Biome Skin of life on the Earth bottom of ocean to top of highest mountains

Intersection of the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

Closed (materials) System Nutrients, O2, CO2,

Tolerances Temperature Sunlight Acidity of soil Air Pressure Pollution

Range of Tolerances Optimum Range

Range of conditions that an organism is well adapted

Stress Zone Conditions for survival and

reproduction are possible but not optional

Intolerance Zone Conditions for survival are not

possible

Tolerances Different species have widely different

ranges of tolerances. Cockroach, rat

Tolerances

Limiting Factors The factor that is in short supply

and therefore limits the population size. Sunlight in lake, water in desert,

food, Nutrients, Oxygen