Download Chapter 5 Notes I. Ecology =The way organisms interact with each

Chapter 5 Notes
I. Ecology =The way organisms interact with each other and with their nonliving surroundings
II. Factors affecting an Organism (Limiting Factors = may change the growth of a population)
A. Abiotic Factors = non-living factors, sun, climate, soil
B. Biotic factors = living factors- plants ,animals, bacteria fungus, virus - any living form that
affects something else
III. Terms to know
A. Range of tolerance = a range of conditions in which an organism can survive
B. habitat =the space in which an organism lives
C. niche = the role (the job) the organism has in its surroundings
IV. Kinds of Interactions between organisms
A. Predation - one organism kills and eats another, Example: lions kill and eat zebras
1.Predator = an animal that kills and eats another organism
2.Prey = an organism that is killed and eaten by a predator
B. Competition = two organisms striving to obtain the same resource, Example. Owls & fox both eat mice; = competition for food
C. Symbiotic Relationships = close, long-lasting physical relationship between two different
species
1.Parasite = relationship in which one lives off of a host, the host is harmed, Example:. Ticks/
fleas on a dog
2. Commensalism - one benefits while the other is not effected, Bird on a cow or water buffalo
3.Mutualism -the association in which both benefit, Example: Butterfly and a flower
V Major Roles of Organisms in an Ecosystem
A. Producers -manufacture food from inorganic compounds and light energy, plants
B. Consumers - organisms that use other organisms as food
1.Herbivore = plants eater
2.Carnivore = meat eater
3. Omnivore = eats both plants and animals
C. Decomposers = cause the decay and recycle nutrients
VI. Keystone Species = crucial to the balance and maintenance of an eco system Example:
water buffalo in Keoladeo Park