Download Species in Ecosystems - La Porte High School

Species in
Ecosystems
Biodiversity
Environmental
conditions leading to
evolution has lead to
many different types of
living things.
Biodiversity Types:
 Species
diversityvariety of species on
earth or in a habitat.
 Genetic diversitygene variability within
a species.
 Ecological
diversityvariety of different
ecosystems on earth
or in a biome.
Importance of
Biodiversity
 Stored
genetic
information for future
survival of a
species.
 Useful
productswood, medicines,
food, fibers,
chemicals, raw
materials.
 Recycling
and
purification services.
 Natural pest control.
 Ecosystem stability.
Species Types
Native Species- normally
live and thrive in a particular
ecosystem. Has been there
since before humans.
Ex. Raccoon, Mockingbird.


Keystone species- organisms
whose presence has a big effect
on the environment despite
relatively small numbers. A top
level predator that controls the
populations of species lower in
the food chain. Ex. Lions,
Wolves, Elephants, Coyotes,
Bobcats

Indicator species- serve as
early warning that an
ecosystem is being damaged.
Amphibians get mutations due
to pollutants in the
environment. Birds die due to
pesticide use.

Alien/Invasive/introduced species- do
not normally live in an ecosystem.
Are introduced by humans or
immigrate. Compete for food and
habitat with native species. The
European Rabbit in Australia has
caused severe range damage
severely impacting the environment
and food web.
Niche
A species total way of life.
 It’s role in the ecosystem.
 All of it’s chemical, physical,
and biological requirements.

Specialized Niche



Narrow niche.
May only eat one thing or live
in one type of habitat.
Koala bears only eat
Eukalyptus leaves leaving
them vulnerable to extinction.
Generalized Niche



Broad niche.
Eats many things and lives in a
variety of habitats.
Coyotes eat a wide variety of
animals and plants and adapt
easily to all types of habitats
including neighborhoods.
Competition

Interspecific competitionspecies compete for one or
more of the same limited
resources. Lions, Hyenas
and other animals battle for
the leftovers at kills made
by lion prides.

Interference competitionone species limits
another species access
to a resource. Squirrels
block bird feeders limiting
access to the birds.

Exploitative- one species is
better adapted to exploit a
resource better than another
species. Hummingbirds have
beaks that are specifically
adapted for collecting nectar
from specific flowers.

Resource partitioningspecies exploit the same
resource in different ways or
at different times. Owls hunt
mice at night while hawks
hunt mice during the day.
Species Interactions
Predator-Prey
relationships
 species
feed on prey
species. Ex. bobcats
feed on rabbits.
Symbiotic
Relationships
 Two organisms of
different species live
interdependently.
 3 types: parasitism,
commensalism,
mutualism
Parasitism
 parasite
species
benefits while the host
species is harmed.
Ex. Ticks/dogs.
Mutualism
 both
species benefit.
Ex. lichens, intestinal
bacteria, legume
plants and rhizopus.
Commensalism

one species benefits
while the other is
unaffected. Ex. Cattle
and Cattle Egrets.