Download Niche Graph

What Factors Shape an
Ecosystem?
1-Habitat
• Habitat – Where the organism lives.
– Ex. Bird lives in the nest of a tree.
2- Niche
• The full range of physical and biological conditions in
which an organism lives and the way in which it uses
those conditions. NICHE= the role of the organism in the
ecosystem
• In order for organisms to survive in their habitats, each
organism must have their niche. A niche is SPECIFIC
for each individual species
• An organisms niche would include
–
–
–
–
its place in the food web,
types of food it eats,
how it obtains its food,
temperature in which it lives in,
– physical conditions required for survival.
An example of a niche
description…bullfrogs
• Catches insects, worms, spiders, small fish, it is
prey to herons, raccoons, and snakes. Bullfrogs
physical conditions include spending part of their
lives in water. It’s body temperature varies with
the surrounding air and water. In the winter bull
frogs burrow into the mud of ponds or stream
bottoms to hibernate. Female bullfrogs lay their
eggs in water during warmer months of the year.
Young frogs are called tadpoles
What can happen if niches one
organism’s niche is taken over?
Explain in words what
these two graphs are
trying to tell you…..
Graphs Main Points
• A- When an organism does not
have a specialized niche, it
may occupy some or all parts
of another organisms niche
(role). Competition for
resources will result.
• B- When organisms have a
specific niche (separate
niches) in an ecosystem, they
are specialized in that role and
are less likely to have another
organism occupy their niche.
The Competitive Exclusion
Principle
• The ecological rule that states that no two
species can occupy the same niche in the
same habitat at the same time.
• There may be some overlap within the
niche range. This will lead to an increase
in competition.
• Which bird has the largest feeding
range in the tree?
• The Bay-breasted warbler is competing
with which other warbler?
• Which bird has the most competition?
• Specific niches for feeding have
decreased the amount of ____________
each bird must come in contact with.
3- Keystone Species
• One biotic factor that greatly influences an
areas biodiversity and has a large effect
on an ecosystem
4- Biodiversity
• The variety of biotic factors that are in an
ecosystem
• Amount of biodiversity depends on the
abiotic factors influencing the ecosystem
– Ex: temperature, moisture, water quality