Download Study guide for Ecosystem Test 6 Levels of organization in ecology

Study guide for Ecosystem Test
6 Levels of organization in ecology-know smallest to largest
Organism- an individual living thing
ex. a rattlesnake
Population- all the organisms of one type in an area
ex. all the rattlesnakes in a forest
Community- all the populations of different organisms in an area
ex. all the snakes, trees, grass,
deer, etc. in a forest
Ecosystem- all the different organisms AND the nonliving parts in an area ex. All the snakes, soil,
rocks, trees, deer, ponds, etc. in a forest
Biosphere-the entire planet earth; largest ecosystem; consists of the crust, water, and atmosphere
Abiotic and biotic factors
Abiotic factor-the nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Biotic factor- the living, or once living, parts of an ecosystem
Examples of abiotic factors: soil, water, temperature, air, sunlight,
clouds, rocks
Examples of biotic factors: humans, bacteria, wood, dead leaves, plants, animals
Limiting factors: things that can limit the size of a population that can live in an area
Examples of limiting factors: space, shelter, food, water, rainfall, climate, temperature, soil
Niche: an organism’s job or role in an ecosystem
for other organisms
ex. Tree may provide food, shelter, shade, etc.
Population density: number of individuals / area size
Example: 20 daisies/1 meter²
Energy pyramid:
10% of energy is passed on from one organism to the next in the food chain (remove a “0” as you go
up the pyramid each time or divide by 10)
Producer level has the most energy and most organisms with the top level having the least energy
and least number of organisms
Producer-makes its food through photosynthesis
Consumer-eats organisms for food
Decomposer-breaks down dead organisms and returns nutrients and energy to the soil
Herbivore-eats producers (plants) only
Carnivore-eats meat only
Omnivore-eats meat AND plants
Autotrophs- same as producers
Heterotrophs-same as consumers
Food chains and webs
Identify the producer, consumer (1st level-primary, 2nd level- secondary, 3rd level- tertiary)
Identify the herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore
Identify the autotrophs (producers) and heterotrophs (consumers)
Example
What happens when an organism is removed from a food web?
The organism that eats the organism that is removed may decrease in population number because
one of its food sources is gone. It may move or die.
The organism that is eaten by the organism that is removed will probably increase in number
because one of the organisms that eats it is gone and more will be able to survive.
Ecology-the study of all interactions between the living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Sun- largest source of energy
Extinction-causes: overhunting, predators, lack of resources (food, water, etc.), habitat
destruction, natural disaster, deforestation
Be able to read a graph like the one above and determine:
What happens to the bird population when the mosquitoes increase or decrease?
During what years are the populations increasing? Decreasing?
SYMBIOSIS
Parasitism- One organism benefits-the other is harmed. EX. A puppy has roundworms in its
intestines. The roundworm gets nutrients from drinking its blood. The puppy gets sick.
Mutualism- Both organisms benefit. EX. Rhino has itchy ticks all over it. The tick birds land on the
rhino and eat the ticks from it. Rhino gets relief and tick birds eat well.
Commensalism- One organism benefits-the other is NOT AFFECTED. EX. Barnacles cannot move
well. The barnacles attach to a whale and use it for transportation. Whale does not benefit.