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Ecology Notes What is Ecology? The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment. The environment consists of two parts: Biotic: all of the organisms that live together and interact with one another. Abiotic: all the physical factors of the environment that affect organisms in an area. Examples: water, soil, light, temperature. Organization in the Environment Organism: A living thing Population: A group of individuals that live in the same area at the same time. Community: All of the populations of different species that live and interact in an area Ecosystem: A community of organisms and its abiotic environment. Biosphere: The part of Earth where life exists. Habitat: The environment in which an organism lives. Niche: An organism’s way of life within an ecosystem. How Organisms Obtain Energy Producer: Use sunlight to obtain food. Consumer: Eat producers or other organisms for energy. Decomposer: Get energy by breaking down the remains of dead organisms. Examples: bacteria, fungi "Nature's recyclers" Types of Consumers Herbivore: eats only plants Carnivore: eats only animals (meat) Omnivore: eats plants and animals Scavenger: animals that feed on bodies of dead animals Flow of Energy Food chain: shows the flow of energy from one organism to the next. Food web: shows energy pathways Energy pyramid: represents the amount of energy and number of organisms Types of Interactions 1. With the environment. Limiting factor: A resource that keeps populations from growing out of control. Examples: food, water, living space Carrying capacity: The largest population an environment can support over a long period of time. 2. With organisms Competition: When two or more individuals or populations try to use the same resources such as food, water and space. Prey: An organism that is eaten. (hunted) Predator: The organism that eats the prey. (hunter) Relationships Symbiosis: A close relationship (interaction) between two or more species. Types of Symbiosis: Mutualism: A relationship where both organisms benefit. Example: humans and intestinal bacteria Commensalism: A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected. Example: sharks and remoras Parasitism: A relationship where one organism benefits and the other is harmed. Example: deer and a deer tick Ecological Succession Succession: A gradual development of a community over time. Primary Succession: The beginning of life in an area where living things did not previously exist. Secondary Succession: The re-growth of a community that has been destroyed due to a natural disaster (ex. fire, flood).