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Chapter 2: Ecology
The Study of Organisms and their
interactions with their environment
Biosphere
 On Earth, living
things are found
here.
 The Biosphere
includes the high
parts of the
atmosphere and the
bottoms of the
oceans where living
things are found.
Biotic factors (living)
 Biotic factors are
living things that
share a habitat with
an organism.
 In a single pond, a
duck might share his
environment with
fish, insects, lily
pads, and other
plants and animals.
Abiotic factors (not living)
 Abiotic means “nonliving” (a=not;
bio=living)
 Anything that is part of
an organisms habitat
that is non-living is an
abiotic factor.
 Dirt, rocks, clouds, and
rain are examples.
 Temperature is an
abiotic factor
The Levels of Organization
 There is an order that we group
organisms into when we study
ecosystems, and we start with the
individual organism being studied.
 Organism < Population < Biological
community < Ecosystem < Biosphere
 Student < Softball team < Athletic
program < High school < BISD!
Organism
 Any living thing
 Could be an animal,
plant, fungus, or a
micro organism such
as a protist or
bacteria!
Population
 A group of several organisms of the SAME
SPECIES!
 Interbreed and live in the same area.
Biological Community
 Group of different
populations, so they
won’t all be the same
species.
 All live and interact
in a certain area.
Ecosystem
 MANY populations
like in a biological
community PLUS…
 ABIOTIC factors in
that community area
2 Major Ecosystems
 Aquatic (organisms live underwater)
 Terrestrial (live on land)
Habitat
 Any place that an
organism lives out
it’s life
 Some species can
inhabit (live in) more
than one place!
Niche
 ALL the specific
interactions an
organism has with
biotic and abiotic
factors in a habitat.
 Location, plus details
about its way of life
(what it eats, where it
sleeps, where it
nests, how it
reproduces, when it’s
awake)
Niches are SPECIFIC!
 No two organisms
can occupy the
same niche at once!
 Competition is a
result having of
similar niches
 For example, lots of
organisms will
compete for the
same food source.
Survival Relationships
 Producers make
food for themselves
(think of the produce
section at the
grocery store!)
 Consumers go out
and get food (either
from producers or
other organisms)
Symbiosis
 Organisms live in close quarters with one
another and have relationships
 These organisms are dependent on these
relationships
 Sym = same ; bio = life
 3 Types: mutualistic, commensalistic,
parasitic
Mutualism
 Both animals benefit
(both gain
something!)
 “You scratch my
back, I’ll scratch
yours!”
 Win-Win situation!
Commensalism
 One animal benefits
while the other one
stays the same
(neither harmed or
helped)
 “No pain, but also no
gain!”
 One mooches off the
other
Parasitism
 One organism
benefits, but the
other is hurt in the
process
Look like an everyday
parasite to you?
Brown -Headed
Cow Bird!!!
Lay eggs in other birds nests!!!
Sometimes knock out other eggs
to make room for their own!!
Other bird must expend time and
energy raising chicks that are not
their species (hurtful!!!)