Download What Shapes an Ecosystem?

What Shapes an Ecosystem?
Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Biotic factors - all of
the living organisms
that inhabit an
environment
Biotic and Abiotic Factors

Abiotic factors – all
nonliving parts an
ecosystem

Temperature

Wind

Water

Dirt

Rocks
Habit vs. Niche



habitat - is the place where an organism lives
out its life
niche - the role and position a species plays in
its environment
ANALOGY- If an organisms habitat is its
address, its niche is its occupation
More about Niches




Only one species can occupy each niche in an
ecosystem
It is advantageous for a species to occupy a niche
different than those of other species
If two organisms live in the same niche, one will not
survive
The species with the best adaptations for that
particular niche will survive
Competition


Competition occurs
when organisms
attempt to use the
same resource at the
same time
Resource- anything
necessary for life
Competition

There is a winner and a loser.

The loser does not survive


Competitive exclusion principle- no two
species can occupy the same niche in the
same habitat at the same time
Predation



predation- one
organism captures
and feeds on another
organism
Predator – does the
killing and eating
Prey – the one that is
killed and dies
Who's who?
Symbiosis


Symbiosis – any two
organisms living
closely together
3 types:

Mutualism

Commensalism

Parasitism
Mutualism


Mutualism – both
species benefit
Example – Flowers
depend on insects to
pollinate them.
Flowers give the
insects food and the
insects help the
flowers reproduce
Commensalism


Commensalism –
one member
benefits, the other is
neither helped nor
harmed
Example – barnacles
on the skin of whales
Parasitism


Parasitism – one
organism benefits,
and the other
organism is harmed
The parasite (eater)
gets its nutritional
needs met by the
host ( eaten on).
Ecological Succession


Ecosystems are constantly changing
As an ecosystem changes, older inhabitants
die out and new organisms move in the
community...this is ecological succession
Primary Succession


Primary succession –
occurs on surfaces
where no soil exist
Pioneer species –
the first species to
populate an area
Secondary Succession

Secondary
succession –
restores an
ecosystem to its
original condition
after a major
disturbance (fire,
avalanche, logging)