Download Ecosystem Interactions

Interactions in the
Ecosystem
• Habitats & Niches
• Evolution
Essentials for LIFE
1.Food
2.Water
3.Climate
4.Reproduction
5.Shelter
Habitat
1.Provides essentials for
life.
2.Size
Niche
1.Role of an organism in
the ecosystem
2.The organism’s habitat
3.What the organism does
with its habitat.
Biotic Factors
1.Food sources
2.Predation
3.Competition
Abiotic Factors
1.Temperature
2.Sunlight
3.Water
4.Time of day/night.
Competition
1.If two species try to
share the same niche
they will compete for
limited resources.
2.Members of the same
species are adapted to
the same niche.
What happens when
there is competition
for a niche?
1.One species moves
2.Competitive exclusion
(extinction due to
competition for a resource)
Fundamental Niche
A niche without limits
from competition or
predation.
Ex Atlanta, Georgia,
USA, the world
Realized Niche
•The niche actually used
by an organism.
•It is limited by
competition for resources
or predation.
•It’s a way of coping with
species interaction.
Predator
An organism that actively
hunts other organisms.
• Decreases the population
size of their prey.
• Increasing diversity
EX lions, shark, eagle, etc.
What might happen
if all the carnivores
were removed?
Adaptation
Organisms respond to a
changing habitat.
Evolution
Change in a population
over time.
Specialized
species
•Narrow niche
•Vulnerable to
extinction
•Cannot respond to
changes
Convergent
evolution
•Con = (with, together)
•Two different species
adapt similar traits due
to living in similar
habitats.
Ex bats and birds
Can you think of
any defenses
we’ve adapted to
survive a
changing habitat?