Chapter 18 Notes
I. Everything is Connected
Ecology-study of interactions between organisms with each other and nonliving environment
1. The Two Parts of an Environment
Biotic-living(ex. Grass, animals, bacteria
Abiotic-nonliving(ex. Sun, air, water, rock)
2. Organization in the Environment
3. Populations
Organisms of same species living together (ex. deer on Green Mt.)
4. Communities
All living things(plants & animals) that live & interact in an area (ex. all plants and animals on Green Mt.)
5. Ecosystems
Living and nonliving together in an area (ex. all organisms and rocks, water, soil on Green Mt.)
6. The Biosphere
Air, water, earth where life exists
II Living Things Need Energy
A. The Energy Connection
1.Producers
Make their own food by photosynthesis-have chlorophyll
2.Consumers
Herbivore-eats plants
Carnivore- eats animals
Omnivore-eats plants and animals
Scavengers-omnivores that eat dead plants & animals
3.Decomposers-break down dead organisms(bacteria & fungi)
Chain-shows how energy flows from 1 to another
Web-shows how energy in food is in relationship in an ecosystem
Energy flows from sun->plants-> animals
5.Energy Pyramids
Shows ecosystem’s loss of energy as moves up. Much energy at base-less as move up
B. Wolves and the Energy Pyramid
1.Gray Wolves and the Food Web
Wolves eliminated/disturbed food web/ elk starved
Wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone Park
2.Balance in Ecosystems
If all alpha predators removed (ex. wolves, mt. lions, bears), balance of nature upset
III Types of Interactions
A. Interactions with the Environment
1.Limiting Factors- anything that is scarce enough to limit size of population(ex. water, food, habitat)
2.Carrying Capacity-largest population an area can support (enough food, water, habitat for all)
B. Interactions Between Organisms-4 ways to interact
C. Competition-2 or more try to use the same resource
D. Predators and Prey
1.Predator Adaptations
Predator-one who eats
Prey- one eaten
2.Prey Adaptations-may stay together, reproduce in great numbers, have warning coloration
3.Camouflage-blend in
4.Defensive Chemicals-skunk
5.Warning Coloration-bright colors
E. Symbiosis-long term relationship between species
1.Mutualism-both benefit
2.Commensalism-one benefits, other not helped/harmed
3.Parasitism-one benefits/one harmed
F. Coevolution-2 species change over time together
1.Coevolution and Flowers
Pollinator-organism that carries pollen from 1 flower to another(bats, insects)
