Interactions in the eco system Chapter 14 ecosystem • An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. habitat • Describe the habitat of a lion? habitat • -can be described as all of the biotic factors and abiotic factors in the area where an organism lives. • What is the difference between biotic and abiotic factors using our habitat described. Habitats and niche • We all agree that all these organisms interact with their environment differently. Can you provide some examples? • Within an eco system, each species has an ecological niche. Ecological Niche • Composes of all the physical, chemical and biological factors that a species needs to survive and stay healthy, and reproduce. • We can think of a habitat as where a species lives and niche is how it lives within that habitat. What are some of the factors affecting an animals niche? Factors affecting a niche: • Food: the type of food a species eats, how will it compete with others for food, and where it fits in a food web is important. • Abiotic conditions: these conditions include the amount of water, air temperature that a species can tolerate • Behavior: the time of the day a species is active as well as where and when it reproduces are factors in the niche of a species. FUNCTION OF GRASS FOR THE ANTELOPE VS FUNCTION OF GRASS FOR THE LION FEEDING TIMES FOR THE LIONS COMPARED TO FEEDING TIMES FOR THE ANTELOPE THE PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS A SMALL MAMMAL CALLED A TARSIER. A TARSIER FEEDS ON INSECTS, WHICH THEY HUNT AT NIGHT. WHAT IS THE NICHE FOR THIS ORGANISM: WHAT IS NATURAL SELECTION? NATURAL SELECTION DEFINITION: • Mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offsprings on average than others.
