Ecology Notes
Ecology – the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment
Environmental Factors
Biotic – are living or were once living
Abiotic – never living
Symbiotic Relationships
Commensalism – one species benefits, one is unaffected [neither harmed or benefited]
Mutualism – both species benefit
Parasitism – one species benefits, one is harmed or dies
[parasite – feeds on host
host – organism that the parasite lives off of]
*For the most part, the parasite does not kill the host animal, b/c then it would have to find
another organism to live off of
Producer - [plants/flora] - performs photosynthesis [6CO2 + 6H2O + sunlight
6O2 + C6H12O6]
Sun – the source of all energy on Earth
Consumer – [animals/fauna] – performs respiration [6O2 + C6H12O6
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy]
Decomposer – breaks down dead organisms [bacteria and fungi]
Plankton
Phytoplankton – drifting producers
Zooplankton – drifting consumers
Consumers
Carnivore – eats only meat
Herbivore – eats only plants
Omnivore – eats both meat and plants
*Note – Vegetarians are omnivores, not herbivores – humans can CHOOSE not to eat
meat, Herbivores cannot digest meat]
Scavenger – feeds on already dead animals
Predator – organism that hunts its food (animals) and eats it
Prey – organism that is hunted by a predator
Food chain – a step by step series of producers and consumers in the Energy Pyramid
Food Web – numerous food chains all interconnected
Biomes – an area in the world where the producers and consumers are determined by two factors
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Annual Rainfall/Precipitation
Climate [The average yearly temperature]
Tropical Rainforest – warm and wet [ 200+ cm of rain/year]
-
Temperate Rainforest – same level of precipitation but very cool temperatures
The United States has a temperate rainforest in Washington and Oregon
Grassland – mild temperatures and subhumid climate [25-75 cm rain/year] Rainy/dry seasons
Other names depending on their worldwide location –
Savannah; Plains; Prairie; Steppes; Pampas; Veldt
Deciduous Forest – trees lose their leaves in the Fall [75+ cm rain/year]
Coniferous Forest – cone bearing trees have waxy coating needles [ more than 50 cm rain/year]
Tundra/Alpine – extremely cold and dry [ ~ 20 cm rain/year]
Permafrost – permanently frozen soil – never thaws below 3-4 in down
Desert – extremely dry [can be very hot or cold] [less than 25 cm rain/year]
Aquatic – fresh water or salt water – temperature can be warm or cold