Biological DiversityEcosystems and Ecology

Science 9

Unit A

What is ecology?What is ecology?

• The study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment

INTERACT

Biotic Factors

Abiotic Factors

What is a biological community?What is a biological community?

• Interacting populations living in a certain area at a certain time.– Population: a group of

organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area at the same time.

Eg: Prairie Community

What is a niche?What is a niche?

• An organism’s niche is the specific role they play within an ecosystem

• For example- A bison’s niche in a prairie ecosystem is as a herbivore as they are adapted to eat plants

Eg: Prairie Community

Symbiosis= living togetherSymbiosis= living together• Symbiosis: a long lasting, ecological

relationship that benefits at least one organism of two different species that live in close contact

• Three types: Mutalism, Commensalism and parasitism.

MutualismMutualism

• A symbiotic relationship in which both organisms benefit– Eg: Clown fish and Sea Anemone

Eg: Nitrogen fixing bacteria in nodules on roots of legumes

CommensalismCommensalism

• A form of symbiosis in which one organism benefits, and the other organism is neither helped nor harmed.– Eg- Cowbird feeding on insects that are stirred up

by movement of cattle/ bison– Eg- Remora and Manta Ray– Eg- Barnacles on Whales

ParasitismParasitism

• A symbiotic relationship in which one organism called the parasite, derives benefit at the expense of another organism, called the host.– Eg: Malaria- caused by

parasite Plasmodium carried by some mosquitoes

Predator-Prey InteractionsPredator-Prey Interactions

• Predation: an interaction where one organism the predator, kills and eats another organism, called the prey

• Eg: Lynx predation and its effect on snowshoe hare populations

What is competition?What is competition?• An interaction in which two or more organisms

compete for the same limited resources.• Harms all involved

– Eg: Lynx and Great Horned Owl– Eg: Plants for light, water and soil nutrients

•Ecosystems and Ecology•Abiotic and biotic factors•Symbiosis•Predation•Competition

Summary- Key Concepts