Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors

Ecology Study Guide Biotic vs. Abiotic Factors Biotic Factors Abiotic Factors ❖​ ( Living / nonliving ) things in an ecosystem. ❖​ ( Living / nonliving ) things in an ecosystem. ❖​ List 3 examples: ❖​ List 3 examples: o​ plants o​ air o​ animals o​ water o​ bacteria o​ soil Levels of Ecological Organization Community Organism Population Ecosystem Biosphere 1.​ Biosphere​ Made up of all the ecosystems found on the planet (Ex: Earth). 2.​ Population​ Group of the same species living in the same area (Ex: Herd of elephants). 3.​ Organism​ An individual organism (Ex: One elephant) 4.​ Ecosystem ​ ​ Living species interacting with their environment (Ex: herds of elephant and giraffes in grassy areas with trees and water holes) 5.​ Community ​ All the plant and animal species in the same area (Ex: herds of elephants, giraffes, grasses, trees) Ecosystems & Biomes 1.​ Explain the difference between an ecosystem and a biome. Ecosystems are the interactions of living things with each other and with their environment while biomes are areas on the planet that are characterized by the climate and species. 2.​ A ( habitat / niche ) describes an organism’s role within its ecosystem​ 3.​ A ( habitat / nice ) is the physical space where an organism makes its home. Ecological Succession 1.​ Compare and contrast primary succession and secondary succession. Succession is the change in the species structure of a community over a period of time. Primary succession occurs in areas where no life existed before (hundreds of years). Secondary succession occurs in areas with established communities after a disturbance occurs (wildfires, flooding, etc.). This usually takes about 150 years. Biodiversity 1.​ What is biodiversity?​ Biodiversity describes the variety of species on Earth. It describes the variation between species as well as the variation within a species. It also describes the variety of ecosystems on Earth. 2.​ Why is variation important to the survival of a species? Variation in a species helps stabilize the species and increased the likelihood that a species can overcome disturbances or changes in the environment. Increases in biodiversity can improve the ability of a species to survive in its environment or a new environment. 3.​ How does the loss of a species affect other living things, including humans? Loss of species diversity decreases the stability of an ecosystem and could mean loss of an undiscovered species that possesses medicine to treat and cure diseases. Furthermore, there is less chance that individuals will be able to cope with changes or disturbances in the environment, making them more susceptible to completely dying out. Food Chains & Food Webs Label the following on the food web below: -​ Producer -​ Primary consumer -​ Secondary consumer -​ Tertiary consumer -​ Autotroph -​ Heterotroph 1.​ How much energy transfers from one trophic​ ​ level to the next? Lost as heat, used for cellular respiration, etc. Construct a food chain. Label the (1) producer, (2) primary consumer, (3) secondary consumer, and (4) tertiary consumer. Remember to use arrows.. A hawk eats a snake, the snake eats a squirrel, the squirrel eats a nut. Using the food chain from above, construct an energy pyramid. 1.​ Which animal has the most amount of energy available? --------------------------​ 2.​ Which animal has the least amount of energy available? -------------------------- Symbiotic Relationships Mutualism Definition: both species benefits from the relationship Commensalism Definition: one species benefits while the other species is not affected Parasitism Definition: one species benefits while the other species is harmed +/+ +/+/0 Example: Bumblebee & flower Example: Tick Example: Shark & remora fish Practice Questions - Which Symbiosis is it? 1.​ Parasitism A tick living on a dog.​ 2.​ Commensalism A bird building their nest in a tree.​ 3.​ Commensalism The hermit crab carrying the sea anemone on its back.​ 4.​ Parasitism Head lice living on a human scalp.​ 5.​ Mutualism The ants protect the acacia tree and the tree provides food for the ants.​ 6.​ Commensalism Orchids growing in tall tropical trees for sunlight, the trees are not harmed​