University:
Texas A&M University
Course:
BIOL 357 | Ecology
Academic year:

2021
Views:

436

Pages:

3
Author:

Campbell Wagner

Topic: Ecosystems Learning Objective/Outcome: Keywords/Questions Notes What is ecology? The branch of biology dedicated to the study of the relationships and interactions between organisms and their environment. What is an ecosystem? All of the organisms living in a given area and the environment in which they live. What are ecosystems made up of? Biotic and abiotic factors. What are biotic factors? All the living or once living parts of the environment. Give two examples of biotic factors. A fox and a tree. What are abiotic factors? The non-living parts of the environment. Give two examples of abiotic factors. A river and a rock. What is level 1? Organism What is an organism? Any living thing – a plant, an animal, bacteria, etc. - An organism is the simplest level of ecosystem organization. What is level 2? Population What is a population? All of the individuals of a given species that live in the same area at the same time. What is competition? Occurs within populations as individuals struggle to obtain resources needed for survival and reproduction. Why is competition most intense among individuals in the same species? They are competing for the same resources. What is a limiting factor? Any biotic or abiotic factor that restricts the number of individuals in a population. - Can affect more than one population in an area. Analyze the graph describing Snowshoe Hare and Lynx populations over time. What patterns do you notice? The population size of the hare and lynx increase and decrease at the same times. Describe the limiting factors that might be responsible for the patterns in population size over time. Availability of food, water, and shelter Competition for resources Disease What is level 3? Community What is a community? The populations of different species that interact in some way. - The size of communities can vary greatly. What do populations inside a community depend on? Food, shelter, and other resources. What is level 4? Ecosystem What is an ecosystem? Includes all of the communities in an area and the abiotic factors that affect them. What do you look at when studying an ecosystem? How the living and nonliving parts interact and affect each other. What is a carrying capacity? The largest number of individuals of one species an ecosystem can support over time. What happens if a carrying capacity is exceeded? Some individuals will not have resources needed for survival. - Some individuals will be forced to find a different place to live. What is level 5? Biome What is a biome? A large region with plants and animals well adapted to the soil and climate of the region. - Many ecosystems are found in a biome. What are the major biomes? Desert, grassland, tundra, forest, and aquatic. - Each of these biomes can be further divided based on temperature, soil type, and the organisms they support. What is the biosphere? The part of Earth that supports life. Includes all biomes, ecosystems, communities, and populations. Summary An ecosystem is made of various biotic and abiotic factors. Each ecosystem is made up of organisms, populations, and communities. Every ecosystem belongs to a biome, such as: a desert, grassland, tundra, forest, or aquatics.

Topic Ecosystems

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