Ecological Ecological RelationshipsRelationships

Reflection question using

this picture:

What are some What are some components components

withinwithin an an ecosystem?ecosystem?

How is an How is an ecosystem ecosystem

different than a different than a

community?community?

What is an ecosystem?

– a community and its abiotic factors

What is a community?What is a community?

• a group of populations that are living and interacting with one another. They are interdependent (depend on one another)

• a group of organisms of the

same species that live in the

same area

What is a population?What is a population?

Communities are the building blocks of Communities are the building blocks of ecosystemsecosystems

Do you remember what an Do you remember what an abiotic factor is?abiotic factor is?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.tutorvista.com/content/feed/tvcs/biotic-abiotic_0.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.tutorvista.com/biology/abiotic-factors-of-the-tundra&h=450&w=501&sz=19&tbnid=SYQkkfMdj84QxM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=100&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dabiotic%2Bfactors%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=abiotic+factors&usg=__3qTZObCF00i3HUSdOjDKuwX5Pi4=&docid=nuQbIbk8ywn28M&hl=en&sa=X&ei=c10yUKCdBIS9ywGN7YCgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CGEQ9QEwBg&dur=501

non-living

Within Communities

Biodiversity = the number of species in an

ecosystem

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/environment/faqs/biodiversity.jpg

Territory = space claimed by an

individual organism

Ecological Equilibrium = state of

“balance” in an ecosystem

Crucial to ecosystem productivity

Required by all living things

Ecological Relationships

http://www.cs.umbc.edu/courses/undergraduate/201/fall06/projects/p1/fox-rabbit.jpg

- an Ecological relationship is a relationship between animals and their habitat

The role in their habitat

Ex: Fox helps control small animal populations.

• NICHENICHE – an organism’s “role” in an ecosystem (job)

• NICHE DIVERSITYNICHE DIVERSITY – Number of niches in an ecosystem; often determined by abiotic factors

A niche is the sum of all

activities and relationships a species has

while obtaining and

using resources needed to

survive and reproduce

1. Competition:

• When species or individuals “fight” for the same resources.– E.g., Food, shelter….

• KEYSTONE PREDATOR/SPECIES -

A predator that causes a large increase in diversity of its habitat.

The “fight” may be indirect … individuals may never

directly contact each other.

Two species with Two species with similar needs for similar needs for

same limited same limited resources cannot resources cannot

coexist.coexist.

http://www.butler.edu/herbarium/prairie/prairie42004.jpg

Losing a keystone species usually disrupts many

ecological relationships.

Herbivory:

• A primary consumer feeds on a producer.

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2. Feeding Relationships

2. Feeding Relationships

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• A consumer feeds on another consumer.

Predation: actively hunting your food source (carnivory)

3. Symbiosis:

• A long-term relationship where two species live closely together and at least one benefits directly from the relationship.

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Mutualism:

• Both organisms benefit from the relationship.

• Win-Win situation!

http://tumi-educational-resources.org/Educational%20%20Videos.htm

Commensalism

• One organism benefits, the other one is unaffected.

• Win-Neutral relationship

Parasitism

• One organism benefits, the other one is harmed!

• Win-Lose relationship

• Parasites rarely kill their hosts…it would require them to get another one!