What is an Ecosystem? Section 1. Interactions of Organisms and Their Environment Ecology – the...
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Transcript of What is an Ecosystem? Section 1. Interactions of Organisms and Their Environment Ecology – the...
Chap. 16 EcosystemsWhat is an Ecosystem?
Section 1
Interactions of Organisms and Their EnvironmentEcology – the study
of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment
Habitat – the place where a particular population of a species lives
Levels of OrganizationOrganism – an
individual living thing
Population – a group of the same species that lives in one area
Community – the many different species that live together in a habitat
Ecosystem or ecological system – consists of a community and all the physical aspects of its habitat – complex web of connected biotic & abiotic factors
Biome – a major regional or global community of organisms
Keystone speciesIs a species that has an
unusually large effect on its ecosystem
Form and maintain a complex web of life
Affects all the other species connected to it
Biosphere – living globe – that part of the Earth in which life exists
Extends to as far as 8 kilometers above the Earth’s surface to as far as 8 kilometers below the surface of the ocean
Organisms are not distributed uniformly throughout the biosphere
Physical AspectsTerrainWaterSoil
MineralsCompositionOrganic matterpH
Air atmosphereWeather/climateIntensity of sunlight
Ecosystem Inhabitants of a Pine forestWhich of the six
kingdoms of organisms would be represented if you fenced a square kilometer of the forest?
Ecosystem BoundariesPhysical
boundaries of an ecosystem are not always obvious, also depends of ecosystem being studied
Change of Ecosystems over TimePioneer species – the
first organisms to live in a new habitat where soil is present
Tend to be small, fast-growing plants examples: lichen, mosses – can break down solid rock into smaller pieces
Make the ground more hospitable for other species
SuccessionSuccession –
regular progression of species replacement
Regenerate a damaged community or create a community in a previously uninhabited area
Primary succession –occurs where life has not existed before
Secondary succession – occurs in areas where there has been previous growth
Reestablishment of a damaged ecosystem
Small disturbances start the process
Again & again
Climax Communitywhich populations of
plants or animals remain stable and exist in balance with each other and their environment. A climax community is the final stage of succession, remaining relatively unchanged until destroyed by an event such as fire or human interference
http://glencoe.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0078802849/student_view0/unit1/chapter3/concepts_in_motion.html#
Pond Successionhttp://www.sabah.edu.m
y/csm07010/Form%204/pond.htm
Pond succession occurs due to the change in depth of the pond. When submerge plants die, it will deposit at the bottom of pond. Over the time, the pond becomes shallow until finally filled in.