Ecology: Study of Interactions Among Organisms and Between Organisms and the Environment

Ecology: study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and the environment

Biotic factor – living factor

Abiotic factor – nonliving factor

Habitat: where an organism lives (Biotic + Abiotic)

Levels of ecology

Organism

Population: all organisms of the same species in a given area

Community: all the population in a given area

Ecosystem: all the biotic and abiotic factors in a given area

Biomes: ecosystems with similar organisms and climate

Biosphere: anywhere that life exists

Physical and Chemical Factors

1. Energy: all food chains start with Autotrophs

-Sun = photosynthesis    -Inorganic compounds = chemosynthesis

2. Temperature: affects an organism’s metabolism

- Enzymes control reactions

3. Water

4. Nutrients: cycle throughout ecosystem

5. Aquatic factors: current salinity, temperature, pollution, tide, and depth

6. Terrestrial factors: soil quality (pH), land formations, natural disasters

Water Cycle

[pic 1]

Aquatic Biomes

            Pelagic Realm- includes all open water of the ocean.

            Benthic Realm- a seafloor or bottom of a freshwater lake, pond, river, stream.

            Photic zone- The region of an aquatic ecosystem into which light penetrates and where photosynthesis occurs (0-200m)

            Continental Shelf- the part of a continent submerged by water, or the area surrounding the edges of continents.

            Phytoplankton- Algae and photosynthetic bacteria that float around in aquatic environments. It is a producer.

            Zooplankton- small drifting animals. It is a consumer.

            Aphotic Zone- The region of an aquatic ecosystem beneath the photic zone, where light does not penetrate enough for photosynthesis to take place (200m and below).

            Intertidal Zone- A shallow zone where waters of an estuary or ocean meet land.

            Estuary- The area where a freshwater stream or water.

            Wetland-. It is an area where water covers the land permanently or part of the year. An ecosystem intermediate between an aquatic ecosystem and a terrestrial ecosystem.

Freshwater biomes include:

            1. Lakes and Ponds- standing water

            2. Rivers and Streams- water currents           

            3. Freshwater Wetlands