Ecological Organization
Non-Living factor of an ecosystem
Abiotic
The source of all energy
Sun
The amount of energy (%) available at the producer level
100%
A close relationship between two or more species that live in close contact with one another
Symbiotic Relationship
These species are small, have a short life span, and reproduce rapidly
Population
Organisms that make their own food
Autotrophs
Producers
The amount of energy transferred from one level to the next
10%
The bacteria living in the large intestines of humans feeds on undigested food waste in the gut. This process releases vitamins and nutrients that are absorbed into the human's blood stream. This is an example of what type of symbiotic relationship?
Mutualism
Hurricanes, floods, and other environmental events are examples of what type of Limiting Factor?
Density Independent
This level of ecology contains both biotic and abiotic factors.
Ecosystem
These organisms obtain their energy by eating herbivores
Secondary consumers
90% of the energy is lost from one level of the energy pyramid to the next. Where does that 90% of the energy go?
Heat, Undigested food, Cellular respiration,
The difference between a habitat and a niche
A habitat is the physical living place occupied by an organism.
niche is the role, function, and activity of the organism within its environment
Disease, predation, stress from overcrowding, and competition for resources are examples of what type of Limiting Factor?
Density - Dependent
The difference between a community and a population
A population is a group of one species.
A community is made up of multiple species living in an area
These organisms eat only plants
Herbivores
This type of consumer has no known predators within the food web
Apex predator
An _______ species is a non-native species that undergoes exponential growth, resulting in competition for resources and reduced biodiversity of native organisms
Invasive species
These species are larger, take longer to reach reproductive maturity, and population size is maintained at carrying capacity
All of the levels of ecological organization, smallest to largest.
Species, population, community, ecosystem, biome, biosphere
Organisms that eat other organisms because they are not able to produce their own food
Heterotrophs
Apex/top
When the amount of food available in an area keeps a population at carrying capacity, we call the amount of food a _________ ________.
Limiting factor
The point at which the line graph levels out after a period of rapid growth, meaning the maximum number of organisms population can hold