Vocab
Biosphere - the part of Earth that supports life
Ecosystem - consists of all the organisms living in an area, as well as nonliving parts of that environment
Ecology - the study of interactions that occur among organisms and their environment.
Population - something made up of all organisms of the same species that live in an area at the same time.
Community - all the populations of all species living in an ecosystem.
Habitat - the place in which an organism lives
Limiting factor - anything that restricts the number of individuals in a population.
Carrying capacity - the largest number of individuals of one species that an ecosystem can support over time
Producers - organisms that use an outside energy source like the Sun to make energy-rich molecules
Consumers - organisms that cannot make their own energy-rich molecules
Symbiosis - any close relationship between species
Mutualism - a symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit
Commensalism - a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not affected
Parasitism - a symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other one is harmed
Niche - an organism’s role in its environment
Summary
Section 1 - All living and nonliving things an Earth are organized into levels, such as communities and ecosystems.
Section 2 - A population’s size is affected by many things, including competition.
Section 3 - Every organism has a role in its environment.
Reading Checks
1. What 3 things make up the biosphere?
A: The biosphere is made of three parts, called the lithosphere, atmosphere and hydrosphere.
2. What is an ecosystem?
A: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows.
3. What is population density?
A: Population density is a measurement of population per unit area, or exceptionally unit volume; it is a quantity of type number density.
4. How are limiting factors related to carrying capacity?
A: Limiting factors are resources or other factors in the environment that can lower the population growth rate. The carrying capacity is the maximum population size that can be supported in a particular area without destroying the habitat. Limiting factors determine the carrying capacity of a population.
5. How are producers different from consumers?
A: Producers are organisms that make their own food, whereas consumers are organisms that need to eat to gain energy.
6. Why does each species have its own niche?
A: Each species has its own niche, that species has a particular habitat and has a particular way of obtaining its own food. But when two different species overlap or interfere with one another, competition occurs.
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