4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem?

1. 4-2 What Shapes an Ecosystem? Where does an organism live and why does it live there?

2. Habitat – An area where an organism lives which includes the abiotic and biotic factors. Acclimation – Accustom or become accustomed to a certain environment.

3. Control of Internal Conditions A. Conformers are organisms that do not regulate their internal conditions (cold blooded) 1. Conform to the environments conditions. B. Regulators are organisms that use energy to control some of their internal conditions (warm blooded) 2. Example – humans body temperature remains constant.

4. Escape from Unsuitable Conditions A. Some species can survive unfavorable conditions by escaping them temporarily. Dormancy / hibernation– state of reduced activity during periods of unfavorable conditions, internal body runs extremely slow, using way less energy. Migration – some organisms move somewhere else for periods of unfavorable conditions.

5. Resources – energy and materials a species needs. A. Examples – food, energy, nesting sites, water, sunlight 1. Resource Partitioning – Certain birds called WARBLERS, share different areas on a tree so each type of warbler feeds either on the top, the middle or the bottom of the tree, not crossing another warblers feeding area. This allows different types of birds to survive and live successfully in the same tree. a. Competitive exclusion principle- no 2 organisms can occupy the same niche in the same habitat at the same time, competition will result in death.

6. 9. Niche - is the full range of physical and biological conditions in which an organism lives and the way in which the organism uses those conditions A. Includes: 1. The range of conditions that the species can tolerate. 2. Methods by which it obtains needed resources. 3. The number of offspring it has. 4. Time of the year it reproduces. 5. All of its interactions with its environment.

7. B. Fundamental Niche – range of conditions that a species can potentiallytolerate and the range of resources it can potentially use. C. Realized Niche – the resource a species will actually consume. .

8. Niche Differences – Species niche can change within a single generation. A. Generalists are species with broad niches. 1. Can tolerate a broad range of conditions. (Opossum) 2. Use a variety of resources B. Specialists are species that have narrow niches. (very specific eating habits) 1. Koala – eucalyptus leaves only

9. Different life styles, community interactions and activities can affect an ecosystem. • a. Predation – one organism captures and feeds on another. b. Symbiosis– 2 species live closely together, in harmony. c. Mutualism – both benefit from the relationship. Flower and a bee. d. Commensalism – one benefits the other is not harmed or affected. Whale and barnacle. e. Parasitism – organism lives on or inside, harming the organism.

10. Succession • A. Ecosystem are constantly changing in response to natural disturbances. Older habitants are replaced by new causing further changes in the community. • Succession – Regrowth from a disturbance of some kind. • 1. Primary succession – growth or succession that occurs on surfaces where there is no soil. • A. Pioneer Species - the first plants that will grow in a primary succession area. These plants are Lichen (fungus and alga) that help break up rocks when they grow and add nutrients to the broken rock when they die, so other plants can begin to develop.

11. Characteristics of pioneer species plants. • A) Small • B) Fast growing • C) 2. Secondary Succession – Growth after a disturbance in the area such as a storm, flood, or fire. Since there is usually soil left the growth is faster and the plants that grow there are different. • 3. Climax Community –Plants that have stabilized in growth and have matured. • Reproduce quickly, covering a large area.

12. Microclimate • This is an area that contains it’s own unique environment, different from it’s surrounds. • Man made structures such as” • Zoo • Roof top gardens • Parks within a city