What is an Ecosystem Ecology is the study
- Slides: 11
What is an Ecosystem? Ecology is the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their physical environment.
Vocabulary w habitat – the place where a particular population of a species lives w population – a group of species w community – made up of the many different species that live together in a habitat w ecosystem – consists of a community and all the physical aspects of its habitat
w abiotic factors – the physical aspects of a habitat; ex; soil, water, air w biotic factors – the organisms in a habitat; living organisms w biodiversity – a measure of the number of species living within an ecosystem; ecosystems contain diverse organisms
Ecosystems change through the process of Succession. w succession – the replacement of one type of community by another at a single location over a period of time w primary succession – succession that begins in an area that previously did not support life
w pioneer species – the first organisms to live in a new habitat; usually small, fast growing plants w secondary succession – the process by which one community replaces another community that has been partially or totally destroyed
Environmental Disturbances: climax Ø fire Ø flood Ø crop harvesting Ø logging Ø disease Ø drought pioneer species
Which diagram shows 1° succession? A. B.
Which diagram shows 2° succession? A. B.
What are the pioneer species in A and B? A. B.
Typical Stages of Succession pioneer community climax community This chart represents a typical succession that is observed in New York State. The annual grasses represent the pioneer species or first organisms in this succession. The beech-maple forest would represent a typical Northern New York climax community. The climax community will last hundreds or thousands of years unless disrupted.
Typical Stages of Succession Question: After a volcanic eruption, lava covers the land. What is the order that plants grow to repopulate the area? a. Lichens → Shrubs → Grasses → Trees b. Shrubs → Trees → Grasses → Lichens c. Grasses → Lichens → Shrubs → Trees d. Lichens → Grasses → Shrubs → Trees