Ecology+-+Introduction

Ecology

 * the branch of biology that deals with interactions between organisms and between organisms and their environment
 * the study of ecosystems


 * Ecosystems include communities (biotic factors) and the physical environment (abiotic factors).**

**Biotic** - living factors **Abiotic** - nonliving factors
 * **Population** - one species in one area
 * ** Community ** - many different species in an area
 * light, air, soil, temperature, water, minerals

Nutritional Terminology

 * ** Producer ** - makes the food; autotrophic.
 * **Consumer** - doesn't make own food; heterotrophic.
 * Types of consumers: **herbivores, carnivores, scavengers, omnivores**.
 * **Decomposer** - break down the remains of dead organic matter; saprobes, detritovores.

Symbiotic Relationships

 * **Symbiosis** - Relationships in which two organisms live in close association with each other, with at least one organism benefitting from the relationship.
 * ** Mutualism ** - both organisms benefit from the association (++)
 * **Commensalism** - one organism benefits, one is unaffected (+0)
 * **Parasitism** - one organism benefits, one is harmed (+-)