Ecology

=__Chapter 3__=

Ecology- The scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment, or surroundings. Biosphere- Contains the combined portions of the planet in which all of life exists, including land, water, and air, or atmosphere. Species- A group of organisms so similar to one another that they can breed and produce fertile offspring. Populations- Groups of individuals that belong to the same species and live in the same area. Communities- Assemblages of different populations that live together in a defined area. Ecosystem- A collection of all the organisms that live in particular place, together wit their nonliving, or physical environment. Biome- A group of ecosystems that have the same climate and similar dominant communities

__Energy Flow__

 * Sunlight is the main energy source for life on Earth
 * Some types of organisms rely on the energy stored in inorganic chemical compounds
 * Autotrophs = Producers
 * Heterotrophs = Consumers
 * Heterotrophs = Herbivores, Carnivores, Omnivores, Detrivores

__Water Cycle__

 * 1) Precipitation- It rains
 * 2) Runoff- Runs off into the ground
 * 3) Ocean- Ground water gets taken into ocean
 * 4) Evaporation- Water changes from liquid to gas as it rises into the sky
 * 5) Condensation occurs in clouds

=__Chapter 4__= The Greenhouse Effect- Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and a few other atmospheric gases trap heat energy and maintain Earth's temperature range. Effect of latitude on climate- As a result of difference in latitude and thus the angle of heating, Earth has three main climate zones, polar, temperature, and tropical. Biotic= living or once was Abiotic= nonliving or never was Community Interactions, such as competition, predation and various forms of symbiosis, can powerfully affect an ecosystem Competition- When organisms of the same or different species attempt to use an ecological resource in the same place Predation- When one organism captures and feeds on another organism Symbiosis- Any relationship in which two species live closely together Mutualism- Both species benefit from the relationship Commensalism- One member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed Parasitism- One organism lives on or inside another organism and harms it

__Succession__
Primary- Succession that occurs on surfaces where no soil exists Secondary- When the disturbance is over, community interactions tend to restore the ecosystem to its original condition

__Biomes__

 * Tropical rain forest
 * Tropical dry forest
 * Tropical savanna
 * Temperate grassland
 * Desert
 * Temperate woodland
 * Temperate forest
 * Northwestern coniferous forest
 * Boreal forest
 * Tundra
 * Montains and ice caps

Aquatic Ecosystems
=Chapter 5=

Populations