Ecology I Objectives

-Define ecology, and levels of organization

-Define ecosystem, and three conditions for self-sustaining

-Compare abiotic and biotic factors, give examples of each

-Relate the following terms: competition, limiting factors, carrying capacity

-Define niche, and describe the niche of one organism

-Define the types of heterotrophs, and give an example of each:

-Decomposer, herbivore, carnivore/predator, prey, scavenger, omnivore

-Explain 3 types of symbiotic relationships; give examples of each

-Contrast: producers/autotrophs, consumers, decomposers

-Draw a food chain, explain the direction of the arrows

-Describe a food web; contrast it with a food chain

-Draw an Energy Pyramid, explain the relative amount of energy and biomass at each level

-Explain the importance of recycling materials in ecosystems. State the type of organisms that do most of the recycling

-Explain the C-H-O cycle including the 2 processes it involves

-Briefly describe the N cycle

-Define biodiversity, give a specific example

      -explain why loss of biodiversity upsets an ecosystem’s stability

-Describe the process of succession (primary and secondary), with names of plants at each stage

-Define and give examples of:  flora, fauna, pioneer organisms, climax community

-Describe a local example of succession

-State how communities are identified; describe a pine barren, a sphagnum bog

-Explain the final stage of succession in a lake or pond