PLANT ECOLOGY
Plant Ecology is a discipline of ecology which studies the distribution and abundance of plants, the effects of environmental factors upon the abundance of plants, and the interactions among and between plant and other organisms.
I. The Components of the Biotic Component Environment Abiotic Component Energy Flow
I. The Components of the Environment Biotic Component are the living things that shape an ecosystem. A biotic factor is any living component that affects another organism, including animals that consume the organism in question, and the living food that the organism consumes.
I. The Components of the Environment Abiotic Components or abiotic factors - are non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment that affect living organisms and the functioning of ecosystems.
I. The Components of the Environment Energy Flow also called the Calorific flow, refers to the flow of energy through a food chain. In an ecosystem, ecologists seek to quantify the relative importance of different component species and feeding relationships.
II. Limiting Factors Light Humidity Temperature
II. Limiting Factors Light usually refers to visible light, which is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye and is responsible for the sense of sight. Ex. Sun
II. Limiting Factors Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. Water vapor is the gaseous state of water and is invisible. Ex. Fog
3 Types of Humidity Absolute Humidity is the water content of air. Relative Humidity expressed as a percent, measures the current absolute humidity relative to the maximum for that relative to the temperature. Specific Humidity is the ratio of water vapor content of the mixture to the total air content on a mass basis.
II. Limiting Factors Temperature is a comparative objective measure of hot and cold. It may be calibrated in any kind of various temperature scales, Celsius, Fahrenheit, Kelvin, etc.
III. Biological Interactions Competition Commensalism Symbiosis Amensalism Parasitism
III. Biological Interactions Biological Interactions - are ther effects that the organisms in a community have on one another. In the natural world no organism exists in absolute isolation, and thus every organism must interact with the environment and other organisms.
III. Biological Interactions Commensalism is a relationship between individuals of two species in which one species obtains food or other benefits from the other without either harming or benefiting the latter.
4 Types of Commensalism Chemical commensalism Inquilinism Metabiosis Phosery
III. Biological Interactions Symbiosis ( together living ) is close and often longterm interaction between two or more different biological species.
III. Biological Interactions Amensalism association between organisms of two different species in which one is inhibited or destroyed and the other is unaffected.
2 Types of Amensalism Completion larger or more powerful organisms excludes another organism from its source of shelter or food. Antibiosis organisms secretes a chemical that kills the other organisms, while the one that secreted them chemical is unharmed.
III. Biological Interactions Parasitism is a ralationship between two organisms where one is usually harmed and the other gets benefits from the relationship. Endoparasites live inside the body of the host. Ectoparasite live on the outside of the body of the host Epiparasite feeds on another parasite.
IV. Vegetation Types Tundra Taiga Deciduous Forest Tropical Forest Savannah
IV. Vegetation Types Tundra is type of biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. Taiga also known as boreal forest or snowforest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces and larches. Deciduous Forest from the root word decede which means delicate.
IV. Vegetation Types Tropical Forests Savanna is an enormous plain with hills and forests.