AimAim: What are the different roles of : What are the different roles of organisms in an environment?organisms in an environment?

DN: What is meant by carrying DN: What is meant by carrying capacity? Does every species have the capacity? Does every species have the same carrying capacity in an ecosystem? same carrying capacity in an ecosystem? Explain.Explain.

What ecological level is this?What ecological level is this?

CommunityCommunity

The different The different types of types of

populationspopulations in in a given a given

ecosystemecosystem

HabitatHabitat

A specific A specific areaarea where an where an organism organism liveslives

What is Nemo’s habitat?What is Nemo’s habitat?

Does everybody in a community have the same job?

No, each No, each organism has its organism has its own own ROLE ROLE in a in a community or community or

NICHENICHE

What is the niche of a plant What is the niche of a plant population in a community?population in a community?

To To produce foodproduce food using the energy using the energy from the sun from the sun

ProducersProducers - - organisms that organisms that can make their can make their own food own food

What is the niche of What is the niche of herbivores herbivores in a community?in a community?

To eat To eat plantsplants To act as a limiting To act as a limiting

factor to help maintain factor to help maintain the the carrying capacitycarrying capacity of plantsof plants

Primary Consumers-Primary Consumers- animals that eat plants.animals that eat plants.

What is the role of What is the role of carnivores in a community?carnivores in a community?

To eat To eat animals/meatanimals/meat Secondary Consumers-Secondary Consumers- eat eat

primary consumers.primary consumers. To act as a To act as a limiting factorlimiting factor for the for the

herbivores.herbivores.

Keeps the population of herbivores Keeps the population of herbivores in check (not too many!)in check (not too many!)

What is the niche of What is the niche of bacteria & fungi?bacteria & fungi?

To To return nutrientsreturn nutrients back to the soil by back to the soil by breaking down breaking down dead dead organismsorganisms

DecomposersDecomposers – – breakdown dead breakdown dead organisms organisms

Bacteria & FungiBacteria & Fungi (mushrooms).(mushrooms).

Why are decomposers the Why are decomposers the “Recyclers” of the ecosystem?“Recyclers” of the ecosystem?

They break down dead organisms & at the

same time return raw materials back to the

ecosystem.

What is a scavenger’s niche?What is a scavenger’s niche?

To eat animal’s To eat animal’s that were that were killedkilled & & leftoverleftover by by

secondary secondary consumersconsumers

What happens if two organisms What happens if two organisms occupy the same niche?occupy the same niche?

Organisms would Organisms would competecompete until the best until the best adapted adapted population wins.population wins.

Organisms can Organisms can sometimes appear to sometimes appear to occupy the same niche, occupy the same niche, but under more careful but under more careful examination, they examination, they do not.do not.