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Ecology:
Ecology is the study of the relationships of organisms to one another and their physical surroundings. Abiotic factors are non living, water, air, pollen, soil, temperature, light, and natural disasters are some of the abiotic factors. Biotic factors are living things. |
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Ecosystems:
An ecosystem is a biological community of interacting organisms and their non living environment. The Bullfrog is found in the wetland ecosystem. Wetlands are marshes, ponds, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands are found in flat vegetated areas. |
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Biomes:
A biome is a large area, with similar organisms. Organisms adapt to the varying conditions, water, heat, and soil. |
| Animal relationships: Animals will, help, harm, and use
each other, this is called symbiosis. Symbiosis is the relationship
between animals. Parasitism is when one organism is harmed, and
one is benefited, such as a heart worm in a dog. Commensalism
is when one animal is benefited and the other is not effected.
Mutualism is when both animal are benefited, an example is a clown
fish, and anemones, The clown fish can live in
the anemone because the clown fish has a substance on it that protects
it from being stung, and in turn the clown fish cleans the anemones. Competition
is when two organisms need the same resource, competition usually happens
with the same species, but sometimes with other species.
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| Limiting factors: Limiting factors are the availability of food, water, shelter,
and space. If the population of animals in an ecosystem gets too
high, some animals will not survive. Size is also a limiting factor
and will even out the population of animals as well. Humans impact
animal populations also. When humans develop land for houses and buildings,
they cut down trees and change animal habitats.
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| Adaptations: Animals adapt to their ecosystem.
For example, the polar bear has adapted in many ways. Its
fur protects it from the cold, its teeth help it hunt, and swims very well,
so that it can fish, along with many other adaptations.
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Diversity:
An ecosystem
that is healthy has a lot of species diversity. The more species
diversity, the less likely to be damaged by human interaction. How
would a food chain work without species diversity?
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Bibliography:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11353/ecosystems.htm http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/ecowetlands.htm http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/nwep12a.htm
Mr. Payne |
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Links:
BullfrogFoodweb |