Chapter 47-1Earth a Living Planet

Ecology is the study of the interactions of organisms with one another and with their physical surroundings.

The biosphere includes all areas of the land air and water on earth as well as the animals that populate those areas.

The earth has many ecosystems which consists of a given areas physical features (abiotic factors) and living organisms (biotic factors).

This is called ecological succession. Fig. 47-3. Example: A pond fills up with silt and fallen

leaves, over a period of time the pond turns into a marsh and then into dry land.

A community refers to the organisms living together in an ecosystem.

A new community can replace an existing community over time.

Pioneer species colonize places where living communities existed before. Examples: lichen on bare rock.

Succession often leads to a stable collection of organisms called a climax community.