Ecology

EcologyEcology: oikos = house logos = study of

the study of the interactions between organisms

and living and nonliving components of their

environment

Broad and complex discipline where scientists use the

following strategies:

• collecting diverse observations

• measuring interactions

• looking for patterns in interactions between

organisms and environment

Interdependence

Organisms interact with each other and their environment

through complex, multi-level connections.

The survival of organisms depend on these interactions.

Any disruption can cause severe and cascading effects.

This is referred to as interdependence and is a key theme

in ecology.

Levels of Organization

Biosphere: most inclusive; 20 km (13 mi)

thick; deepest ocean through atmosphere

Ecosystem: biotic and abiotic factors;

includes parameters such as temperature,

pH, precipitation, etc.; ex. pond, forest,

prairie, arctic, etc.

Community: biotic only; unicellular

through multi-cellular

Population: members of the same species

in the same place

NicheOrganisms do not use or occupy all aspects and areas of their environment.

The specific role of each organism is called its niche. Niche parameters:

• resources used� shelter

� food

� water

� etc.

• range of conditions tolerated� light

� temperature

� elevation

� humidity

� pH

� etc.

• all other interactions� herbivore, carnivore…

� reproduction – method and time

� methods resource acquisition

� modes of locomotion

� etc.

Review

Khan Academy ecology overview