is the study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment.

Ecology

Ecology is study of interactions between

non-living components in the environment…light waterwindnutrients in soilheatsolar radiationatmosphere, etc.

AND…

Living organisms…PlantsAnimalsFungimicroorganisms in soil, etc.

For non-living (abiotic)ClimatologyHydrologyOceanographyPhysicsChemistryGeologysoil analysis, etc.

To study Ecology involves… For living (biotic)

animal behavior

Taxonomy Physiology mathematics (population studies)

etc.

Can you find all of the living things?

What nonliving things

are important to the

living organisms in this

picture?

views each locale as an integrated whole of interdependent parts that function as a unit.

Ecology…

tundracaribou

The interdependent parts are…

Nonlivingdead organic matter

nutrients in the soil and water.

Producers green plantsGreen algae

Tundra

Consumers Herbivores,

carnivores, & omnivores

Decomposersfungi and bacteria

Tundra

Caribou

Levels of OrganizationLevels of Organization• Ecologists study individual organisms,

interactions among organisms of the same species, interactions among organisms of different species, as well as the effects of abiotic factors on interacting species.

• Ecologists have organized the living world into levels—the organism by itself,

populations, communities, and ecosystems.

BiosphereSurface of the earth All places on earth that supports life

EcosystemLarge or small as we decide

Backyard, Human body (GROSS!), Badin LakeIncludes all biotic & abiotic factors

Levels of organization - Terms

• It extends from high in the atmosphere to the bottom of the oceans.

The BiosphereThe Biosphere• The biosphere is

the portion of Earth that supports living things.

Biotic and abiotic factors form ecosystemsBiotic and abiotic factors form ecosystems• An ecosystem is made up of interacting

populations in a biological community and the community’s abiotic factors.

• There are two major kinds of ecosystems—terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic

ecosystems.

Very complexCan contain 100’s to 1000’s of interacting

species.

Levels of organization - Terms

Community – All populations (diff. species) that live in a particular area. (only biotic factors)

Population – one species live in one place at one time

Interactions within populationsInteractions within populations• A population is a group of organisms, all

of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same area at the same time.

Interactions within populationsInteractions within populations

• Members of the same population may compete with each other for food, water, mates, or other resources.• Competition can occur whether

resources are in short supply or not.

Interactions within communitiesInteractions within communities

• A biological community is made up of interacting populations in a certain area at a certain time.

Levels of organization - Terms

Organism – simplest level of organization

OrganismOrganism• An individual living thing that is made of

cells, uses energy, reproduces, responds, grows, and develops.

Habitat-where an organism lives

Habitat vs Niche

Niche-things it does to live and survive

Organisms in EcosystemsOrganisms in Ecosystems

• A habitat is the place where an organism lives out its life.

• The organism’s address.

NicheNiche• Although several species may share a habitat,

the food, shelter, and other essential resources of that habitat are often used in different ways.

• A niche is the role or position a species has in its environment—how it meets its specific needs for food and shelter, how and where it survives, and where it reproduces in its environment.

NicheNiche

• A species’ niche, therefore, includes all its interactions with the biotic and abiotic parts of its habitat.

• It is thought that two species can’t exist for long in the same community if their niches are the same.

STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS The drawings below represent five levels of ecological organization. In the spaces provided, label the levels and number them from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most inclusive.

The study of interactions that take place between organisms and their environment is __________.

D. biology

C. ecology

B. symbiosis

A. abiosis

Which of the following is found in the biosphere?

D. constellation Orion

C. the Sun

B. maria

A. ozone layer

Which of the following is a biotic factor?

D. light

C. earthworm

B. soil

A. moisture

A(n) __________ is a group of organisms, all of the same species, which interbreed and live in the same place at the same time.

D. habitat

C. ecosystem

B. population

A. biological community

Which of the following is a biological community?

D. the factors interacting in an aquatic ecosystem

C. the abiotic factors in the environment

B. the tadpoles living in a pond

A. the organisms living in your backyard today