ECOLOGY

Ecology The study of how organisms interact with their environment All organisms must interact with both living (Biotic) and the nonliving (Abiotic) things that surround them

Ecology-Abiotic Factors Abiotic-are non-living things that are part of the environment that affects living organisms and the ecosystems. Examples: Soil-water-air-temperature-sunlight-wind-weather- landforms-lightening-etc…….

Ecology-Biotic Factors Biotic- a living thing, as an animal or plant, that influences or affects an ecosystem. Examples-producers-consumers-decomposers-plants-animals-leaves- etc….

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

Organism an individual animal, plant, or single-celled life form Only one type

Population all the inhabitants of a particular town, area, or country the body of inhabitants of a place

Community An ecological unit composed of a group of organisms or a population of different species occupying a particular area, usually interacting with each other and their environment.

Ecosystem A system that includes all living organisms (biotic factors) in an area as well as its physical environment (abiotic factors) functioning together as a unit. Supplement. An ecosystem is made up of plants, animals, microorganisms, soil, rocks, minerals, water sources and the local atmosphere interacting with one another

Biomes A major ecological community of organisms adapted to a particular climatic or environmental condition on a large geographic area in which they occur. Supplement. Biomes may be classified into: Terrestrial biomes or land biomes - ex. tundra, taiga, grasslands, savannas, deserts, tropical forests, etc.

Biosphere the global ecological system integrating all living beings and their relationships, including their interaction with the elements of the lithosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

Levels of Organization Cells – tissues – organs – organ systems – organisms – population – community – ecosystem – biosphere